Marinawasextremelyafraidofthedark.Whenthelightswentout,everythingandeveryshadowappearedtoherasthemostterribleofmonsters.Herparentsexplainedtoher,everydayandwithgreatpatience,thatthesethingswerenotmonsters.Marinaunderstoodherparents,butshecouldnotstopfeelinganawfulfearwheneveritwasdark.

　　OnedayherAuntValeriecametovisit.Valeriewasanincrediblewoman.Shewasfamousforhercourage,andforhavinggoneonmanyjourneysofadventure,someofwhichhadbeenmadeintobooksandmovies.Marinawantedtoconquerherfearofthedark,sosheaskedherAunthowshebecamesobrave,andwhethershehadeverbeenfrightened.

　　"Agreatmanytimes,Marina,"answeredherAunt,"IrememberwhenIwassmallandIwasterriblyafraidofthedark.Icouldn'tstayinthedarkforevenamoment".

　　Marinabecameveryexcited.Howwasitpossiblethatsomeonesocourageouscouldhavebeenafraidofthedark?

　　"I'lltellyouasecret,Marina.Itwassomeblindchildrenwhotaughtmehowtobebrave.Theycan'tsee,soiftheyhadneverdiscoveredthesecretofhownottobeafraidofthedark,theywouldhavebeenforeverfrightened".

　　"It'strue!"saidMarina,intrigued,"Canyoutellmethatsecret?"

　　"Ofcourse!Thesecretistochangeyoureyes.Sinceblindchildrencan'tsee,theirhandsaretheireyes.Allyouhavetodotoconqueryourfeariswhattheydo.Shuttheeyesofyourfaceandopentheeyesofyourhands.Let'smakeadeal:tonight,whenyougotobedandputoutthelight,ifanythingmakesyouafraid,closeyoureyes,carefullygetoutofbed,andtrytoseewhatitisthat'smakingyouscared.Butdoitusingyourhandsaseyes...andtomorrowtellmehowyou'regettingonwiththefear".

　　Marinaaccepted,butshewasratherworried.Sheknewshewouldneedtobebravetoclosehereyesandgoandtouchwhateveritwasthatwasfrighteningher;butshewaswillingtotrybecauseshewasalreadytoooldforthis.Whenherparentstookhertobed,sheherselfputoutthelight.Afteralittlewhile,shefeltafraidofoneoftheshadowsinthebedroom.FollowingtheadviceofAuntValerie,sheclosedtheeyesofherfaceandopenedtheeyesofherhands.And,summoningupallhercourage,shewentovertotouchthatmysteriousshadow...

　　ThenextmorningMarinacamerunningintothekitchen,abigsmileonherface,andasongonherlips."Themonsterissosoftandsmooth!..."shecried,

　　"It'smyteddybear!"

　　Awaytoovercomefearofdarknessinchildren,throughimaginationandcreativity