The Legend of the Boogie Man

Ever since I was a very little girl, I have always been just a little bit scared of the forbidden pool room up at Stonehaven, because inside the pool room lives . . .

a boogie man.

I'm not sure who first started this legend.  I'm guessing it was Uncle Dave.  But whoever it was, the purpose was to keep little kids from playing in the pool room and losing the balls, breaking the cues, or scratching the newly covered pool table. 

It was pretty effective, if not in keeping us out completely, then keeping us a little bit scared while we were in there.

I remember when we were older, the boogie man's name changed to "Darbies" for awhile.  That was because some tweens were playing Barbies in there, and the little kids overheard something about Barbies, so the older kids told the little ones, "Oh there aren't any barbies in there, there are DARBIES in there.  They are scary little creatures who live under the house and come in through the pool room."  

That story lasted for a few years.

  On our most recent trip, Sean and Hayden didn't even like to walk downstairs by themselves.  When Sydney was crying, Hayden said, "Mom, Cindy is gonna wake up the boogie man."  And today, weeks later, Hayden told me, "Dad has a sword that can cut the boogie mans, right Mom?"  Despite repeated reassurances that there really isn't a boogie man, Hayden and Sean are convinced that there is.  Sean told me, "Yes there is, Mom.  It says so on the door."  So I went to check and sure enough that little white note above that door says something like, "The Boogie Man lives here.  Do not open!" 

The Legend Lives On. 

So be it Darbies or the Boogie Man, or whatever else you want to call it, there is definitely something scary about the little door in the pool room.