My first memory – mike and the swamp monster

When I was around 2 or 3 we lived in a house with a big hill in the backyard. My older brother Mike would go down the hill, disappearing behind the thick line of trees. We called the bottom of the hill “the swamp.” Too frightened to go down to the swamp myself I would sit patiently at the top of the hill waiting for Mike to return. Inevitably I would soon hear his howls and screams for help. “Help! Help! The swamp monster has got me!”.  Unable to see through the trees, I could only imagine the danger he was in. I would fret and cry and scream back – “Mike! Mike” Are you ok?”  I am sure this was generally followed by me running to get my parents to help Mike escape the swamp monster.