Four-year-old Dragon Little woke up early, and having nothing to do took the pirate ship that ist her home for a joyride in the sky.
Bonnie’s Revenge flew into and out of the clouds as she yelled, “Yee-haw!” And “Ahooooy!” and even “Beware evildoers!”
After a while, Dragon Little left the helm, allowing the ship to sail slowly forward in a straight line. She looked around, probably searching for something else to do.
Her eyes came to rest on the suns.
My ears prickled as I sensed danger.
Dragon Little ran to the wheel and spun the ship around.
From my hiding place, I stood up. How dangerous would this get? Would I have to get involved?
Bonnie’s Revenge began to sail through the air in a straight line towards one of the suns. The two suns were close to each other, but I could clearly see which one she was aiming the ship at.
Faster and faster the ship flew. I stood up now. Should I appear? Should I roar and stop her through fear of the full might of my voice, which so far she has never heard?
Faster and faster Bonnie’s Revenge flew.
I opened my mouth. And then a voice shouted with all its force: “JOY! STOP THE SHIP!”
Dragon Father had appeared on the deck behind Joy.
“Dad! I’m just—”
“Stop! The ship!” He didn’t wait for her to respond. He ran to the wheel and spun it around.
Bonnie’s Revenge turned, and he slowed it down to a stop in mid-air.
“Dad! I just—”
“Listen to me!” He yelled at her, looking down at the young child and flapping his finger above her face. “The suns! Are dangerous! Dangerous! You don’t know how dangerous they are!”
He pointed at the suns. “You get close, you burn! You burn! All at once! All of the sudden! You burn and you die! Like that!” He snapped his fingers. “It’s too hot up close! And we can’t survive! Got it?”
Dragon Little’s nose began to twitch. She looked like she would cry. She pursed her lips together, as she usually does when she refuses to say something.
“Look at me!” He pointed her face towards him by guiding her chin with his fingers. “Look at me! No! this one… No! I will lose you! You will lose me! You will die! And… And it will hurt every day to die! Got it? I want your word that you will never ever ever get close to the suns!”
Dragon Little’s pout disappeared. She nodded.
He looked in her eyes. Then, apparently satisfied, looked away. “Good! Let’s eat breakfast, then!”
—Told by The Red Dragon