If You Can't Take the Heat

There weren’t always dragons in the Valley. Not until Mr. O’Malley found the odd purple and green egg in his vegetable garden.

When the fragile shell started cracking, he expected to see an everyday animal, like a turtle or a lizard.

What was this strange, winged creature? And how did it end up in an ordinary town in California?

He was sure that the newly-born, delicately-scaled beast would do best as a pet, instead of becoming a tasty appetizer for a California Condor or mountain lion.

After carrying it to his pet store, he dropped it into an ornate cage, the fanciest he had in stock.

∞

Jimmy wanted a pet. No, wanted isn’t a strong enough word. He NEEDED a pet!

Every day after school he walked by O’Malley’s Pet Shop. He longingly stared through the window at all the possibilities.

A cuddly cocker spaniel could be a faithful companion. Or maybe a fun frog friend? A goldfish would make an excellent listener. Or perhaps a calico kitten would be a better choice?

Jimmy washed cars and delivered newspapers. He walked his neighbor’s schnauzer. He saved and saved. Finally, he had enough money to buy his pet!

Jimmy wandered around the pet store looking for the perfect animal.

In the very back corner, he found what he was looking for. Next to a hairy hamster and hidden behind a colorful parrot was an unusual golden cage.

“Will you be my friend?” Jimmy asked the tiny dragon lounging inside.

“Oh, yes,” he replied. “I will be your best buddy, your cordial comrade, and your amicable ally.”

At the counter, Jimmy counted out his money and handed it to Mr. O’Malley.

“Now, remember, young man,” he said. “A pet is a responsibility for its lifetime.”

“Oh, yes, sir,” Jimmy said, barely looking at Mr. O'Malley. His gaze was focused on the two emerald eyes staring at him from its golden enclosure.

Jimmy couldn’t get home quickly enough. He beelined directly to his bedroom and put the cage on a shelf.

“I’m Jimmy. What’s your name?” he asked his new pal.

“You can call me Korbin,” the creature replied. “And by the way, I am simply parched.”

Jimmy gave the dragon a bowl of tap water, but Korbin turned up his nose.

“Apparently you have a lot to learn about my kind. I only drink fresh spring water.”

“How rude,” Jimmy thought before carrying back some crystal-clear water from a nearby stream.

Korbin took a long drink and said, “I’m famished. Some nourishment would be greatly appreciated.”

Jimmy raided his cupboards and refrigerator. He found what he thought was a very suitable lunch for a dragon - fresh vegetables and mixed fruit - but again Korbin turned up his nose.

“So sorry, but I only eat hot chili peppers,” he said. “It’s necessary fuel for my scorching breath,” he added, demonstrating his skill by igniting a very unfortunate fern.

Jimmy spent the rest of the day searching his neighbors' gardens for all the hot chili peppers he could find to satisfy the ravenous reptile.

“I’m going to school. I’ll be back at 3:00,” Jimmy said the next morning.

“What? You’re not leaving me here alone, are you?” Korbin pouted.

“We’re not allowed to bring pets to school, unless it’s show and tell day,” Jimmy replied. “But I guess I can hide you in my pocket,” he added when he saw Korbin’s distraught face. “You better be good, though.”

“They’ll never even know I’m there,” Korbin promised angelically.

“Who was the first president of the United States?” Mrs. Olsen asked the class.

Korbin shouted out, “Santa Claus!”

“That’s enough, Jimmy!” the teacher said as the class laughed.

Lunchtime was also a disaster. After Korbin released a series of putrid dragon gas, Jimmy had to finish lunch alone. Then he got sent to the school nurse and was lectured on the benefits of a proper diet.

Later, Korbin threw a paper ball at the back of Mrs. Olsen’s head.

“Jimmy, go to time-out!” Mrs. Olsen demanded when she saw the scraps of paper around his desk.

Time-out was another fiasco. Luckily, they never figured out how the trash can caught on fire.

The next day, Jimmy didn’t give in to Korbin’s pleading. “You are staying here today. I’m NEVER bringing you back to school again.”

“Hmmm,” the dragon answered and then said nothing more.

When Jimmy came home after school his mother was furious. “Get upstairs immediately and clean your room! It looks like a tornado hit it,” she yelled.

Seeing what Korbin had done to his bedroom was the final straw. “That’s it!” Jimmy angrily told the dragon. “You are getting returned to the pet store!”

Ahhh, peace and quiet.

Jimmy relaxed in his room after getting rid of the destructive dragon.

It wasn’t long, though, before it was too peaceful. And too quiet. And just plain boring.

Jimmy closed his eyes and tried to go to sleep. Images of the dragon swam in his mind. How could you leave me? You promised to be my friend forever.

The next morning, Jimmy’s stomach was so upset he couldn’t eat any of his Fruity Frosties cereal.

He went to the public library and checked out the Dragon Care Manual.

He convinced Mr. O’Malley that he would be more responsible this time.

Getting Korbin’s forgiveness was even more difficult.

“Rule Number One,” Jimmy read from the manual. “A bored dragon is an annoying dragon.”

Jimmy filled his bedroom with dragon toys to keep Korbin’s idle paws busy in his absence.

“Rule Number Two,” Jimmy continued reading. “The dragon needs to know what is expected of him. Mind reading is not his forte.”

He posted a list of rules in his room, starting with “no lighting things on fire.”

“Rule Number Three. The dragon does not appreciate being yelled at. Positive reinforcement works best.”

“Rule Number Four. Patience is a virtue, especially in dealing with the dragon.”

Jimmy and Korbin became the best of friends in the good times.

They became the best of friends in the bad times.

All was well in Jimmy's world.

That is, until Korbin learned to fly...

...and the realm of magic realized they were missing a baby dragon, upsetting the balance between the two worlds.

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