Once the dealer had berated Dragon Father for having no car, no family, no wife or girlfriend, no kids (although he did have Dragon Little), no hope and told him he was now deeply in debt, Dragon Father seemed to be on the verge of crying.
“Get out of the car, Joy,” he turned his attention to the car.
The new car was standing there with its roof torn apart, its sides and front banged up, and Dragon Little was standing on the front seat, leaning out from the torn roof.
“Why?” she started. But when she looked at his face, she jumped out and joined him. “What’s wrong, Dad?”
Her father’s face contorted in anger. A hammer as big Dragon Little’s body appeared in his hand.
“This!” He hit the car with the hammer. “Is what happens!” He hit it again and it tore and bent underneath the hammer. “When!” Hit. “You!” Hit. “Steal!” Hit.
The car flipped. He continued to hit it with uncontrollable rage. Dragon Daughter took a few steps back, keeping her distance.
When Dragon Father was spent he looked back at her and saw her lip quivering and tears coming down her cheeks.
As soon as he looked at her, she began to cry.
“Aw, jeez…” he said.
Within seconds, his anger was gone. He came over to her and hugged her.
“I’m sorry, Joy. That was… you shouldn’t have seen that… It was just… Dad was angry, right?”
She nodded, her face hidden in his shirt.
“And it made you feel really bad to see Dad this angry, right?”
She nodded again.
He sighed. “Oh, my god, I’m sorry. I should never have done that. That’s terrible. I got so out of control…”
She continued to cry and hide her face. He caressed her long hair. “I’m sorry. I promise never to get that angry again. Okay?”
She nodded.
He sighed again. “It’s just that sometimes grownups have bad days.” He sighed again. “But it’s over. I’m not angry anymore. Okay?”
She nodded.
And that ist how Dragon Father’s dark mood ended.
—Told by The Red Dragon