Dylan by D.L. Gardner

Author:D.L. Gardner
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Diverse, urban fantasy, love story, Coming of age stories, Magic, magical realism
Publisher: D.L. Gardner
Published: 2018-04-24T00:00:00+00:00

Island of Paradise

The rickety door of Tim Lan’s shed could have fallen off its hinges when he jiggled the wooden handle. It didn’t only because he held the door in place when he opened it. Tim Lan bowed low, his cordial greeting added an odd formality to such a scruffy home. I stepped inside.

“You laugh,” he said, his grin as wide as mine. “My house is a simple wooden shed, but it is warm and will keep the dew away. Nice, Em?”

“Nice,” I answered. Who was I to complain? My clothes hung off me wet and laden with sand. I had already taken my shoes off and carried them laced together on my shoulder, with my socks stuck inside of them. Any dry place would work as a home right now. I wasn’t fussy. I was grateful. Maybe I could have used my magic to change my clothes, but I was too tired to try, and I wasn’t sure about letting Tim Lan see me use my powers for more than marbles, anyway.

“I can cook for you, Tim Lan. Whatever I can do for you I will be happy to do.”

“Yes!” He grinned even wider. “You can pay your way. I have a plan.”

“I don’t know about paying my way. But I’m a good cook.”

“Maybe, if you want to cook, okay. But not for payment. I have a better plan for you to pay me.”

I had no idea what he was talking about. “I guess.”

“No, Em. No guess. Just say ‘I am able, and I will.” His eyes locked onto mine hard, to indicate the importance of what he was saying. I swallowed and tried digesting his words, though I doubted I should agree. I think he could tell my uncertainties by the look on my face. “You say what I just said.”

I stared at him.

“Say the words after me. I am able.”

“I am able.”

That made him grin wider. “Say I will.”

I hesitated because he was asking me to make a promise. Uncle Jim told me never to make an oath unless I was certain I could keep my word. I didn’t even know what I was swearing to. My face heated up and I’m sure had I looked in a mirror I’d be blushing. That didn’t seem to faze him.

“You trust me?”

I had no reason not to.

He encouraged me with his nod and moved his lips for me as though his actions would prompt my own. Finally, because he wouldn’t stop unless I obeyed, I did. I made the vow. “I will.” I cringed afterward.

“Ah! There! You won’t regret it.” He spun around and led me through his one room shanty into a kitchen area where he offered me a place at his table.

“Where did you get the furniture?” I studied the dark wood which had been etched with dragons and lotus blossoms. Pretty fancy for such a funky old shack.

He chuckled. “The Hungry Lion. You remember?”

“The Chinese restaurant that used to be on the pier?”

Clever Tim Lan, the hermit crab, made use of the ruins of Reef Hollow Amusement Park.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.