‘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.

#189: In the Land of the Giants, Part 6: Waiting

“No! Dad! Over here! No!” Dragon Little shouted at Bonny’s Revenge as it flew down and into the giants’ forest. 

She was lost in the forest of the Land of the Giants. Her father didn’t see her and went to look for her in the wrong place. 

Dragon Little, her body bruised and hurt from being swatted by a giant a day ago, jumped up and down on the gigantic leaf she was standing on. She did not lose balance. She did not fall from the top of the gigantic tree. I have rarely seen Dragon Little lose her balance in all the time I have known her. 

Dragon Little sat at the edge of the leaf, about to slip down. 

She stopped. 

She stood back up, looking at where she had seen Bonny’s Revenge

Nothing. 

She moved to the edge of the leaf. 

She pursed her lips and stood back. 

I believed I knew what was going through her mind. 

Years ago, when I had just come into Dragon Father’s dream, I saw him explain to Dragon Little what to do if she was ever lost. 

She should go to a place where she could easily be seen and she should stay there and wait for as long as it takes until her father finds her. 

As much as she wanted to go down and look for Bonny’s Revenge, she resisted and stood on the leaf. 

She stood there for hours. A little girl so full of energy, so ready to take charge, stood on the giant leaf for five hours without a single sign of Bonny’s Revenge

She bit her lips. She squeezed her hands. She jumped up and down. She screamed. She walked in circles on the leaf. But she did not leave it for five entire hours. 

And then the forest shook. 

But I will tell you more of what happened next tomorrow.

—Told by The Red Dragon

#190: In the Land of the Giants, Part 7: Dad Vs. the Giants

#188: In the Land of the Giants, Part 5: You Suck!