As I promised here is the story about dragons and little boys. I wrote this three years ago while on staff at Southland Christian camp. One of my many jobs that summer was running the bookstore. It had it's slow moments and I used them to jot down a few stories. Four in all. I read them to my cabins mates each night I brought one back and dedicated each story to one of the girls at camp. This story was dedicated to my cabin mate and camp photographer, Rachel Acree.
Dragons Aren’t Real
(Dedicated to Rachel Erin Acree)
Once upon a time not so very long ago lived a boy named Edgar. Edgar loved reading about knights and dragons and told his mother that one day he would have a dragon. Of course everyone thought he was mad and just laughed at him saying dragons don’t exist. But Edgar believed different…
One day Edgar was outside playing in his backyard, doing nothing more than any boy his age would be doing. Edgar had been playing that he was on the high seas chasing after pirates when a lizard darted past on the fence. Edgar immediately invisioned a dragon and began fiercely swirling his sword in front of him at the lizard. Suddenly in mid air his pretend sword stopped.
“A dragon” he cried, “why can’t you become a dragon?”
Edgar snatched the lizard off of the fence and put him in a jar. He poked holes in the lid, threw a bug inside and hurried to find a more suitable home for his new found playmate. Edgar spent most of the rest of his day fashioning a dragon house from an old fish tank and other odds and ends.
The next day Edgar asked his mother if they could buy some dragon food at the store. No dragon food could be found, but the pet store did have lizard food and Edgar agreed since he hadn’t actually turned into a dragon yet that lizard food would work. Edgar faithfully feed his lizard and did his best to make him feel at home, but Edgar became very disappointed as the weeks passed and his lizard never grew any bigger.
One Day Edgar saw his Mother watering her flowers and putting green crumbly stuff in the flower pot.
“What’s that?” Edgar asked.
His Mother said it was miracle grow and explained how it helped the flowers grow and bloom longer. Edgar smiled,
“Can I have some?” he asked “I have something that needs to grow too.”
Edgar’s mother knowing it was for the lizard gladly agreed hoping that the miracle grow would rid her house of the nasty lizard.
From that day on Edgar put one teaspoon of Miracle grow in the lizards food. Un-announced to Edgar’s mother the lizard started to grow. First it was slowly, a little bit each week, but then everyday Edgar noticed changes. Soon his lizard didn’t fit in his fish tank anymore. Edgar carried his lizard outside and put a little collar on it and carefully hid him behind the shed. Edgar’s mother was pleased to see the fish tank being disassembled in Edgar’s room and being put back away in the garage.
Just as summer hits it’s hottest and most boys and girls are getting bored, Edgar was having the time of his life. The lizard was so big that he was having a hard time keeping it secret. Baby dragons eat a lot you know!
One day Edgar’s worst fear happened. Edgar was in his room putting on his favorite pirate fighting outfit when he heard his mother scream. Edgar raced out to the backyard to find his mother staring in horror at his now full grown dragon sitting behind the shed.
“Don’t worry Mom, He’s really very nice.” Edgar pleaded
“Where did he come from?” She cried
“It’s my lizard” Edgar explained, ‘You were right about the Miracle grow. It helps things grow.”
His Mother stared wide-eyed at Edgar.
“You mean – that is a lizard?!”
Edgar nodded and smiled.
It wasn’t long before the local news heard about Edgar’s dragon. Everyone from miles around flocked to see this amazing sight. A real dragon! Edgar proudly wore his favorite pirate fighting clothes and paraded his dragon around.
Edgar had done it. He had his very own dragon. No one could say he was mad now, especially not his mother. Of course all of this made Edgar wonder; if you can make a lizard into a dragon, what would happen to a …
Have you ever tried to write a short story? Do you have one stashed away somewhere that you haven't looked at for years? Have you ever aspired to write a book?
Sarah
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