“There’s one problem, of course,” Dragon Father said. “You have no more pajamas now.”
Dragon Father and Dragon Little were standing on the deck of Bonny’s Revenge, still looking at the giant Pajama Monster in front of them.
“Ah, well, it was getting small on you anyway,” Dragon Father continued. “I think it’s time for a new pair.”
The Pajama Monster’s happy face, for having eaten Dragon Little’s pajamas, now turned concerned. And then it seemed like it was in some sort of pain.
“What’s it doing, Dad?” Dragon Little had been originally frightened by the idea of a Pajama Monster. But then, as her father created it for her and made it harmless, he had taught her to accept her fears. It had worked, because now there was no fear in her voice.
“I don’t know, that’s very str--” he began, but then the Pajama Monster’s face became one of extreme pain. “Oh, no. No, no,” he grabbed Dragon Little’s arm and together they took a few steps back.
The Pajama Monster’s face became one of great effort and pain simultaneously.
“Take a step back! Back!” They were up against the wall next to the door that led to the Infinite Prison
“What’s it doing, Dad?”
“Mmmmmmmmm!” the monster groaned with great effort. “Mmmmmm!”
“Oh my god,” Dragon Father whispered.
“What’s it doing--Oh!”
With great effort, a small pajama began to appear at the other end of the Pajama Monster’s body.
“Mmmmmmm!” the Pajama Monster squeezed again and out popped a new pajama onto the deck. This one was red with images of dragons.
“Oh! Gross!” Dragon Little said.
Dragon Father walked hesitantly towards the pooped pajama.
He bent down to get a better look.
He sniffed it.
“It smells like fresh laundry!” he said.
He reached down with a finger and touched it. “So smooth! Like it’s new!”
He held it in his hands. “The Pajama Monster poops out fresh pajamas! Joy, this is just what we need!”
She made a face. “Gross!”
“Put it on! It’s clean! It’s your new pajamas!”
“Bleh!”
“Joy, look at it. It has pictures of dragons, just like Red!”
“Pajamas come out of poop!” three-year-old Dragon Little shouted at him. “I am never wearing pajamas again!”
Dragon Little ran to her cabin.
Dragon Father looked after her and whispered, “Oh noooooo…”
And, indeed, as I suspect Dragon Father knew, in all the years I followed her in the dream, Dragon Little never wore a pajama again.
—Told by The Red Dragon