A Dragon for Christmas by M.D. Neu

Author:M.D. Neu [Neu, M.D.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: NineStar Press, LGBT, Christmas, dragons, fantasy, hurt/comfort, lesbian, illness, young adult
Publisher: NineStar Press, LLC
Published: 2017-05-05T16:00:00+00:00

WHY MY MOM insists on playing Christmas music as we open presents is beyond me. There are only so many times I can hear “Frosty the Snowman,” especially since San Jose has no snow, not even on the hills this year. Plus, I am not in the mood for presents. I want my dragon to show up. It has been two days and nothing. Not even Aunt Rebecca’s tamales cheered me up. And I made sure to eat a bunch of them just to make sure. Instead, I sit here with a bunch of presents and out the window all I see is rain.

“Carmen, open your gifts.” My dad leans over from his chair and picks up a wrapped box.

“What does it matter?”

“Mija.” Mom tries to keep her voice as level as possible. “I realize you wanted your dragon by Christmas….”

I turn from her and the window. I can’t watch her try to cheer me up. All I see is the red and puffiness of her eyes. She’s been crying but hiding it from me.

I know it’s not good. I know the curse will come back.

“What about this one from Mattie?” Dad holds up a medium flat box with a bright gold bow on it.

I sigh. I take a bite of the cookie from our neighbor. It’s chocolate chip and yummy. It’s not their fault. I have to be patient, but it’s so hard. I saw Rella. I flew on her. So why isn’t she here yet? If I miss the window to get my charms, then I have to start all over again, and that means more time feeling crummy and more money my parents have to spend to keep the curse from coming back, money I don’t think they have. I don’t want them to have to sell the house. Plus, I’m tired of always feeling lousy. I need my dragon.

I reach out, pick up the present, rip through the wrapping, and open the box. It’s a picture in a silver frame of Mattie and me from when we first met. We were kids. Even though Mattie was older, I was taller, at least back then. Now she’s taller than me. We are both out in the dragon training yard, wearing dumb Christmas hats because we had to shave our heads for the first part of our testing. I run a hand along the frame. That was a bad Christmas. We were both sick because of the charms and the curse, and the training was awful. This was probably our best day that whole holiday.

“I remember that Christmas.” Dad points to the picture.

“It was awful.”

Mom gets up, picks up another gift, and joins us. “Those sessions…” Her voice cracks. “You pulled through. Mattie and you really got close that first year. I’m glad you met her.”

The smile on my mom’s face makes me all toasty inside. “You called us the Terrible Two.”

She and my dad laugh.

Despite being sad about the dragon, I laugh too. I put the picture aside, take a breath, and look up at my mom and dad.

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