Dragon Father reappeared on the deck of Bonny’s Revenge as usual the next day. Having spent an entire day in his waking world, whatever that may be for him, he had fallen asleep again and awoken on the same spot on Bonny Revenge’s deck, looking in the same direction as always.
He looked around.
Five and a half year old Dragon Little was asleep on the deck, back leaning against the mast, head leaning back.
Her mouth and chin were still showing the dried remains of the little blood that had fallen out of her mouth when her tooth was knocked out. He let out a small laugh and leaned down next to her.
In her hand, between her fingers, she was holding her tooth.
“Joy, Joy,” he said gently.
She did not budge.
He caressed her cheek. “Joy, Joy…”
She did not move.
He looked back patiently. “Were you so excited to go to Tooth Island that you couldn’t fall asleep? Huh, Joy?”
She did not move.
He caressed her hair. “Come on, Joy. Wake up. We’re going to Tooth Island. Wake up.”
But she would not wake.
He nudged her. “When did you fall asleep, Joy? One hour ago? Two hours ago?”
After a few moments of no response, he smiled again, and began to sing. Do keep in mind that Dragon Father’s singing sounds like the screeching of a wicked witch. Possibly on purpose. “Oh what a beautiful moooooooornniiiiiiiiiing!”
Dragon Little’s eyes opened widely, her free hand thrusting itself into Dragon Father’s face, blocking his mouth.
“Ooooh wwwwwwwwaaaaaaa a booooooooobeeeeeeffoooooo daaaaaa!” Dragon Father continued singing with a closed mouth.
“No singing! No singing!” She begged.
Dragon Father nodded, and she took the hand off his mouth. “There you are. When did you fall asleep?”
“I don’t know.”
“Did it take a long while?”
“Yes,” she answered, tired. Then, suddenly, she jumped to her feet full of vigor. “Tooth Island! We’re going on an adventure with the Tooth Fairy!”
“Yes, we are.”
He stood up and smiled. “First, you wash your face. You’ve got blood on it. Brush your teeth. Let’s eat and then: Get! On! The! Way!”
“Get! On! The! Way!”
She sprang into action.
Tomorrow I will tell you what happened next.
—Told by The Red Dragon