A Dragon's Christmas Tale

‘Twas the night before Christmas, the old story goes
The year Rudolph was sick with a cold in his nose.
His eyes were all itchy and watery too
He coughed and he sneezed a resounding A-CHOOOO!!

The poor little deer couldn’t lift up his head
How could he possibly fly - and pull that big sled?
His coughs and his sneezes just wouldn’t do
They started an avalanche - burying sleigh and toys too!

Santa thought and he thought then he called an old friend
Dr. Doolittle came running – couldn’t let Christmas end!
Doc spoke to the elf while shaking his head
“That is one sick little deer that must stay in bed.”

So Santa met with his wisest of elves
They debated and planned and said to themselves
“The fog is so thick, how do you suppose
We will ever get through with no shiny red nose?”

“There must be someone who can help us out
But who can it be?” The elves started to pout.
The littlest elf quietly started to sing
“I know of someone. His name’s Firewing.”

“He’s the smallest of dragons from the legends of old
But he’s kind and he’s loving, has a heart made of gold.
With a puff he can breathe fire on high
He has fire enough to light up the sky.”

“This tiny dragon has a talent so rare
He can make his wings flame while flying on air.
With Firewing’s help for the good girls and boys
Santa can get through with his sleigh full of toys.”

The reindeer looked nervous and pawed at the ground
A dragon? For real? THIS was the replacement they found?
The puzzled old elf asked “what’s the matter with you?”
Then Comet cried out “Santa, my friend, we love Christmas too.”

“BUT…a dragon?! For real?! What are you thinking?
He’s a dragon! He’ll gobble us up without even blinking.
We don’t want to end up flambéed as a venison roast,
Not a nice reindeer stew, to eat with some toast!”

The jolly old elf chuckled and said “My dear little friends do not dismay -
Dragons are just like you, they eat oats and some hay,
An occasional apple maybe a carrot or two
But NEVER my friends do they eat venison stew.”

They were still unconvinced so Santa said one thing more
“Dragons do have one weakness, a treat they adore.
They have quite a sweet tooth, and can’t get enough
Marshmallows my friends; and marshmallow fluff!”

“Marshmallows?” asked Comet “I hear they’re quite good,
The humans like to toast them over a flame made with wood.”
“Yes,” agreed Santa, “And Firewing is a friend
Who will toast them for you over and over again!”

So off they all flew that one Christmas night
Delivering presents by Firewing’s light.
They laughed and they partied and had quite a time
With roasted marshmallows and friends, it was quite sublime.

So early next morning Firewing crawled into bed
While visions of reindeer friends danced in his head.
He dreamt of the night with his new found friends
They saved Christmas for all, so it wouldn’t end.

But later that morning he wasn’t quite sure
When his young friend Brady eagerly bounced through his door
Had it been real or a wonderful dream?
His head was all fuzzy like…marshmallow cream.

“Come on down, Santa’s been here
I’ll tell you the story of the elf and reindeer.”
Brady babbled excitedly of the well known tale
How they delivered presents and made that sleigh sail

“He’s left us all presents – the best that could be
Some books are for Kylie, Dragonese tapes for me.
Ryan got a sword to decorate his room,
Sean got a boom box with extra loud boom.”

“But, you got the very best gift of them all.
Come see for yourself” Brady continued to call
A most perfect present, please hurry and see
Your very own fantasy – a Marshmallow tree!”

“It’s loaded with marshmallows and does a great trick
When you pick a marshmallow off, one grows back real quick.
It comes with a note from Santa” he raved
“Heartfelt thanks go to Firewing – for Christmas he saved.”

“What does he mean?” Brady wanted to know
But the dragon just winked and ate a marshmallow.
“Presents are nice – but not the real reason
We celebrate and love this wonderful season.”

“Christmas is more than just presents and toys -
Its working together to spread love and joy.
The best part of Christmas is the feeling you know
From sharing the love wherever you go.”

He ate one more marshmallow then started to fly
His message emblazed across a clear sky
“Happy Christmas to all – go spread love and good cheer
Be kind to others – throughout the whole year.”

Merry Christmas - Hope to see you in the Cybrarie !