Once upon a time, in a faraway fairy-tale land, there lived a big family of little dragonets. You might ask why dragonets and not fearsome dragons? I call them that affectionately, because they were kind and never harmed anyone.
The family had grannies, grandads, mums, dads and six little dragonets: five boys and one girl.
The girl was called Di. She grew up curious, cheerful and a bit of a restless chatterbox.
One day the whole family flew off to visit relatives.
Di got distracted, daydreamed and fell behind the others.
She looked down and saw a garden below, with berry bushes and pretty flowers. In the garden, a grown woman and a little boy were picking red berries and putting them into a large bucket.
Di longed to meet the boy and taste those berries. She had never seen such red berries, growing in small little bunches on their stalks.
Di watched as the woman wandered off somewhere, while the fair-haired boy carried on picking berries and dropping them into his bucket. Di swooped down a little lower and hovered in the air right above the boy.
What's your name, young man? she asked gently, drawing out her words.
Oh wow, a dragonet! shouted the boy. Have you flown in from a cartoon?
What's your name? Di repeated.
I'm Arthur. What's your name?
I'm Di, the little dragonet girl.
So where did you come from? Did you climb out of TikTok?
No, Arthur, of course not. We dragonets live in a magical land.
Ooh... Arthur said, looking bewildered.
What are these berries? I've never seen anything like them.
They're redcurrants. Gran and I pick them together.
Where has your gran gone?
She's gone to make me a glass of squash. You should try her squash, it's lovely! I'll call her, and she can bring you one too, said Arthur, and he shouted at the top of his voice, Gran! Bring two glasses of squash. We've got visitors!
There are white and pink currants here, and blackcurrants too. Look, over there, that bush! Arthur pointed to the side. Help yourself. Gran has washed all the berries and hosed them down, so there are no nasty germs or dust on them. Pick them and pop them in your mouth. Look how I do it!
Arthur deftly plucked a berry and popped it straight into his mouth.
Thank you! Di perched on the rim of the bucket of berries.
And those red ones up there are raspberries. Be careful, though, their stems are prickly. But they're sweet, sweet, Arthur went on enthusiastically, a five-year-old full of energy.
Then Gran's footsteps could be heard approaching.
Arthur, what were you shouting about?
Gran, we need two glasses of squash.
Why two?
Because a dragonet has flown over to visit us!
Oh my goodness, have you been watching TikTok again? When did you manage that?
No, honestly! I was picking berries off the bush, and then there was this little dragonet girl, Di! I gave her some berries and wanted to offer her your squash... Di, where are you? Show yourself!
What an imagination! Gran came over and handed Arthur a glass of squash.
Just then, Di peeked out from behind the white currant bush.
Hello there! she said cheerfully.
Well, I never! You wouldn't dream of such a thing! exclaimed Gran. What a dear little dragonet. How did you end up here?
I'm Di. We were flying to visit relatives, and I fell behind the others. Then I spotted Arthur's little fair head, so I came down to say hello. And to you too, of course.
Gran, we're friends now, the boy said seriously.
Yes, we're friends now, Di repeated.
Do help yourself to our berries, Di, Gran offered.
Suddenly, an unusual rumble sounded in the sky. All three of them looked up.
That's my family flying over, they've lost track of me. I have to go. What a shame I haven't spent more time with you. Your garden is so interesting!
Take some berries to share with your relatives, Gran suggested.
Here's my little bucket, Gran. Let's put some redcurrants in it and give them to the dragonets. They've never tasted berries like these!
Quickly, put the berries in the bucket, Arthur. Here you are, dear, a little treat. Off you go to your family, before they worry!
Di hooked her claws onto the child's plastic bucket and rose into the sky.
Thank you! Goodbye! they heard the voice of their new friend calling as she drifted away.
Come and visit us again! Arthur shouted loudly.
Gran and grandson waved at the dragonet for a long time, until she shrank into a tiny dot in the sky.
Arthur, don't go telling everyone at home about your new friend, Gran said with a wink, because your mum and dad won't believe us. They'll say we've both been out in the sun too long.
