A childhood belief about vampires

A little before my 8th birthday, I was watching a movie about vampires with my sister and brother. My brother who was 6-1/2 years older told us that when people died that person became a vampires. He told me that they could change into any form that they wanted to get inside a person's home (fly, ant, etc.) and would then change back into a vampire and come and bight others on their necks and they would die, and become vampires. Not knowing any better, we believed him, but I think I believed him more.

1 month after my 8th birthday my father. At his funeral, I remembered what my brother had told me, and I became very frightened.

That evening, I cried to sleep with my mother, because I just knew she was the only one who could protect me from the vampires.

For weeks, maybe months I would sleep with the covers pulled up to my head, because I feared that my father was a vampire and would come into my room and bight me on my neck.

Almost a year later, my mother asked me why I would scream out everynight. When I told her what my brother had told me, she explained the truth to me after laughing, and had a nice litter talk with my brother.