The Boogeyman
Encyclopedia
"The Boogeyman" is a short story by Stephen King
, first published in the March 1973 issue of the magazine Cavalier
, and later collected in King's 1978 collection Night Shift
.
, where a man named Lester Billings talks to the doctor about the "murders" of his three young children. Billings seems paranoid and possibly schizophrenic as he describes the circumstances of the death of his children. His first two children died mysteriously of apparently unrelated causes (diagnosed as crib death and convulsion
s, respectively) when left alone in their bedrooms. The only commonalities were that the children cried "Boogeyman!" before being left alone, and the closet
door
was open slightly after finding their corpses, even though Billings was certain the door was shut.
Billings' wife Rita became pregnant approximately a year after their second child's death, at which time the family was living in a different house far away from the location of the original deaths. Their first year in the new house was without incident, but not long after, Rita left to care for her mother who had become ill. Billings and his son were left alone in the house.
It soon became apparent that whatever had killed the first two children had managed to track down Billings and his family, lingering in the closets for a brief time. Finally one night, the child cried "Boogeyman" while being put to bed, and an hour later, the child began to scream. Billings ran into the son's room and found a demon killing the boy. Billings, terrified, fled to a local 24-hour diner
. He returned home at dawn to find the boy on the floor with a broken neck and the closet door open slightly. Billings lied to the police, arguing that the death must have been accidental.
As Billings finishes his story and starts to leave, Harper recommends he make an appointment with the nurse for further discussion. Returning to the office after finding the lobby deserted, Billings finds Harper taking off a mask
to reveal that he is in actuality the Boogeyman that had killed his children.
. In 2010, Irish film-maker Gerard Lough adapted it into a 27 minute movie.
Stephen King
Stephen Edwin King is an American author of contemporary horror, suspense, science fiction and fantasy fiction. His books have sold more than 350 million copies and have been adapted into a number of feature films, television movies and comic books...
, first published in the March 1973 issue of the magazine Cavalier
Cavalier (magazine)
Cavalier is an American magazine that was launched by Fawcett Publications in 1952 and has continued for decades, eventually evolving into a Playboy-style men's magazine...
, and later collected in King's 1978 collection Night Shift
Night Shift (book)
Night Shift is the first collection of short stories by Stephen King, first published in 1978. Many of King's most famous short stories were included in this collection.-Stories collected:-Details:...
.
Plot summary
The majority of the story occurs in the office of Dr. Harper, a psychiatristPsychiatrist
A psychiatrist is a physician who specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of mental disorders. All psychiatrists are trained in diagnostic evaluation and in psychotherapy...
, where a man named Lester Billings talks to the doctor about the "murders" of his three young children. Billings seems paranoid and possibly schizophrenic as he describes the circumstances of the death of his children. His first two children died mysteriously of apparently unrelated causes (diagnosed as crib death and convulsion
Convulsion
A convulsion is a medical condition where body muscles contract and relax rapidly and repeatedly, resulting in an uncontrolled shaking of the body. Because a convulsion is often a symptom of an epileptic seizure, the term convulsion is sometimes used as a synonym for seizure...
s, respectively) when left alone in their bedrooms. The only commonalities were that the children cried "Boogeyman!" before being left alone, and the closet
Closet
A closet is a small and enclosed space, a cabinet, or a cupboard in a house or building used for general storage or hanging clothes. A closet for food storage is usually referred to as a pantry...
door
Door
A door is a movable structure used to open and close off an entrance, typically consisting of a panel that swings on hinges or that slides or rotates inside of a space....
was open slightly after finding their corpses, even though Billings was certain the door was shut.
Billings' wife Rita became pregnant approximately a year after their second child's death, at which time the family was living in a different house far away from the location of the original deaths. Their first year in the new house was without incident, but not long after, Rita left to care for her mother who had become ill. Billings and his son were left alone in the house.
It soon became apparent that whatever had killed the first two children had managed to track down Billings and his family, lingering in the closets for a brief time. Finally one night, the child cried "Boogeyman" while being put to bed, and an hour later, the child began to scream. Billings ran into the son's room and found a demon killing the boy. Billings, terrified, fled to a local 24-hour diner
Diner
A diner, also spelled dinor in western Pennsylvania is a prefabricated restaurant building characteristic of North America, especially in the Midwest, in New York City, in Pennsylvania and in New Jersey, and in other areas of the Northeastern United States, although examples can be found throughout...
. He returned home at dawn to find the boy on the floor with a broken neck and the closet door open slightly. Billings lied to the police, arguing that the death must have been accidental.
As Billings finishes his story and starts to leave, Harper recommends he make an appointment with the nurse for further discussion. Returning to the office after finding the lobby deserted, Billings finds Harper taking off a mask
Mask
A mask is an article normally worn on the face, typically for protection, disguise, performance or entertainment. Masks have been used since antiquity for both ceremonial and practical purposes...
to reveal that he is in actuality the Boogeyman that had killed his children.
Film, TV or theatrical adaptations
It was adapted into a movie by Jeff C. Schiro in 1982. It has also been performed at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe as a full length theatrical play, directed by television actor David OakesDavid Oakes
David Oakes is an English film, television and theatre actor.-Early life and education:He was born in Fordingbridge, New Forest, England, the son of a Church of England canon and a professional musician....
. In 2010, Irish film-maker Gerard Lough adapted it into a 27 minute movie.