Camilla: Brother Pheasant's Journey 7

The sweet, comforting scent of apple crumble spread from the tiny kitchen.

Mom was upset.

Dennis had broken their silent agreement. He had asked for the book, in the flower shop, in public.

He just couldn't help himself. He felt that he could not go home without the book. That would just be wrong.

But he regretted his request the second he saw mom freeze and then do her best to camouflage the pain.  She couldn't afford it and he shouldn't have asked for it, especially not with somebody else present to witness her shame.

Yet he had. And something remarkable had happened.

The shop owner's elderly mother came shooting out of the flower fridge behind the counter.

"Oh yes, that old book. You like it? I found it you see and I thought would be a shame to throw it away, has some nice pictures after all. You want it? I wouldn't really know what to do with it, that's why it's laying around here in amongst all the Christmas stuff."

Dennis could only nod, didn't know what to say.

His mother protested for politeness sake, "Surely we couldn't" and "Are you sure" and "That's most kind of you Mrs Wellings".

"Nonsense! I'm glad to get rid of it, knowing someone might enjoy it. Now please take it with you so I have some more space for my Christmas trolls".

She was a good actress and mom pretended that they really did do her a favour ridding her of that old dusty book. Yet the damage was already done. She was reminded that she was a mother who could not afford anything beyond the necessities. Her chest burned.

And now mom was baking apple crumble. That was not a good sign. But not even that could keep Dennis from sitting down on the floor in his room with THE BOOK.

His heart was pounding.

He opened the first page.



To Percy

Lots of Love,
A


THE BOOK OF DRAGONS


Many aeons ago, when Lady Gaia was appointed caretaker of the planet, the Dragons were among the very first to sign up to serve life, love and transformation on the planet.

Mother Gaia loves her Dragons and they have written some of the most important chapters in her life book.

Dennis didn't really understand all of it, but the illustrations...chills were running down his neck and he couldn't for his life figure out why these paintings made his heart pound.

The first illustration was of a huge green Dragon with golden wings, standing on the top of a mountain looking out over a vast landscape that didn't look anything like his home country.

The Dragon had piercing eyes and Dennis had the feeling it somehow looked straight into him.

EMERALD DRAGON

He closed the book.

Something had been planted within him, was moving within his heart and he knew that is life was about to change.

But this was enough for today. He would take this spark and go see mom in the kitchen, make sure she was ok.

For the very first time in his life, he felt completely safe.

All was well.