There weren't always Dragons in the Valley.

There weren't always Dragons in the Valley. 5/13/22

Today is a new day child. I will need you to listen and tell we what you hear. As I slept this last night. I heard the world stirring. There was a song in the wind and a smell in the air from long ago that has come back to me.

As I am older, I will need your ears and eyes to help me to know if what I feel in my heart is true. So, come and eat the bread slice and drink the milk that I have sat out for you! We must make hast. The dawn of a new day has arrived!

Tomas Just sat on the edge of his bed looking up at the old man this grandfather that he had been dumped with while his mother went off with her new family. Man, what would the old man do if he just crawled back in bed and pulled the blanket up around his head. All well now that he was a wake he might as well get moving. He could see that the old man was determined to have him up and would not put up with any ideals of his.

So slowly he made to do as the old man asked making his way downstairs. There he moved to the chair and sat at the table where a plate with a browned piece of bread lay on it and a cup of milk waited.

The grandfather went and gathered up a small pair of boots and socks and start dressing the boys’ feet. As the boy chewed the bread and drank an almost sour cup o milk.

Come on boy lets get a move on here! The day is a wasting away it a good thing that you slept in your day cloths. The way you’re moving it would be noon before you would be ready. Leading the way, the grandfather pushed and pulled him out the door closed then locked it. Shaking his head, the boy still not sure what the old man was up to.

The grandfather grabs a long pole that stood by the door frame then leading the boy he walked down the trail towards a dirt path that snaked its way around and over a small hill witch lead on ward to another hill. Trees grew tall on either side of the path. The grandfather looks back over his wide shoulder at the boy and then said. In a somewhat loud gruff voice don’t you ever go off this path when you came this way. This is the way boy stick to the path!

The boy stumbled on as he had to quickly look away to watch where he was walking. Answers with a yes sir and stumbles on. Thinking to himself he’s an old man and I am almost running to keep up with him. Finely after a time the old man slowed to a stop waiting for the boy to come abreast to him. Shaking a finger in front of his month the man said sh,sh listen! Can you hear it? As they slowly moved forward now they round a hill then there it was! The colors many shades of blue lay all around them. But if not for grandfather warm hand on his shoulder.

Tomas would have walked right off the cliff for the path snaked to the right and up then down to the waters edge. But he was so caught up by the site that Tomas forgot to follow the path.

Excitement gripped the boys mind he had never seen a lake this size he wanted to run and yell and scream, yes scream. For it would surely echo off the walls here! The old man waved his hand at him once more said sh sh quiet now. The old man pressed his lips close by the boy’s ear, be very quiet now boy. There the old man undid a string that had been wrapped around the top of his walking pole.

A small hook was on the end of the string where a bit of bread was placed that the old man had dug out of his shirt pocket. With the hook held in his fingers the old man said in low voice watch and listen. He then walked with the pole and line to the end of a large rock that reached out into the water’s edge.

With the wave of his hand to Tomas in a come-on gesture he said one word sit. There were a few larger rocks on top of the rock like dock. Once they were both seated the old man played with the pole and string while Tomas tried hard to be quiet. Seeing that the boy was having trouble sitting still the old man quietly started a tail of his childhood. Boy this here land is where you are from your momma and papa fell in love by this lake. Spent many a day’s led to weeks and years playing in and around here.

Tomas was losing interest in the old man story when he heard him say. You know when I was a small boy I would play here with the dragons in this valley. They were not always here I was the only one who could see them. But I spent much of my time here playing with the dragons that didn’t, exist. My Ma and pa would laugh and make a little fun of me when I would come home from fishing all day with no fish to show for the time I would spend here.

The boy started to dose as the grandfathers fished there were four nice size fish floating at the water’s edge ready to take home with them. The grandfather said here boy as he handed over the fishing pole. I am going to use the outhouse I’ll just around the corner there he pointed with his finger. Don’t drop my fishing pole in the lake I’ll be back soon.

Tomas watched as his grandfather walked out of his sight. A shy of boredom slipped from the boy’s mouth he dropped the fishing pole then propped a foot on it where it lay. Looking out over the lake thinking of the fun he could be having here. Swimming running on the moss that looked like a carpet someone had laid out in the cove or just tossing a few stoned into the lake.

Looking out over the lake he could see something large floating just under the waters surface it rippled the water moving into a wake that push water toward the shore. Then fishing pole under his foot gave a tug making him grab for the pole. When he reached forward to grasp it with his hands. Only to finding himself laying on top the stone with the pole pressed under neath him. Using both hands he grabs at the pole to pulls it back toward him.

Holding on to the pole he sat up and pulled it back to himself. He wanted to yell for his grandfather to come help him. Then thinking if he did his grandfather would think of him as a baby. So, he grabs the fishing pole with his two hands and determination then pulls as hard as he can. Almost falling over back ward as the line slackened. Then thinking that whatever had been on the line had gotten away, he pulled the line in as his grandfather had shown him to do.

Tomas pulled in the empty line placed another piece of bread on the hook and dropped it back into the water. Just as his grandfather rounded the bend, he came up to Tomas who was quick to hand the fish pole back to him.

Grandfather asked did you catch anything boy? Tomas shook his head no and turned back to looking out at the lake. Then quietly said there was something, but it got away, so I put bread back on the hook an dropped it back the water. Grandfather smiled as he looked over the shoreline then said. So, he is back and playing at the old game once more. He and I played that game many times while he was here before.

Did you see Him boy? It sure took me long enough after the first couple of times to understand what he did. He’s a smart one he is. Thomas is sure the old man has lost it! What is he talking about? The grandfather turned then looked at him then asked once more did you see him boy or not. Thomas said no sir I didn’t see anything different then it is now. Then the grandfather laughed loudly shook a finger at Tomas then said so he got past you too, did he?

Well, no use wasting more time here let’s get on home and have some grilled cheese sandwiches. What about the fish Tomas ask as grandfather gathered his pole and line then turn and walked away from the lake? Grandfather said what fish would that be? He took them that’s part of the game. We can come back tomorrow and catch some more for him if you want.

Hurry Tomas he yelled back to the boy as he walked back towards the forest once more saying stay on the path! It’s a most important rule now. Stay on the path!