Mom used to work night shift at a factory, so she had to catch up on her sleep during the day. As a child, I was pretty much left by myself out of necessity.

With nobody else at home and a healthy imagination fueled by too many 80s horror films, there was a time when I was too afraid to go to the living room and watch TV.

When my need for stimulation out-weighed my fear, I came up with a plan to wrap myself up in a piece of straw mat for “protection” and walked out of my parents’ bedroom.

For some time, a roll of straw mat stood in the middle of the living, watching television. I felt strangely secured and comfortable.