‘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.

#113: She Sells Seashells, Part 1

“She sells…” Dragon Little said it slowly… “Seashells…” 

“Yes…” Dragon Father urged her calmly. 

“...By the sea… shore.”

“Very good!” Dragon Father clapped. “Now say it three times fast!”

Dragon Little’s eyes opened wide. “Huh?”

They were standing on the shore of an island full of seashells. The two were hiding behind a big rock, tall bushes to all sides of them, waiting for the villains to arrive. Dragon Little was four-and-a-half years old and fully participated in all attacks against villains. 

“Say it three times fast. She sells seashells by the seashore, she sells seashells by the seashore, she sells seashells by the seashore.” He smiled at her triumphantly. “Now you!”

Dragon Little took a deep breath. “She sells she shells by—”

“You said she shell! Try again!”

Dragon Little made a face. “She shells—Dah!”

“Again. You can’t get it all at once.”

“She sells… seashells… by the sea… shore.” 

“Right. But fast.”

She made a face again. 

“She sells seashells—”

“Shh! They’re coming!”

She quickly sat down with her back to the rock. “I was getting it!” she whispered. 

“Okay! They’re coming! Remember what we have to do?”

“Yes…” but her voice was angry, probably not because of the incoming attack. 

The attack turned out well.  Dragon Father and Dragon Little won the day and the bad guys imprisoned in the Infinite Prison in the belly of Bonny’s Revenge. But Dragon Little had a bad mood the entire day. And when Dragon Father disappeared, leaving her alone on the ship… Well, I will tell you more of what happened tomorrow. For now I must rest.

—Told by The Red Dragon

Check out the idea behind this post:

#114: She Sells Seashells, Part 2: The Chorus

#112: The Stubble