Dimwater's Demons by Sam Ferguson

Author:Sam Ferguson [Ferguson, Sam]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: BluA
Publisher: Dragon Scale Publishing
Published: 2016-07-12T23:00:00+00:00

Chapter 9

After the priests had left the aspen wood, Kyra could tell that Leatherback was still a bit unnerved by how the entire examination had gone. She had a remedy though, as she usually did on examination day. She motioned for the dragon to lie down and then slipped a small book out of her bag.

“I brought another short story,” Kyra said. “I could read it if you like.”

Leatherback snorted, refusing to answer verbally.

Kyra moved in and sat in her spot, leaning back against the dragon’s neck. “I’m going to start reading. If you don’t like it, then we can go and swim.”

Leatherback closed his eyes and took in a deep breath.

Kyra patted his neck and then opened the book of children’s stories. “Once there was an old man. He was poor, and had very little to eat. His shack had holes in the roof and cracks in the walls. His clothes were torn and dirty. Yet, despite his poverty, he was a happy man. He loved to whistle as he repaired his leaky roof or mended his clothes. He also sang while he worked in his garden pulling weeds and planting seeds.

“One night, late in the summer, a terrible thing happened. The air was so cold that ice and frost descended on the old man’s garden and killed all of his fruits and vegetables. The old man was very sad when he woke and saw his garden destroyed. Worse yet, he had only a small amount of food left in his shack.

“He tried to save something from his garden, but it was no use. Everything was ruined. The old man decided to travel to the city to hopefully find some work so he could buy enough food to get through the winter. He packed the last loaf of bread left in his cupboard, a bag of nuts, and the last of the pickled beans he had prepared the previous fall for him to eat on his journey.

“As he walked through the green forest, he met a man sitting next to a broken carriage. The man was obviously tired.

‘“Do you need any help?’ the old man asked.

‘“The wheel broke,’ the tired man replied. ‘My brother went for help yesterday, and should be back soon.’ The tired man’s stomach grumbled. ‘Do you have any food?’ he asked.

‘“I have a little,’ the old farmer replied. ‘I suppose I can share some.’ The old man opened his container of beans and gave it to the tired man.

‘“Thank you,’ the tired man said with a mouthful of beans. The old man smiled and walked onward. It wasn’t long before he saw a squirrel, crying on the side of the trail.

‘“What’s wrong little fella?’ the old man asked.

‘“A group of birds found my secret spot and stole all of my nuts. Now I have no food for my family for winter.’”

Leatherback snorted. “Squirrels don’t talk.”

Kyra jabbed him softly with her elbow. “Well, they do in this story, so hush.”

Leatherback grinned slightly, and Kyra knew that he was enjoying himself, despite the show he was putting on to the contrary.

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