‘The Squashbuckler Diaries’ are the daily tales of Joy Shelley’s Life in the Dream. The ‘Lost in Dreams’ books will tell the story of what happens to her at ages 6, 9, 12, 15, and so on. The diaries tell us what happens before, after, and between the books.

#23: Mary's Death, Part 5: The Funeral

“Goodbye, Mary.”

Dragon Little and Dragon Father battled the plant people on the small island so they could bury Mary.

The giant roots of the plant people withered in the sun, now torn from their evil roots. Dragon Father held Dragon Little in his arm in front of the grave, looking at the gravestone. The gravestone said:

HERE LIES MARY

THE GREATEST NANNY

WHO EVER LIVED

“Do you want to say something to Mary?”

Dragon Little, now only two and a half years old, buried her head in Dragon Father’s chest.

“All right. I’ll say something. Goodbye, Mary. I know you loved Joy, and Joy loved you very much. Thank you for taking care of Joy all those years. Thank you for playing with her. Thank you for tucking her in. Thank you for your love. We will miss you. Joy, do you want to say something, too?”

Dragon Little did not move her head from out of her father’s chest.

“Okay. That’s okay. You can tell her anything you want at any time you want. Hey, look over there!”

Dragon Father pointed at a passing cloud. “Look, Joy, look!”

Dragon Little raised her head and looked. The cloud took on the shape of Mary’s head and hand. She smiled and waved down at her ward, Dragon Little.

“She’s waving at us! Come on, wave back, wave back!”

Gingerly, Dragon Little waved.

“Goodbye, Mary!” Dragon Father said. “Goodbye!”

—Told by The Red Dragon


Watch how I came up with the idea for this post:

#24: Mary's Death, Part 6: Dust to Dust

#22: Mary's Death, Part 4: Adventure!