Page 12 of The Loneliest Dragon at Christmas
If he decorated, there would be no one to enjoy it but him. Avery would just sit there alone, staring at the decorations by himself.
Avery wrapped an arm around his stomach as if holding himself. He shuffled closer to the fire.
“Who wants hot cocoa?” Their father came into the room with a tray of mugs.
“Me! Me!” the children cried.
“And who wants vanilla crescent cookies?” The mother carried in a plate of still-warm cookies. “I used my secret family recipe.”
The children ran to her. Their eager hands reached for the sweet cookies.
Avery had eaten a vanilla crescent cookie today. It had been as delicious as he’d always imagined it to be. He’d been imagining it since he’d been a little dragon and he’d first read this book. He’d asked in bakeries before. They’d never had them.
Then a few days ago, as he’d thought about this book, he’d become determined. He’d gone from bakery to bakery, all over the city. He’d visited at least twenty.
And today, he’d found them at the Magic Bakery, which was run by a family of witches. It had been the perfect place to eat the cookie. The bakery tingled with magic. The smell of baked goods filled the air. Christmas decorations brightened the room.
He thought of Jack, the hearth and kitchen witch who’d given him the cookie. The man had a nice smile.
Did he bicker with his sister Lacy or the other members of their family? Did they eat their baked goods together at Christmas? Did they give one another presents and feast on Christmas Day?
Avery stared at the page, eyes unseeing. He closed the book. His limbs felt heavy. Avery put the book down on the table beside the armchair. He stared at the floor.
He didn’t feel like imagining other families celebrating Christmas right now.
It just made Avery think of each and every Christmas he’d spent alone. Despite the crackling fire, he felt cold.
Avery stood and walked towards the large wooden chests that lined a wall. He gently removed the books off them and piled them beside it. He shouldn’t do this. It was beneath him. His father had told him only wild dragons nested. But tonight Avery couldn’t help it. He needed it. He opened the chests one by one.
Various blankets of different fabrics and colours filled each wooden chest. Avery had selected and bought each one with great thought and care. He pulled the blankets out and took them to the rug in front of the fire, and he coiled and piled the blankets into a circular shape, into a nest.
Finally, he opened a small chest, separate from the others, that sat on top of the mantelpiece. A single blanket nestled inside the wood. He pulled it out, so careful of the old fabric. It had been handmade by his mother, his baby blanket with little red dragons stitched into the white cloth. He carried it to the nest and placed it down on the rug.
Then he stripped and folded his clothes. He closed his eyes and relaxed his body. He focused. He shifted. His torso thickened, his neck stretching out. Wings emerged from hisback. The library grew smaller. Then he stood on all fours inside the nest.
He lay amongst the blankets. He nosed the blankets, tugging them into place with his teeth, careful not to damage the fabric. When the nest lay perfect, he curled up and snuggled amongst the blankets nest before the fire.
Finally, he lowered his head onto his baby blanket that his mother had made him, reminding himself that at least his mother had loved him all those years ago.
CHAPTER 7
The scent of spices, baked bread, and cookies filled Avery’s lungs. The warm bakery air encompassed him. Customers’ voices mingled. Avery rubbed his fingers together. He closed his eyes. He could feel the magic in the air, like a light prickling sensation on his skin. He hadn’t noticed it at first. He’d not been paying enough attention.
But after Jack had told him about he and his family being witches, Avery realised he could feel a light buzzing in the air as magic imbued their baking.
How did that work? Avery wanted to know! He wanted to know everything about this lovely little bakery and the witch who served him.
It felt like love and care lingered so thickly in the air that Avery could almost taste it. Just being in the room invigorated and nourished him.
And the decorations! Garlands of greenery had been strung up all around the bakery as well as sparkly baubles and ribbon. And the decked-out Christmas tree took his breath away! The bakery felt like Christmas and joy.
Avery moved towards the counter, standing behind the patrons already in line. Jack served an older siren, smiling at her as he wrapped several loaves in brown paper.
Jack hadn’t noticed Avery yet.
“What did you do that for?” one of the bakers out back snapped.
“Why wouldn’t I do that?” another voice said.
