Jonathan and His Dragon E-Book

Gerti Baldwin

• Herausgeber: novum pro Verlag
• Kategorie: Gesellschafts- und Liebesromane
• Sprache: Englisch

Seitenzahl: 198

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2023

Beschreibung

Jonathan's life is very much like that of his friends and class-mates, until his family breaks up and he has to deal with problems far too big for him. He needs help, and it comes in the form of a dragon with magic powers, who is able to make himself invisible and to change his form. This is a story is for grown- ups too, particularly valuable during or after a crisis such as divorce or a death in the family. It increases the adult reader's understanding, so that it becomes easier to cope with traumatic situations. This book also deals very sensitively with questions of dying and death. As Jonathan begins to see death as a transformation, he understands the dragon's words about the soul and the spirit more easily – after all, he knows much about transformations already.

Leseprobe

Contents

Imprint 2

Chapter 1 3

Chapter 2 30

Chapter 3 40

Chapter 4 57

Chapter 5 85

Chapter 6 104

Chapter 7 131

Chapter 8 149

Chapter 9 174

Imprint

All rights of distribution, also through movies, radio and television, photomechanical reproduction, sound carrier, electronic medium and reprinting in excerpts are reserved.

© 2023 novum publishing

ISBN print edition:978-3-99131-825-5

ISBN e-book: 978-3-99131-826-2

Cover images:Gerti Baldwin;David M. Schrader | Dreamstime.com

Cover design, layout & typesetting: novum publishing

www.novum-publishing.co.uk

Chapter 1

On a warm Sunday night, Jonathan lay in bed trying to sleep. But in spite of his efforts sleep would not come – too many disturbing thoughts were in his mind. So, after a while, he opened his eyes and looked out through the open window into the velvety dark of the night sky. For a brief time he marvelled at the wonders out there in space, but then his bad thoughts came back, going round in his head, again and again. But he needed to sleep – tomorrow was school, he’d have to get up early. Again he shut his eyes, and, remembering what his dad had once told him, he began counting sheep, imagining how they jumped, one at a time, over a hedge. When this did not work either, he sat up once more, looking around his bedroom. It was a new and strange bedroom – a bedroom Jonathan was not used to and did not want to get used to, because he did not want to be here. He felt like a stranger, he did not belong. Admittedly, this bedroom was nice. Against the wall stood a wardrobe next to a chest of drawers, and a desk with a computer was strategically placed on the opposite wall near the window, with books and computer games close by on shelves. But Jonathan would have much rather been home in his old room without a computer, just with his few books and games and old toys. At least they were his – here, nothing belonged to him really.

With a deep sigh he put his head back on the pillow and tried to sleep once more, trying hard to leave his worries behind for a while, forget he was no longer home, at home with his mother.

Just then Auntie Jean opened the door to see if he was sleeping. Jonathan closed his eyes quickly. But she did not leave, but came in and sat down on his bed, smoothing his hair back and planting a kiss on his forehead. In spite of it all this felt good, and something in Jonathan wanted to kiss her back, or hug her at least. Instead, he closed his eyes even more tightly, breathing deeply to show he was fast asleep.

He heard her sigh, felt his bed moving a little as she got up, then her soft steps retreated and the door closed again. Jonathan was finally alone, just as he had wanted. So why was he so sad, tears welled up, trying to choke him? But he had promised himself never to cry again, whatever happened. He was glad to be alone, he reminded himself, because no one could hurt him then. No one cared anyway, so no one should know how he felt, and that he was so sad and frightened, he wanted to cry. But he would not – he was big and strong and brave and tough.

“I know I am brave and tough,” Jonathan said, to strengthen his courage. He would ignore his sadness and fears, and think about nice things. Instead, he remembered school; the new school he had to attend since coming to live with Auntie Jean, only a week ago. She was not even his real aunt. No wonder, she did not care how he felt, or, how terrible the new school was. Even if he told her, she would do nothing about it, he was quite sure.

He missed his old school, and his friends, most of all he missed his home, especially his mother.

He hated it here – hated everything here, even Auntie Jean. And he hated his new school. He would never get used to it.

“Why do you live with your aunt?” a boy had asked him during break. Jonathan did not know what to say. He was afraid if he told the truth, his class-mates would feel sorry for him – but he did not want their sympathy. Neither did he want to be different from them. No one should know what had happened to him, and that he had been taken away from his home, away from his mother.

So Jonathan had invented a story, he said his father worked in America, had become ill, and his mother was needed to look after him in America. But when the children wanted to know more about his parents, Jonathan’s explanations got muddled up, having to make everything up on the spot. A girl called him a liar, and other children joined in. The more Jonathan insisted he wasn’t lying, the less they believed him. One thing led to another, a boy pushed Jonathan, he pushed back, and a fight started. Luckily, Mrs Winthrop, their teacher, came in and separated the children.

Now, after all that, no one would want to be his friend. No one liked him, no one wanted him. He had no one now.

It had all been very different, a long time ago.

If only he could change everything – or something, at least.

Suddenly it occurred to the boy that perhaps he could. Perhaps if he wished real hard, thought hard enough, perhaps his wish would come true. And what he wanted to wish for, that, Jonathan knew exactly.

Closing his eyes, he concentrated, and thought as hard as he could. At first it was difficult, because all kinds of words and pictures came into his mind. But he pushed them away, again and again, until nothing remained but his wish.

“I wish to have someone who really loves me, just like I am. No matter what I say, or do, or what I look like.” Jonathan spoke in a loud voice, he spoke with strength and determination, and then he repeated his words. Taking a deep breath, he said them once more just to make sure, and because three times was lucky.

Then, with his eyes still closed, he waited a while to give his wish sufficient time to come true. Even so, he was afraid nothing would happen. But, just in case, he kept his eyes shut as long as he could. When he finally opened them, Jonathan stared in amazement. He could not believe what he saw.

‘I must be dreaming,’ he thought.

But his vision was no dream, he really had a visitor – and what a visitor!

The moon was shining softly through the window, and on the window-sill there sat a dragon. Not a huge and ferocious looking dragon as he had always imagined dragons would be. This dragon was rather small – smaller even than Jonathan himself, who was almost ten, though not big for his age.

The creature was pale-green, shining with a strange orange glow where the moonlight hit the scaly skin. It just sat there, looking at the boy with large friendly eyes, eyes the boy seemed to remember, as if he had seen them before. But Jonathan had never come across this strange scaly creature, he was quite certain of that.

Suddenly he knew why the dragon’s eyes seemed so familiar. He had really seen such eyes before, in a picture – the picture in his bedroom at home, showing an angel with huge white wings for flying. This angel had the same kind and loving look, just like the dragon.

His mother had told him it was his guardian angel.

Jonathan blinked, and, rubbing away a tear, he looked over to the window again.

His visitor still sat there, motionless.

“Are you my guardian angel?” The child asked.

The dragon’s smile expanded from his eyes all over his face. “Well,” he answered, “perhaps not quite – at least not quite exactly. But if you can tell me precisely what guardian angels do, I might be able to oblige.”

“They help you always, no matter what.” Jonathan knew this for a fact, his Dad had told him, long ago, before he went away. And although he had not seen his Dad in years, he never forgot those words, just as he would never forget his father.

Everyone he loved had always gone away.

But now there was this dragon – here – in his room. A dragon he could even talk with, and ask questions.

“What is your name?” Jonathan wanted to know first. But because his mind was still on his father and how much he missed him, he did not wait for an answer but asked: “will you go away too?”

“My presence here depends entirely on you.” The dragon paused, considering his next words carefully. “I am here because you wished for me, and because I have a purpose to fulfil. As long as you want me to remain, I’ll stay,” he said, and, with a twinkle in his eyes, he added. “But we can discuss the terms of my presence in detail at a later time. I am certain we reach an agreement we are both happy with.”

For a while the dragon and the child sat in silence. The dragon’s smile had disappeared. He seemed to look into the distance, as if he could see something there. Jonathan began to worry. But when his eyes met those of his strange guest, his fears completely vanished, because of all the love and understanding he saw reflected there. Suddenly the boy felt better. He was not alone any more, he had a friend – and what a friend. Admiringly he observed his strange visitor, who began to speak again.

“You want to know my name, but this presents a problem – though just a minor problem, and easily resolved.” Wrinkling his forehead, the dragon’s voice slowed and became so quiet he almost whispered, and Jonathan had to strain to understand him.

“Where I come from everything is very different, even communication – we have no need for a language such as yours. But I am her now, in your world, and so I shall acquire a name – a special name, for a very special child. What would you like to call me?”

The boy thought hard, wrinkling his forehead too, just like the dragon had done. He would find a good name – a real good name – he knew he would. There was a glow in him, he felt special now. The dragon had said he was a special child, and dragons knew about such things.

And then the name just came to him. “A long time ago,” Jonathan recalled, “I had a dog called Barry. He loved me.” He stopped and reconsidered. Perhaps the dragon would not like to be named after a dog.

But his visitor did not seem to mind. “Then Barry I shall be,” he approved. Jumping from the window-sill, he stood on his hind legs and stretched himself. Jonathan could see the magnificent dragon-tail in its full glory now, as his newly acquired friend stepped over to Jonathan’s bed and sat down.

But now the child wanted to jump like the dragon had done. He threw off his quilt, and was out of bed with one mighty jump, coming down to sit next to the dragon. As he turned his head to look at his visitor once more, doubts began to rise in him. Was Barry the right name for a scaly reptile? This creature was nothing like the dog he once had. His Barry from long ago had long thick fur.

“I used to sneak my dog Barry into bed with me, and hug him,” he remembered now. “He was so nice to hold and cuddle – furry and soft.”

This new Barry had a smooth and hairless skin, a skin with scales – green scales, which had a strange orange glow. He would have looked frightening had it not been for his eyes, and he was certainly not cuddly. But Jonathan did not want to say how he felt, in case he upset the dragon.

Even without words, his new friend understood. “I could take on another form, if you prefer,” he suggested. “Perhaps you don’t like dragons. I’ll be a dog with long thick fur, if you so wish.”

But Jonathan shook his head. He rather liked having his own dragon. A dragon was very special, which made him feel special too. Besides, many boys had dogs, but none had dragons. His decision stood firm.

“I like you as a dragon, but,” he hesitated, uncertain, how to put his request. Then – finding no other way – he came straight out with it: “It would be nice, if you could be soft and furry, Barry.”

“With pleasure,” agreed his friend. “But prior to my transformation, let us decide some other details of my appearance, so I need not change too often. What about colour and size? How big or little shall I be?”

A long discussion followed. Jonathan found it difficult to make up his mind about the dragon‘s size. What he really needed, was a dragon so huge and ferocious, anyone who saw him would know his power, just by looking at him. He wanted a dragon that could protect him from all danger, a dragon that was afraid of nothing.

But he wanted Barry to be with him always and everywhere, which would be difficult if not impossible, if the dragon was big. Even a middle-sized one would still be a problem. He could just imagine what Auntie Jean and Uncle Jim would say if he appeared to breakfast with a dragon. Then there was school to consider. Jonathan pushed that thought away fast. School was the last thing he wanted to think about.

He wanted the other children to like him because he was himself – was Jonathan – and not because he had a dragon. And he did not want to be even more different from the others, he was too different already.

A tiny dragon would probably be better, Jonathan decided reluctantly. A dragon so small, he could hide him, so no one knew he was there. He could take him to school then, without anyone knowing, in his pocket – in a matchbox maybe – so he would not get squashed. And any time he needed to, he could put his hand in his pocket, push the matchbox open, and gently touch the dragon with a finger.

Though it was difficult to put all this into words, Jonathan tried, and Barry seemed to understand. He even found the solution to the dilemma, assuring the boy, he could be both, large and small – an ability which could be used to maximum advantage in different situations, solving any problem which might arise entirely. Jonathan did not really understand what the dragon meant, but he trusted his new friend and was sure that all would be well, and would become clear in time.

Next they had to decide what colour the dragon should be, but that was easy. “My favourite colour’s purple,” Jonathan said without any hesitation. He loved purple, and liked to have as much of it around as possible. To have a purple dragon would be marvellous, especially a purple dragon with soft thick fur to snuggle into.

“Would you mind very much to be a purple dragon?” he asked his new friend Barry nodded approvingly. “Purple I shall be,” he agreed happily. “I like it too, a truly noble colour. So: I shall be purple and furry, soft and cuddly – just as you said. Let us begin my transformation. The exact size for everyday use can be decided later.”

Suddenly Jonathan was frightened. “Will you use magic?” He had hesitated to ask this question, being in two minds about magic. But for the dragon, magic seemed to be a normal and everyday subject, because he simply nodded. “Yes,” he just said. But as he became aware of Jonathan’s apprehension, he added: “Have no fear. Magic is everywhere – in this world, as in other worlds. In my world –.” The dragon stopped, a faraway look came to his eyes, as if he could see something in the distance invisible to Jonathan. Then, turning his attention back to the child, he smiled. “Have no fear,” he assured Jonathan. “Just watch me changing.”

As he began the transformation, his scaly skin grew lighter and brighter, then brighter still, shimmering and glowing in different shades of colour, constantly changing and blending into one another. The dragon began to rotate. Gradually his shape altered, getting rounder, until he was a ball of golden light, growing larger and then darker. The specks of colour reappeared, changing to pink then lilac and then to golden purple. The dragon now looked like a huge furry purple ball.

The strange apparition kept gliding and rotating through the air, finally settling in the corner on top of the chest of drawers. Even there it kept moving, stretching from inside out in all directions, until a dragon arm emerged and then a mighty tail. Slowly the purple fur-ball became once more a dragon – a very different dragon than before. But something must have gone wrong. This strange funny looking creature was not what Jonathan had wanted or expected.

“You are too fat,” he said, “and much too short. I want you to look fierce and noble, like dragons are in stories. They look powerful, they can even breathe fire through their nostrils. You look nothing like them. You are just a short fat toy-dragon.”

Perhaps I’ve hurt his feelings, thought Jonathan, because Barry’s face took on an indignant look. But with the wrinkles of indignation on the purple forehead, the chubby dragon-face looked very funny. The boy could not stop laughing, and as Barry stepped over to the mirror on his short fat legs, Jonathan laughed even louder. Looking into the mirror, the dragon began to laugh too.

“You are right, Jonathan,” he admitted, “I do look funny, and not quite as expected. You said, you want a fierce and dangerous-looking dragon. No problem, I can change again, and this time I will get it right. So, let us be clear and precise: you want me to have the appearance of a powerful dragon, with fire in my nostrils.”

“Well, not really in your nostrils,” Jonathan giggled again. “Dragons breathe fire – it is in them – inside somewhere – and it comes out through their mouth and nostrils. Dragons are like that – they are fiery and ferocious. Everyone knows that, it’s in all the dragon-stories from long ago.”

The boy looked doubtfully at Barry’s rather small and plump nose, covered in thick fur. It could catch fire from the slightest spark. Suddenly he was afraid. He knew, never to play with fire. But did the dragon know it too?

“Are you sure you know what you are doing?” he asked his new friend. “Don’t play with fire. It can be dangerous.” Barry looked like a toy-dragon, perhaps he was not wise, after all.

The dragon seemed to know his thoughts. “You are always safe with me, Jonathan,” he reassured him. “But, I admit, I do look silly. Though this is just my present outer form which I can change at any time. Prepare yourself to see another me.”

This time Barry turned into the rotating fire-ball almost instantly. Just for a second different coloured spots shone brightly, before the apparition turned pink and lilac, then golden-purple. For a while the purple dragon-ball rotated through the air, gradually slowing down and settling on the floor. Here it began to stretch, becoming dragon-like in shape, growing taller, and taller still. This dragon was so big, he almost filled the room. His head touched the ceiling, and Jonathan had to tilt his own head right back to look up into his friend’s eyes, only then could he be certain, this was still his Barry. This new dragon looked magnificent. Hardly any fur covered the face, a pale face, with a golden-purple sheen. It was a noble, fierce face, the nostrils flaring slightly, but enough, to imagine the fire within this noble being, and the strength the splendid creature must have. No one would ever dare to mess with this dragon. Everyone could see how dangerous he was.

As Barry stepped over to the window on powerful hind legs, Jonathan could see all of the thick long dragon-tail, which had to curl twice around to fit into the room.

The dragon pulled the curtains far back from the open window to stick his magnificent nose out into the night air. Then he breathed out. Although he breathed out gently and carefully, the jet of golden fire emerging from his nostrils went right up into the night-sky – higher and higher – until coming to a halt, just like a rising star or a firework, and bits of sparkling silvery gold fell through the sky like shooting stars.

“You are a huge and fiery dragon, with great fire-power,” Jonathan approved wholeheartedly of this new dragon and his performance. But sadly, the room was far too small for such a huge creature.

Barry retreated from the open window. “Breathing fire really is fun,” he admitted, sounding surprised. “It seems to come natural to dragons. But now I better change again. There is no room for someone of my size. We shall have to find a different solution – a compromise, perhaps.”

“Just get smaller, but stay as you are, could you? I like you looking fearsome.”

“Sure,” Barry agreed. “Watch me shrinking, and tell me when I am small enough.”

Jonathan watched as the dragon grew smaller, stopping occasionally to ask: “am I small enough yet?”

Each time, the boy shook his head, until the dragon was just a little taller than Jonathan himself. A practical size, everything considered, they both agreed, and Barry still looked very impressive.

“I like you in that size,” Jonathan decided. “Please stay like that.”

Having found the right size and appearance for the dragon, they could both relax. Barry sat down on the bed next to Jonathan, curling his tail around them both. The boy wanted to cuddle deep into the soft purple fur, but suddenly felt shy.

Somehow his friend seemed to know. He laid his dragon-arm round Jonathan’s shoulders, and pulled him close.

The boy sighed blissfully. “Now you really are soft and cuddly,” he said, feeling safe and protected, the first time for so long. “Will you stay with me, forever?” he asked.

“It is entirely up to you, Jonathan. I suggest that I shall stay until you decide yourself that you don’t need me anymore. I‘ll stay until you tell me otherwise. Is that all right?”

Jonathan nodded. He would never tell Barry to go, but keep him always and forever. Feeling warm and happy, his eyes were drooping, he almost fell asleep. But Barry was still talking, and, not wanting to be rude, he pulled himself together and tried to listen.

The dragon was talking about being invisible. But as Jonathan had missed the beginning, he got confused and asked his friend to explain what he really meant.

“I am glad you ask when you don‘t understand,” the dragon approved. “It shows you really want to know. Let me say more about visibility and invisibility, and how we can use both of these states to maximum advantage. As you know, I am visible now. But if you can’t see me though I’m here, then I am invisible.” The dragon paused as if he had said something of importance, and looked at Jonathan.

The child was puzzled, wondering what it was all about. Barry had only stated the obvious, he had said what everyone knew already. There must be more to it.

His friend soon made things clearer. “I could be visible to you, but invisible to other people. They would not see me then.”

The more Jonathan thought about this suggestion, the less he liked it. “But if others can’t see you, Barry,” he said eventually, “does this mean you are not real? I want a real dragon.”