My first attempt at a children's short story. |
Unlikely Friends Long ago in a great kingdom lived a wonderful King named Jonathan. King Jonathan's best friend was his horse Lightning, who was the most beautiful horse in all the Kingdom. King Jonathan loved to ride him through the land making sure his subjects were happy and healthy. After checking on the villagers King Jonathan and Lightning would ride to their favorite spot, a magical lake. At the magical lake the sun was always shinning and the water always warm. King Jonathan would go for a long relaxing swim while Lightning enjoyed a refreshing drink and a nap under his favorite tree. One day while riding through his kingdom, King Jonathan's subjects came running from their village saying there was a giant dragon heading towards them. They told King Jonathan he had to save them from the beast. As Lightning and King Jonathan rode into the village they saw the dragon flying through the streets. King Jonathan watched the giant dragon, to see how best to defeat him, when he noticed something different about this dragon. Most dragons would be destroying the village by breathing fire and knocking down buildings. This one, however, was being very careful not to hurt anyone or anything. First the dragon went to the baker, who ran away, and King Jonathan thought the dragon looked sadden by this. Then the dragon went to the shoemaker, who also ran away, making the dragon look even sadder. Lastly the dragon went to the stable boy, who like the others ran away. To King Jonathan's amazement the dragon almost looked like he was crying as he slowly flew away. King Jonathan rode Lightning after the dragon calling "Don't leave, please don't leave." King Jonathan stopped and thought to himself, "what am I doing? Dragons don't talk." Yet to his surprise the dragon stopped, turned around and asked "What? What do you want with me?" King Jonathan stood staring at the giant dragon, not believing what he had heard. "I just wanted to make sure that you were okay, is something bothering you?" This time it was the giant dragon who couldn't believe what he was hearing. "Nobody has ever asked me if I was okay. Why are you not afraid of me?" Asked the giant dragon while trying to hold back his tears. "I don't mean to scare anyone!" He cried. "I just want someone to be my friend, but everyone just runs away. Will you be my friend?" King Jonathan looked down at Lightning and asked him "What do you think Lightning? It's always great to make new friends." Then looking back to the giant dragon said "We would love to be your friends. What is your name?" This made the giant dragon very happy, so happy that he started to jump for joy and shouted "My name is Samson, my name is Samson. King Jonathan rode back to the village and told everyone what a nice dragon Samson was and that they didn't have to be afraid. Slowly they walked over to Samson and introduced themselves to him. That night all the villagers, King Jonathan, Lightning and Samson had a big party to celebrate all the new friendships that had been made that day. Now when Samson comes to the village he first goes to the baker who always has a new treat for him to try. Then to the shoemaker who tells Samson everything that has happened while he was away. Lastly to the stable boy who loves to go for rides on Samson's back. As King Jonathan watches over his kingdom he thinks of how he and his subjects almost missed out on knowing a very good friend. Just because he was different from them. Next time you find yourself being scared of something or someone different, remember King Jonathan and the giant dragon Samson. Ask yourself, if I run away will I be missing out on knowing a very good friend? |