Little dragon Ike, full and content, flew home. He crept carefully into his room, where his mum, the dragoness, was already waiting for him.
Where on earth have you been, you little rascal? We've been searching everywhere for you!
Ike sat silently on his bed. He didn't know what to say to Mum. He didn't want to lie, but he was afraid to tell the truth. He became so flustered that his skin changed from purple to bright pink.
Right then. If you don't answer me, you'll be punished,' said Mum sternly. 'I'll take your computer away for a week!
I, I, I,' Ike began, stammering, 'I heard my little sister's story about the berries and wanted to make sure she wasn't making it up. I flew to visit people, a kind gran and a little boy.
What a punishment that would be!' Mum was outraged. 'You mustn't fly from the land of fairy tales to visit people. 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,' cried little Ike, tears streaming down his face, and his skin turned from pink to bright green.
Just then, Dee flew in through the window.
So there you are! I'll give you what for now!' she shouted.
Stop!' said the dragoness, holding her back. 'He already realises what he has done, and understands that you can't treat your family like that. Isn't that right, Ike?
Yes, yes, yes,' the little dragon sobbed.
And where was he?' asked his little sister.
Where, where?' snapped Ike. 'I flew to see people, your friend, the kind gran, and a boy. She gave me some berries. Only the boy with her was a different one.
A different one?' Dee was surprised. 'Do they change colour too?
No, Gran called him Oliver. The other boy, Harry, will be coming in three days, she said.
Oh-h-h...' drawled Dee.
Enough! I forbid you to fly to people! Remember, long ago, Grandma told me about the time when people attacked the little dragons, and our relatives were killed.
That was two hundred years ago. Dragons were very, very 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?' Dee wondered aloud.
After that incident,' Mum continued, 'a wizard turned the huge dragons into tiny ones. Now we can live in the land of fairy tales and never fly to wicked people.
But why did he make us into little dragons?' Ike asked innocently.
Why do you think? The magical land is small. If we were as enormous as we were a thousand years ago, we simply wouldn't fit in here.
The family gathered for dinner. The dragoness told them about little Ike's adventures. After some thought, the parents, grans and grandads decided that they would fly to the humans after all, to see with their own eyes what the children had been talking about.
Early on Sunday morning, Gran and Grandad went out to the vegetable patch. It was August, the redcurrants on the bushes were ripe, and they needed to be picked to sell.
You pick the redcurrants, and I'll start on the white currants, there are far more of them,' said Grandad.
We'd better hurry, the customers will be arriving by ten o'clock, and they're forecasting a hot day today,' Gran agreed.
They sat down on stools beside the bushes laden with berries and got to work. Suddenly, a strange humming sound could be heard.
Do you hear that? A sort of hum! Or is it just the blood rushing in my head?' Grandad asked.
No,' Gran replied, 'I can't hear anything.
It must be my blood pressure,' the man said, looking embarrassed.
The barometer's normal today. Why on earth would your blood pressure go up? Gran was surprised. 'Go indoors, check it and take your tablets.
Grandad got up with a grunt and shuffled off towards the house. Gran carried on picking the redcurrants. Then, out of nowhere, a crowd of tiny dragons appeared right in front of her eyes. A whole swarm!
The woman was astonished. If she hadn't known about the little dragons, she might have fainted from the shock.
Well, I never!' she exclaimed.
We've come to visit you!' Ike and Dee shouted in unison. 'Where are your boys?
Well, it's Sunday today, they're at home,' Gran replied 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 on alright. We're picking berries,' Gran said, bewildered.
We really wanted to have a chat with the boys,' the children said, disappointed.
They're not here,' sighed Gran. 'So what can I offer you? Help me pick the berries. And have some yourselves. I've rinsed the bush with water. Oh, there are so many of you...
The dragon family swarmed over the redcurrant bush and started eating the berries.
The children say that people are kind and hospitable. Is that true?' asked Mum the dragoness.
Some are, some aren't. I suppose your dragons are a mixed bunch too...
We've had enough,' someone from the family shouted.
If you've had enough, then help strip the whole bush and put the berries in the bucket,' ordered Papa Dragon.
Before Gran's eyes, what looked like dragonflies began darting and buzzing about.
I suggest you take the bucket of berries home with you. It'll be my gift,' Gran smiled.
Thank you, but we won't take the berries. We all flew here and have already eaten,' replied Mum the dragoness. 'We'll help you and then fly back.
Footsteps could be heard.
My husband's coming back!
The dragons hid in the redcurrant bush.
I've checked my blood pressure. It's normal. I can't make it out, was there a buzzing in my ears?
Go back in and bring me some water,' Gran said with a sly smile.
Grandad turned round and trudged back into the house, muttering under his breath.
He'll be back soon. I don't want him to see you,' the hostess said nervously.
Is he a nasty man? Could he hurt us?' the dragons fired off questions.
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. Thank you for your hospitality and for the treats!' the dragons shouted, and immediately shot up into the sky.
Gran lifted her head, looked up at the sky and waved at them!
What are you looking at?' asked the man, walking over. 'Waving your arms about like that.
Just some midges,' Gran said with a smile.
Blimey! You've dealt with that bush so quickly! You've picked a whole bucket of berries.
It's you who's been wandering back and forth for ages.
But you're the one who sent me off: check my blood pressure, then bring her some water...
Stop grumbling. Take the full bucket to the gate and bring back the empty one.
The dragons returned to their land of fairy tales and carry on living there just as they did before. They often remember their journey to the humans, the taste of the redcurrants, and smack their little tongues with pleasure.
In time, they will want to see the humans again, and will fly over to visit them.
