Little Dragon Ollie, full and content, flew home. He slipped quietly into his room, where his mother, Dragon Mama, was already waiting for him.
And where have you been, you little rascal? We've been searching everywhere for you!
Ollie sat down silently on his bed. He didn't know what to say to his mother. He didn't want to lie, but he was afraid to tell the truth. He became so flustered that his scales changed from purple to bright pink.
Well, well. If you don't answer me, you will be punished," she said sternly. "I'm taking away your computer for a week!
I, I, I," Ollie stammered, "I heard my little sister's story about the berries, and I wanted to make sure she wasn't tricking us. I flew to visit some people, a kind grandma and a little boy.
What a punishment that is!" Mama exclaimed. "You must never fly to people from our magical land. What if they had hurt you? What if they had locked you in a cage or put you on a chain? What if they had kept you like a pet? Then you would never have come back to us!
I won't do it again," Ollie cried big tears, and his scales changed from pink to bright green.
Just then, Di flew in through the window.
There you are! Just you wait, I'll give you what for!" she shouted.
Stop!" Mama stopped her. "He already realizes what he has done, and he understands that you can't treat your family this way. Isn't that right, Ollie?
Yes, yes, yes," the little dragon sobbed.
So where was he?" his sister asked.
Where, where?" Ollie snapped. "I flew to the people, to your friend, the kind grandma, and to the boy. She gave me berries. Only the boy with her was a different one.
A different one? Ha, do they change their skin colour too?"
No, the grandma called him Aiden. The other boy, Owen, is coming in three days, she said.
Oh-h-h..." Di drew out the word.
That's enough! I forbid you to fly to people! Remember, long ago there was an incident. Grandma told me that people attacked the little dragons, and our relatives were lost.
That was two hundred years ago. Dragons were ve-e-ery big back then and not nice either. Why did our uncle dragon kidnap a woman from the human tribe? Did he want to eat her?" Di wondered.
After that incident," Mama continued, "a wizard turned the huge dragons into tiny ones. Now we can live in our magical land and not fly to the mean people.
Why did he make us into little dragons?" Ollie asked innocently.
Why, of course! The magical land is small. If we were still as huge as we were a thousand years ago, we simply wouldn't fit here.
The family gathered for dinner. Mama told them about little Ollie's adventures. After thinking it over, the parents, grandmas and grandpas decided to fly to the people anyway, to see with their own eyes what the children had described.
Early on a Sunday morning, Grandma and Grandpa went out into the garden. It was August, the blackcurrants on the bushes were ripe, and they needed to be picked for sale.
You pick the red currants, and I'll start on the white ones. There are many more of them," said Grandpa.
We have to hurry, because the customers are coming at ten in the morning, and they're forecasting a hot day today," Grandma agreed.
They sat down on little stools beside the bushes full of berries and got to work. Suddenly, a strange buzzing sound could be heard.
Do you hear that? A humming sound! Or is it just ringing in my head?" Grandpa asked.
No," Grandma replied, "I don't hear anything.
It must be my blood pressure," the man said, embarrassed.
The barometer is normal today. Why would your blood pressure go up all of a sudden?" Grandma asked in surprise. "Go inside, check it, and take your pill.
Grandpa got up with a groan and shuffled toward the house. Grandma kept picking the currants. Suddenly, out of nowhere, a crowd of little dragons appeared right in front of her eyes. A whole swarm!
The woman was stunned. If she hadn't known about the little dragons, she might have fainted from the surprise.
Well, I never!" she said.
We've flown over to visit you!" Ollie and Di shouted in unison. "Where are your boys?
Well, it's Sunday today, they're at home," Grandma answered quietly. She didn't know how to behave with these unexpected guests.
We came to see how you live," said the grown-up dragons.
Oh, we get by just fine. We're picking berries," Grandma said, flustered.
We really wanted to chat with the boys," the children said, disappointed.
They're not here," Grandma sighed. "So what can I offer you? Help me pick the berries. And eat some yourselves. I rinsed the bush with water. There sure are a lot of you...
The dragon family swarmed around the red currant bush and started eating the berries.
The children say that people are kind and hospitable. Is that true?" asked Mama Dragon.
Some are, some aren't. Your dragons are probably different too, I guess...
We've had enough," someone from the family shouted.
Once you've eaten, help strip all the berries and put them in the pail," ordered Papa Dragon.
Grandma's eyes were dazzled by darting, fluttering "dragonflies."
I suggest you take the pail of berries home with you. It will be my gift," Grandma smiled.
Thank you, but we won't take the berries. We all flew here and have eaten our fill," Mama Dragon replied. "We'll help you and then fly back.
Footsteps could be heard.
My husband is coming back!
The dragons hid in the currant bush.
I checked my blood pressure. It's normal. I can't understand, was there ringing in my ears?
Go back in and bring me some water," Grandma cleverly said.
Grandpa turned around and trudged back into the house, muttering to himself.
He'll be back soon. I don't want him to see you," the hostess said timidly.
Is he a mean person? Could he hurt us?" the dragons fired off questions.
No, no, not at all! I'm just afraid 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.
All right. We've picked all the berries off the bush and helped you. Thank you for your hospitality and for the treats!" the dragons shouted, and they immediately soared up into the sky.
Grandma lifted her head, looked up at the sky, and waved to them!
What did you see up there?" the man asked as he approached. "You were flapping your arms around.
Just some gnats," Grandma said with a smile.
Wow! You finished the bush so quickly! You filled a whole pail of berries.
That's because you went back and forth for so long.
But you sent me there yourself: first check my blood pressure, then bring her water...
Stop grumbling. Carry the full pail to the gate and bring the empty one back with you.
The dragons returned to their magical land and continue to live there just as they always have. They often think back on their trip to the people, remember the taste of the currant berries, and smack their little tongues with satisfaction.
Time will pass, and they will want to see the people again and will fly over to visit them.
