Janie And The Dragon

Its wide eyes and sweet smile belied its fiery nature!

- Lynne Hackles

The stone dragon sat outside the junk shop. Janie walked towards it and placed a hand on its head.

The dragon felt warm, as if the sun had been shining on it. But there was no sun. Janie looked up at the grey sky, then back at the dragon. It had wide eyes and such a sweet smile. She knew she had to have it.

“There were two, but I sold the other yesterday,” the shop owner told her. “Shall I wrap it for you?”

“No. I’ll carry it.” Janie somehow didn’t like the idea of her dragon being suffocated in layers of paper.

She decided to place it on the landing, on the windowsill outside the front door of her flat. The dragon could look down to the garden below. She moved all Harry’s dead plants and empty pots and washed the sill. There would have been enough room for two dragons there. She hoped hers wouldn’t be lonely on its own.

As she cleaned the sill her neighbour, Harry, appeared. He was known for being the most miserable and awkward person living in the block.

“What are you doing now?” he demanded rudely.

“This rubbish has been blocking the energies.” Janie knew her words would annoy him. “It’s very bad Feng Shui.”

“We don’t want any of that stupid new-age stuff here,” said Harry, slamming his door closed.

Janie lifted her dragon onto the shining sill. Its head felt cold as she stroked it. “See the trees and the birds?” she whispered, turning it to face the window. “You’ll like it here.”

The next morning the dragon was facing inwards, staring directly at Harry’s door. In the early morning light, when Janie left for work, its smile didn’t look as sweet.

Jane swivelled it around to its former position. Harry must have been playing tricks and moved it.