The Boy Who Dreamed of Dragons, page 11
She left and turned out the light, and I lay there, my eyes wide open. A mouldy feeling had suddenly started growing inside my tummy.
With the superhero squad coming back, I had some owning up to do. I wondered how annoyed they would be at me for blurting out the secret to Aura. I tried and tried to figure out the right way to tell them, and the perfect time. But really there isn’t ever a perfect time to admit you’ve done something wrong.
Grandad always says you just have to bite the bullet and do it anyway. Otherwise the mould will grow and grow and turn your insides furry.
Then I started picturing the hurt on Chouko’s face when she’d seen the wreckage in her greenhouse. And I knew I needed to make things right with her too.
I lay there, unsure if I wanted to sleep, afraid my dreams might turn mouldy as well. Zing flapped out from under the bed and landed beside me, bashing me in the head with one wing. The buzz that came from his little body had a weirdly calming effect this time. Like he was draining the wound-up worry energy I was storing inside.
I closed my eyes and let myself drift off.
In my dream I was standing on the craggy side of a mountain under a wild sky. Above me storm clouds buffeted each other like raging bulls. Lightning burst from them, jagged and bright, leaping from cloud to cloud in a dazzling electric dance.
And then one bolt shot straight at me. As the tip of it reached my outstretched hand, I thought I would be struck down. But the light burst into the shining white scales of a dragon.
The dragon settled across my shoulders and leaned his head against my neck. A blast of energy lit me up inside and I shone bright and luminous.
I was still buzzing with that energy when I woke up. Feeling revived by the dream, I summoned the superhero squad. And everyone agreed to meet later that day in Grandad’s garden.
After helping Dad set up his microphone to record a very reluctant Tomtom and a super-friendly and very keen collie dog called Poppy Mobello Madonna, who Mum had just brought home, I took Lolli with me to Nana and Grandad’s.
Aura was already there when we arrived, holding a plate of Nana’s jammy tarts.
‘Your nana has gone back for more,’ she said, smiling.
I grabbed a raspberry tart and a blackberry one and stuffed them into my mouth, hoping their sweet stickiness would settle the fluttering butterflies in my tummy. The happy buzz of my dream was starting to wear off as the time to face the superhero squad grew ever closer.
While Aura and Rosebud helped Grandad with his flowers, and Zing helped by staying out of their way, I took out my worries on some nettles, watched over by Lolli. Her efforts with Stefan and the other sticky patients had finally been rewarded by Mum, who’d given her sole charge of Mr Floppybobbington. Although, to be fair, she still carried Stefan around with her.
‘Hey up, Chipstick – looks like we’ve got a few more helping hands at last,’ Grandad called.
I turned and, seeing the superhero squad heading down the garden path towards us, my heart leaped up and started thumping at my chest to get out.
As they got closer, I saw Rosebud curl her wings and retreat into bud stealth mode. I wished I had her skills! Even Aura was looking nervous now the time had come.
I braced myself for the laser-beam glares I was sure were about to be unleashed.
Everyone had their eyes fixed on Aura and the little shape clinging to her arm. But there were no glares.
When Zing careered across the path, letting out one of his mini lightning bolts, Ted actually grinned and called out, ‘There he is! I told you he was zippy – although I had no idea he could do that!’
‘Wow!’ Liam cried. And Kai burst out laughing as Zing sent two more bolts shooting across the grass.
‘He really is sparky,’ Kat giggled.
And then Zing’s scales shone white and with a flash of light he disappeared, only to reappear right next to Liam’s head. Alarmed, Liam jumped and then started laughing as Zing zapped from him to Kai and back again.
‘That’s incredible!’ Kai squealed as the dragon suddenly appeared right in front of him.
‘We come in peace,’ Liam hollered, spinning round, searching for the dragon.
Meanwhile, Kat rushed over to Aura. She started firing questions at her about the dragon on her arm.
‘What’s her name? Does she breathe fire? Why do her horns glow like that?’
‘She’s called Rosebud, because she curls up like a bud. And it’s like my mamma’s name,’ Aura said happily.
Before she could go on, Kat turned and fired one at me: ‘Tomas, why didn’t you tell us Aura had found out?’
I shuffled awkwardly. Zing appeared next to me, and, to Liam and Kai’s obvious relief, settled on my back, his wings stretching out across my shoulders.
‘Because she didn’t just find out,’ I mumbled, scuffing the mud with the tip of my trainer.
‘What do you mean?’ she asked.
‘I mean, I told her. Even though we said we wouldn’t.’
Kat gave a little ‘oh’ of understanding, as the truth fell into place like counters lining up in a game of Connect Four.
‘So?’ Kai said matter-of-factly.
‘Yeah. I was all for telling her anyway,’ Liam pointed out.
‘We would have told her sooner or later,’ Ted said.
‘Exactly,’ Kat agreed.
Aura looked visibly relieved at hearing this.
‘I shouldn’t have done it without checking with everyone though,’ I said apologetically. Then, feeling like I wanted to explain, I added, ‘I just felt as if the superhero squad was falling apart. You’ve all been so busy. And then with Flicker staying away, and knowing you were going to be away for the holidays … and that you two will be going off to the other side of the world … I just … I messed up. I’m sorry,’ I finished lamely.
Kat looked at me, her head tipped slightly to one side, like Flicker sometimes did, as if I was a puzzle she was trying to figure out.
‘It’s fine,’ she said softly. ‘Honestly, I feel a whole lot better about going away knowing you have someone here to help you all while we’re gone. You need her.’
‘You sure do,’ agreed Kai. ‘Anyway, what do you mean about the superhero squad falling apart?’
‘Yeah,’ piped up Ted. ‘What’s that all about?’
I shrugged, feeling embarrassed. ‘You’re always off in Liam’s allotment,’ I said quietly. ‘I guess I got a bit grumpy at being left out of your grand plans,’ I finally admitted.
‘I get it,’ Liam said. ‘Being left out makes you act weird. I should know.’ He elbowed me and added in a deep and gruff voice, ‘Don’t turn out like me though, son.’
Aura giggled. And I couldn’t help joining in as I felt my whole body untie itself from the bundle of knots it’d worked itself into over the last few weeks.
‘Listen, I’m sure the dragons will come back,’ Ted said. ‘They know where we are.’ Everyone nodded. ‘We’re all in this together, the dragons and us.’
‘And it doesn’t matter where we are in the world, Tomas,’ Kai said earnestly, ‘the superhero squad’s greatest superpower is our super-strength stickiness. Not even the Hulk could pull us lot apart.’
The relief at hearing that threatened to leak out, but luckily Aura stepped in and distracted everyone. She quickly told them about our adventures in the botanic garden and Chouko finding the seedlings. By the time she’d finished, I was leak-free.
‘We’ll find a way to rescue the seedlings,’ Ted said, giving me a reassuring nudge.
‘Absolutely,’ agreed Liam.
‘And just because we’ll be in China doesn’t mean we can’t help,’ Kat said, and Kai added, ‘Who else is going to come up with your cunning plans?’
‘Actually Aura’s pretty good at plans,’ I said, smiling at her.
Kat linked arms with Aura. ‘Excellent. Welcome to the planning committee!’
‘Come on,’ Grandad said, striding over and pulling out his phone. ‘Let’s have a snap of the superhero squad all together.’
We huddled in close and Grandad called out, ‘Say: “Dragon-fruit tree”!’
It worked and we all grinned our way through an extra-long ‘treeeeeee’ as he clicked to take the picture. Then we fell about in a giggling heap when we saw that Zing’s static had given us all wildly sticking-up hair – including the ever so fluffy Mr Floppybobbington.
Later, when everyone had gone home, I sat with Grandad on the bench outside the shed. Zing was perched on the end, the air crackling around him as tiny blue sparks jumped from spine to spine along his back.
He kept his bright sapphire eye fixed on me as he launched up into the air and began circling above our heads. Then he flew down to land on my back, where he wriggled his way up until he could rest his head over my shoulder. I smiled at the pulse of energy that buzzed through me. Then I stared down at the picture Grandad had taken of us all with our grinning faces, arms across each other’s shoulders.
Feeling the weight of Zing on my shoulder, I closed my eyes and leaned in to Grandad, my head suddenly full of thoughts of Flicker.
‘Do you think Flicker will come back?’
‘Why on earth shouldn’t he?’ asked Grandad.
‘In my dreams now, it’s always Zing and me playing.’
‘He’s a sparky little dragon, that’s for sure,’ Grandad chuckled.
‘But it used to be me and Flicker.’ And as I said the words, I felt the familiar stab in my heart. ‘What if Flicker felt left out, like I did with Liam and Ted, and that’s why he’s been staying away?’
Grandad took the camera from me and smiled as he studied the picture. Then he held it up in front of me.
‘Who’s missing from this?’ he said, pointing.
‘What do you mean?’ I asked, peering at it. ‘No one’s missing.’
‘Yes, there is. Me.’
I wasn’t sure what he was getting at.
‘You know, Chipstick, not everyone gets to be in the photo,’ he said. ‘Unless you’re using one of those silly sticks!’
He paused and squeezed me tighter.
‘There’s usually someone taking the picture. Someone who doesn’t necessarily want to get in the way but is there keeping an eye, joining in on all those magic moments, even if it’s off to one side.’
I thought of all the dreams I’d shared with Flicker, seeing the world through his eyes. And then I pictured all my dreams recently, swapped to scenes of me and Zing. In my dreams, I realised I was still seeing what Flicker saw.
‘Just because he’s not in the picture himself, doesn’t mean he’s not still there,’ Grandad went on. ‘I reckon he just thought you needed a bit of time and space to grow a few new friends.’
And just like that, as I sat tucked into Grandad’s side, I felt like I was leaning against the warming scales of Flicker.
I knew then with total certainty that Grandad was right. Flicker didn’t have to come back, because he hadn’t gone anywhere, he’d always been there. Just off to one side, like Grandad.
And I couldn’t wait until I saw him again.
Because when I did, I knew there would be adventures galore.
Of course, what I didn’t know then was that Aura had a secret. A secret not even she knew about. But maybe if you’ve had your eyes wide open you’ve already worked it out.
If not, just you wait, because things are about to hot up!
Acknowledgements
This book simply wouldn’t have made it into the world without my fabulous editor Georgia Murray. Georgia, I can’t thank you enough for your belief in me and in this story. Your keen eye, kind guiding hand and unwavering faith saw us through. So thank you!
I’m so delighted that the wonderful Talya Baker has been a part of this editing magic again too – thank you for your careful attention to detail and knowing my characters so well. My thanks too to Hannah Featherstone for her expert eye with the proofreading.
A massive thank-you to the whole team at Piccadilly, who have got behind this series and still get so excited about my dragons. And to my lovely agent, Jo Williamson, for all her amazing support along the way.
Every time I get illustrations from Sara Ogilvie I give a squeal and this book is no exception. Thank you to the genius that is Sara, for giving us illustrations with such heart, tenderness and fun. And to Nick Stearn and Sue Michniewicz for their incredible design skills.
The dragons wouldn’t be flying so high without the superhero squad of bloggers, reviewers, teachers, librarians and of course fabulous readers who have given the dragons a home. So many people have cheered me and the dragons on over the past few years, too many to name. But please know that every kind review and comment lifts our wings a little higher. So thank you from the bottom of our hearts!
I couldn’t do any of this without my family and friends. Near and far, you have done so much to keep me going me in this mad malarkey of writing. You’re a bonkers and wonderful lot!
And finally, heart-filled thanks to Ian, Ben and Jonas for endlessly cheering me on and filling my days with love and silliness. I’m proud of these books – I’m even prouder of you.
Thank you for choosing a Piccadilly Press book.
If you would like to know more about our authors, our books or if you’d just like to know what we’re up to, you can find us online.
www.piccadillypress.co.uk
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First published in Great Britain in 2020 by
PICCADILLY PRESS
80–81 Wimpole St, London W1G 9RE
www.piccadillypress.co.uk
Text copyright © Andy Shepherd, 2020
Illustrations copyright © Sara Ogilvie, 2020
All rights reserved.
No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored or transmitted in any form by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the publisher.
The right of Andy Shepherd and Sara Ogilvie to be identified as author and illustrator of this work has been asserted by them in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act, 1988
This is a work of fiction. Names, places, events and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental. A CIP catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.
ISBN: 978-1-84812-926-9
Also available in audio
Piccadilly Press is an imprint of Bonnier Books UK
www.bonnierbooks.co.uk
Andy Shepherd, The Boy Who Dreamed of Dragons
