The Knight & the Friendly Dragon

Samuel opens both eyes and there it is: the silver helmet, shining on the windowsill. The morning sun lays golden stripes across the little room. Samuel sets the helmet on crooked and whispers, “Clack, clack, clack – today there's an adventure!” It sounds so good it has to be said twice.

Samuel opens both eyes and there it is: the silver helmet, shining on the windowsill. The morning sun lays golden stripes across the little room. Samuel sets the helmet on crooked and whispers, “Clack, clack, clack – today there's an adventure!” It sounds so good it has to be said twice.

Down at the long wooden table it smells of warm bread. Samuel takes a bite and pulls the silliest face in the whole castle – cheeks out, eyes crossed. Giggle, giggle, giggle, so loud that the milk trembles in the cup. Samuel wipes off the crumbs, buckles on the wooden sword and calls, “Clack, clack, clack – today there's an adventure!”

Down at the long wooden table it smells of warm bread. Samuel takes a bite and pulls the silliest face in the whole castle – cheeks out, eyes crossed. Giggle, giggle, giggle, so loud that the milk trembles in the cup. Samuel wipes off the crumbs, buckles on the wooden sword and calls, “Clack, clack, clack – today there's an adventure!”

The great castle gate swings open and Samuel trots out onto the green hills. The wooden sword rattles at the belt: clack, clack, clack. The meadow smells of clover and warm grass. Butterflies loop around the boots. Samuel hops up the first hill, then the second, and at the top of the third – stops dead.

The great castle gate swings open and Samuel trots out onto the green hills. The wooden sword rattles at the belt: clack, clack, clack. The meadow smells of clover and warm grass. Butterflies loop around the boots. Samuel hops up the first hill, then the second, and at the top of the third – stops dead.

From the castle's highest tower a thin little cloud of smoke drifts up – sniff, sniff, sniff. Samuel tips one ear toward it. That is not a fire-snort. That sounds almost like crying. Who is sitting up there feeling sad? Samuel watches the little cloud for a long time, then turns around and runs back to the castle.

From the castle's highest tower a thin little cloud of smoke drifts up – sniff, sniff, sniff. Samuel tips one ear toward it. That is not a fire-snort. That sounds almost like crying. Who is sitting up there feeling sad? Samuel watches the little cloud for a long time, then turns around and runs back to the castle.

The spiral staircase winds up, up, up. Breath comes in puffs, knees go soft. Samuel thinks, “Clack, clack, clack – today there's an adventure,” and keeps climbing. At the top Samuel shoves the heavy door open – and there sits a huge green dragon, who gives such a frightened hop that the whole tower shakes.

The spiral staircase winds up, up, up. Breath comes in puffs, knees go soft. Samuel thinks, “Clack, clack, clack – today there's an adventure,” and keeps climbing. At the top Samuel shoves the heavy door open – and there sits a huge green dragon, who gives such a frightened hop that the whole tower shakes.

The dragon is so big that his tail loops twice around the tower room. But his eyes – they are round and shiny and very, very sad. He lowers his head and whispers in a voice like rolling thunder, “Everyone always runs away. That is why I sit here alone. For such a long time.” A single curl of smoke winds up to the ceiling.

The dragon is so big that his tail loops twice around the tower room. But his eyes – they are round and shiny and very, very sad. He lowers his head and whispers in a voice like rolling thunder, “Everyone always runs away. That is why I sit here alone. For such a long time.” A single curl of smoke winds up to the ceiling.

Samuel's heart is thumping. One swallow, then another. Then Samuel steps up and lays both hands on the warm, scaly snout of the dragon. “I am not running away,” says Samuel. “Will you be my friend?” The dragon blinks. One tear rolls down his green cheek – and then, very slowly, he begins to smile, so wide that Samuel has to smile back.

Samuel's heart is thumping. One swallow, then another. Then Samuel steps up and lays both hands on the warm, scaly snout of the dragon. “I am not running away,” says Samuel. “Will you be my friend?” The dragon blinks. One tear rolls down his green cheek – and then, very slowly, he begins to smile, so wide that Samuel has to smile back.

“Are you holding on?” asks the dragon. “Always!” calls Samuel. Whooosh! Samuel and the dragon shoot out of the tower into the blue sky. Below, the green hills slide past like a carpet, the wind tugs at the silver helmet, and Samuel laughs so loud that the birds scatter in surprise.

“Are you holding on?” asks the dragon. “Always!” calls Samuel. Whooosh! Samuel and the dragon shoot out of the tower into the blue sky. Below, the green hills slide past like a carpet, the wind tugs at the silver helmet, and Samuel laughs so loud that the birds scatter in surprise.

They land softly in the castle garden among the blooming roses. Samuel picks one single rose and holds it out to the dragon like a little medal. The dragon looks at that small kind gift for a long while, and then a laugh bursts out of him – so warm and so deep that the rose petals whirl off the branches like pink snow.

They land softly in the castle garden among the blooming roses. Samuel picks one single rose and holds it out to the dragon like a little medal. The dragon looks at that small kind gift for a long while, and then a laugh bursts out of him – so warm and so deep that the rose petals whirl off the branches like pink snow.

Later Samuel curls up in the little room. Through the open window comes a low, contented rumble from the garden – the dragon is asleep already, coiled up among the roses. Samuel grins into the pillow. Then, very softly: “Clack, clack, clack – and that was only the beginning.”

Later Samuel curls up in the little room. Through the open window comes a low, contented rumble from the garden – the dragon is asleep already, coiled up among the roses. Samuel grins into the pillow. Then, very softly: “Clack, clack, clack – and that was only the beginning.”