Dragon Little was four years old when Dragon Father announced they would go off to fight the Pirate Witches of the West.
“I want to go to the Trampoline Stairs!” she said.
Dragon Father shook his head. “We have to save the planet first, Joy.”
She tried again after a few seconds, “I want to go the Trampoline Stairs first!”
“First we have to save the planet.”
“First the stairs!”
Dragon Father was insistent. Dragon Little was equally insistent, growing louder and louder.
Finally, Dragon Father exploded: “Joy! You don’t decide what happens! I decide what happens!”
Dragon Little stared at him suddenly and did not move.
Dragon Father stared back at her. Dragon Little continued to stare at him, without moving. It was as if she had heard something impossible was suddenly possible.
Dragon Father started laughing.
Dragon Little did not change her expression.
Dragon Father said, “Did I break you? Are you broken?”
Dragon Little still did not move, but her eyes moved from side to side now.
“Is that the first time you ever heard that? It can’t be.”
Dragon Little suddenly moved again. “Let’s go save the world,” she said. “Then the stairs. That’s what I want!”
Dragon Father laughed and said, “Okay. As you wish.”
And they went to save the world.
—Told by The Red Dragon