Dragonlet I, full and happy, flew home. He crept carefully into his room, where his mum, the dragon mother, was already waiting.
Where on earth have you been, you little rascal? We've been searching everywhere for you!
Dragonlet I sat silently on his bed. He didn't know what to say to Mum. He didn't want to lie, but he was scared to tell the truth. He got so flustered that his skin turned from purple to bright pink.
Right then. If you don't answer me, you'll be punished, — Mum said sternly, — I'll take away your computer for a whole week!
I, I, I — he began stammering, — I heard my little sister's story about the berries and wanted to make sure she wasn't lying to us. I flew to visit people, to a kind Nan and a little boy.
What kind of punishment is this! — Mum was outraged. — You can't fly from the magical land to visit people. What if they had hurt you? What if they had locked you in a cage or chained you up? Kept you like a pet? Then you would never have come back to us!
I won't do it again, — Dragonlet I cried big tears, and his skin turned from pink to bright green.
Just then Di flew in through the window.
Found you! I'll give you what for! — she shouted.
Stop! — the dragon mother halted her. — He already realises what he's done, and understands that treating the family like this is not okay. Right, I?
Yes-yes-yes, — sobbed the dragonlet.
So where was he? — asked his little sister.
Where, where? — retorted Dragonlet I. — I flew to people, to your friend, the kind Nan, and to a boy. She gave me berries. Only the boy with her was a different one.
A different one? — said his sister, surprised. — Do they change colour too?
No, Nan called him Oliver. The other boy, Hudson, will be coming in three days, she said.
Ah-h-h… — drawled Di.
Right! I forbid you to fly to people! Remember, long ago, Nan told me about the time people attacked the dragonlets, and our relatives died.
That was two hundred years ago. Dragons were ve-e-ery big back then and not very nice either. Why did our uncle dragon kidnap a woman from the human tribe? Did he want to eat her? — pondered Di.
After that happened, — Mum continued, — a wizard turned the enormous dragons into tiny ones. Now we can live in the magical land and not fly to the nasty humans.
But why did he turn us into little dragons? — innocently asked I.
Why do you think? The magical land is small. If we were as huge as we were a thousand years ago, we simply wouldn't fit in here.
The family gathered for dinner. The dragon mother told them about little I's adventures. After thinking it over, the parents and grandparents decided to fly to the humans after all, to see with their own eyes what the children had been talking about.
Early on Sunday morning, Nan and Grandad went out into the garden. It was December, the currants were ripe on the bushes, and they needed picking to sell.
You pick the pink currants, and I'll start on the white ones, there are far more of them, — said Grandad.
We'd better hurry, or the buyers will turn up by ten, and they're forecasting a hot one today, — Nan agreed.
They sat down on little stools by the bushes laden with berries and got to work. Suddenly a strange hum could be heard.
Do you hear that? A sort of humming! Or is it just the blood rushing in my head? — asked Grandad.
No, — Nan replied, — I can't hear a thing.
Must be my blood pressure, — the man said, looking embarrassed.
The barometer's normal today. What's got into your blood pressure all of a sudden? — Nan was surprised. — Go inside, check it and take a tablet.
Grandad got up with a groan and shuffled towards the house. Nan kept picking currants. Suddenly, out of nowhere, a crowd of tiny dragons appeared right in front of her eyes. A whole mob!
Nan was stunned. If she hadn't known about the tiny dragons, the surprise might have knocked her clean off her feet.
Well, would you look at that! — she said.
We've flown over to visit you! — the dragonlets shouted in chorus. — Where are your boys?
Well, it's Sunday today, they're at home, — Nan replied quietly. She didn't know how to behave around these unexpected guests.
We came to see how you live, — said the grown-up dragons.
Oh, we're doing alright. Just picking berries, — Nan said, flustered.
We really wanted to have a chat with the boys, — the children said, disappointed.
They're not here, — Nan sighed. — So what can I offer you? Help me pick the berries. And eat some yourselves. I rinsed the bush with water. There are so many of you…
The dragon family swarmed the pink currant bush and began eating the berries.
The children say people are kind and hospitable. Is that true? — asked the dragon mother.
Some are, some aren't. I suppose your dragons are all different too…
We're full now, — someone from the family called out.
Full? Then help strip all the berries and put them in the bucket, — ordered Dad Dragon.
Blurry shapes like dragonflies began zipping around Nan's eyes.
I suggest you take the bucket of berries home. Consider it my gift, — Nan smiled.
Thanks, but we won't take the berries. We all flew here and ate our fill, — replied the dragon mother. — We'll help you and then fly back.
Footsteps could be heard.
Here comes my husband!
The dragonlets hid in the currant bush.
I checked my blood pressure. It's normal. Can't work out why my ears were ringing.
Pop back in and grab me some water, — Nan fibbed.
Grandad turned around and trudged back to the house, muttering to himself.
Grandad'll be back soon. I don't want him to see you, — the hostess said nervously.
What, is he a nasty man? Could he hurt us? — the dragonlets fired off questions.
Oh no, not at all! I'm just worried he'll faint if he sees you. He has no imagination, he's very serious. He doesn't read fairy tales and doesn't believe in magic.
Alright. We've stripped all the berries off the bush and helped you. Thanks for the hospitality and the treats! — the dragonlets called out and zoomed straight up into the sky.
Nan looked up, watched them in the sky and waved!
What were you looking at? — the man asked, walking over. — Waving your arms around like that.
Just some mozzies, — Nan smiled.
Wow! You've finished the bush so quickly! Got a full bucket of berries.
You're the one who took ages going back and forth.
But you sent me off: first check my blood pressure, then bring her water…
Stop your grumbling. Take the full bucket to the gate and bring back the empty one.
The dragonlets returned to their magical land and carry on living there just as they always did. They often remember their journey to the humans, the taste of the redcurrant berries, and smack their little tongues contentedly.
In time, they'll want to see the people again and will fly over to visit them.
