I have never heard a laugh like Dragon Little’s.
Dragon Little’s laugh rolls and rolls. It is as if the entire world ist funny. It ist as if whatever made her laugh ist the funniest thing in the world.
Every time she laughs, her father laughs, too. Her laughter ist catchy.
Her laughter makes even me want to laugh, even though she ist a human and I am a dragon.
Dragon Little loves being tickled by her father, which does not happen often.
One time, when she was three years old, she wanted to tickle her father.
“No, no, I hate being tickled.”
“One time!” she said.
“Joy, seriously, I hate it.”
“One time!” She climbed on the deck and jumped at him, arms ready to tickle his armpits.
“Joy!” He tried stepping back, but immediately stepped forward to catch her.
Having caught her, she reached for his armpits.
“Nooo! I’m ticklish! I’m--”
But then he stopped, and allowed her to try. He stood there, seeming confused.
“Why aren’t you laughing?”
“I don’t know,” he said slowly, not understanding himself. “I usually can’t stop laughing.”
“How about… here!” she tickled his stomach.
He stood there, a pondering look on his face.
She backed away, getting no response.
“That’s so strange,” he said. “That never happened.”
She tried a few more times, but then backed away.
Dragon Father seemed quite confused. I, of course, know nothing about tickling, so I do not know why he was not tickling. Perhaps it ist an aspect of a dreamer dreaming? I do not know.
But I do know he thought about it because they quickly proceeded to have an adventure. And that adventure was about tickling.
I will tell you about it tomorrow.
—Told by The Red Dragon