Leo and the Little Green Spark

Something in the garden shed went HIC! Leo pressed his red wellie against the door. “Hello?” HIC! A puff of grey smoke wriggled out of the keyhole. Leo pulled the handle. Behind the watering can, two amber eyes blinked back at him. Who was in there?

It was a dragon, small as a cat and green as a lettuce. “I’m Ember,” he sniffed. “Dragons should breathe fire. I only make hiccups.” HIC! Smoke. No flame. “Tonight is Lantern Night,” said Leo, “but Grandpa Fred’s lighter is broken. Could you light them?” Ember gulped. Could he?

“Let’s practise!” said Leo. He drew a big breath, puffed out his cheeks and blew. “Huff and puff, and up it comes!” Ember copied him. He huffed. He puffed. His cheeks went round as plums. Out came… a teeny-tiny squeak. Leo giggled. “Again!”

Attempt one: a running start! Ember raced down the path, wings flapping like hankies. “Huff and puff, and up it comes!” He took off… and landed SPLOSH in the birdbath. Out came bubbles. Lots of bubbles. The robin sneezed. Ember dripped. “Fire doesn’t like water,” said Leo kindly.

Attempt two: spicy food! Leo fetched Grandpa Fred’s pickled peppers. Ember crunched one. His eyes grew enormous. His ears went pink. “Huff and puff…” FWEEEE! Steam whistled out of his nose like a kettle. Grandpa Fred popped his head round the gate. “Is someone making tea?”

Ember drooped. “Maybe I’m just a smoky sort of dragon.” Leo thought hard. What warmed him up on cold days? His stripy jumper. Hot cocoa. A great big hug. “Wait here,” he whispered, and dashed inside. Something clanked. Something sloshed. What was Leo bringing?

Attempt three: a warm-up! Leo wrapped Ember in a scarf and gave him a mug of cocoa. Ember slurped. Ember glowed. “Huff and puff, and up it comes!” HIC! A cocoa-scented smoke ring floated up… and plopped right onto the robin’s head like a hat.

Down in the lane, the villagers waited with their unlit lanterns. Grandpa Fred clicked his lighter. Click. Click. Nothing. The sky turned inky blue. The snow fell thicker. “Too cold for Lantern Night,” someone grumbled. Leo looked at Ember. Ember looked at the dark lanes.

“Let’s try one more time,” said Leo, “together.” They marched to the biggest lantern, by the old stone well. Everyone turned to stare at the little green dragon. Ember’s knees wobbled. He huffed. He puffed. HIC. Only a thin grey wisp. Somebody sighed.

Ember’s tail drooped to the snow. Leo knelt down and hugged him tight, warm jumper and all. “You don’t need to be big,” he whispered. “Just be you.” Ember’s belly began to glow, gold as honey. A tickle. A rumble. A spark?

“Huff and puff, and up it comes!” FWOOSH! A bright little flame danced out and kissed the lantern wick. Glow! Then the next, and the next, all down the lane. The villagers cheered. Grandpa Fred threw his hat in the air. The robin sang.

Later, the shed was snug and quiet. Ember curled in his flowerpot, and Leo tucked the scarf around him. HIC! Out popped a tiny flame, just enough to light a candle. “Huff and puff,” yawned Ember, “and down we go.” Goodnight, little spark.