A family moved into an age old estate,
with 200 rooms, a fence and a gate.

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A mother, a father and a little girl too.
With no brothers or sisters, she had little to do.

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The little girl's name was Amanda McGubble.
A very sweet girl, she never got into trouble.

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A few weeks went by and Amanda grew sad.
She needed a friend, and she wanted one bad!

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One windy night, the house began creaking.
Amanda lay awake. It kept her from sleeping.

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Then a moan began soft and proceeded to grow.
Where did it come from? She needed to know.

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Amanda's curiosity was more than she could handle.
She jumped out of bed and she picked up a candle.

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Down to the kitchen, without hesitating.
This must be the place. The floor was vibrating!

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The moaning was clear and grumbled real low.
It came from beneath. It came from below!

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So she lifted the rug and pulled it aside.
In the floor was a door that she pulled open wide.

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Amanda didn't know what was under the door.
It was dark down there, down under the floor.

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The cellar was a dirty, smelly old place,
with tons of those webs that stick to your face.

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Amanda strained her eyes to see up ahead.
"A passageway!" she gasped. She'd see where it led.

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So forward she went to follow the moan.
She soon found a door, surrounded by stone.

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She raised her fist and knocked on the wood.
The moaning grew quiet, so quiet she stood.

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Without hesitation, she set down the candle,
then grabbed the door, and pulled on the handle.

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It took all her strength to open the door.
Amanda was little. Only three foot, four.

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With a tug and a pull and a mighty big yank,
the door flew wide open. Boy it sure stank!

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The room was a mess. The floor littered with bones.
Only hay for a bed. All the walls made of stones.

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Amanda peered in, holding the candle in front.
She took a step forward, then heard a loud grunt.

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She saw in the corner, something covered with hair,
with a monstrous face, and as huge as a bear.

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How long it was down here, you just couldn't tell.
Maybe forever, if you judged by the smell.

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The creature was afraid as Amanda could sense. 
She tried not to scare it. It was already tense.

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"It's okay Mr. Monster" she said to the thing. 
"I'll never hurt you", then she started to sing.

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Her song was so sweet, like a young angel's voice. 
The creature was listening. It had no other choice.

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The song made the monster relax quite a bit. 
It even leaned forward, eyes open a slit.

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It was the ugliest face you ever would see. 
If you saw it yourself, you'd have to agree.

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Buy Amanda wasn't frightened of the horrible beast. 
She just smiled at him, not frightened in the least.

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Clearly the monster did not know what to do. 
She had smiled at him! She was special, he knew.

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Amanda kept singing in her high, sweet pitch. 
The beast was the scared one. Now this was a switch!

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The monster then trembled. This just wasn't right. 
He usually ate children, in one monstrous bite!

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Amanda then crossed the stony old floor. 
"My name is Amanda. Please tell, what is yours?"

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The beast could not speak, but she understood. 
"I will call you Sylvester. That name fits you good!"

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The monster nodded yes. He had to agree. 
Amanda had named him. Sylvester it would be.

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Amanda took ahold of the beast by the hand. 
"You're now my new best friend. Do you understand?"

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Again Sylvester nodded. He knew what she meant. 
He'd never had a friend, but he like her sweet scent.

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"Now let's get you home and into the tub." 
"I hate to be rude, but you need a good scrub!"

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Sylvester went along. He couldn't fight back. 
He couldn't even eat her. Not even for a snack!

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Amanda took Sylvester right into to her house. 
He walked like a monster. She walked like a mouse.

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"Now Sylvester be quiet, and don't make a peep!" 
"My mother hates monsters. We must let her sleep!"

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They tried to be quiet, as upstairs they sneaked. 
But the stairs were so noisy as they groaned and they creaked.

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In the bathroom at last was a large clawfoot tub. 
She put the beast in, and she started to scrub.

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She poured on hot water, then a ton of shampoo. 
He didn't like it much, but what could he do?

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Amanda then scrubbed for what seemed like a week. 
She got soap in his eyes and he let out a shriek!

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"Shh!" urged Amanda, with a finger to her lips. 
"You're being a baby!" Her hands on her hips.

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Amanda scrubbed Sylvester from his head to his toes. 
She even clipped the hairs that grew out of his nose.

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The poor monster hated every minute she scrubbed. 
It was two hundred years since he bathed in a tub.

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Amanda dried him off and brushed all his hair, 
then sprayed him with perfume. Sylvester's nightmare!

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She brushed all the bugs from his dreadful, sharp teeth. 
And removed eight more layers of tooth gunk beneath.

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Sylvester shook his hair as hard as he could, 
to mess it all up, like a real monster should.

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Amanda just frowned with a long, sad face, 
"Fine! Be a mess! But at least wear this lace!"

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And taking the lace, she tied his hair in a bow. 
Sylvester looked silly. He hung his head low.

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Sylvester then knew that he just couldn't win. 
Amanda was sweet, so he tried hard to grin.

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Amanda grabbed his hand and led him to her room. 
She tucked him in bed. It too smelled of perfume.

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Amanda leaned over and switched off her lamp. 
"Isn't this fun? It's like being at camp!"

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"Oh you must be so happy to sleep in a bed." 
Sylvester looked scared. Could it be what she said?

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"Don't you want to stay here and sleep next to me?" 
"We're best friends now Sylvester. Don't you agree?"

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Sylvester slowly nodded his head up and down. 
"What's wrong Sylvester? Why the sad frown?"

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Sylvester was embarrassed. He pointed to the light. 
Amanda asked "Do you need the light on at night?"

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The monster bowed his head as Amanda took his hand. 
"I'll protect you Sylvester, because I understand."

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The monster cracked a smile with a big toothy grin. 
He finally felt safe, and he now had a friend.

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Sylvester closed his eyes and prepared for good sleep. 
No moaning tonight. Not even a peep!

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"Tomorrow we'll have a party with cookies and tea. 
You'll have a great time, with my dollies and me."

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Sylvester tried to smile, but he wasn't real excited. 
He didn't like dolls, but at least he was invited.

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Amanda snuggled close and hugged Sylvester tight. 
"Thank you." She said. "I will sleep well tonight."

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Amanda and Sylvester had each found a friend. 
Their story's almost over. We're almost to the end.

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Amanda's mom and dad soon warmed to the beast. 
He moved into their home, in the wing to the East.

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To this very day they're the very best of buddies. 
Roommates at college, where Amanda does her studies.

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Sylvester is happy. And Amanda is too. 
We all need a friend. We all really do!