Flash Fiction Contest Third Place Winning Entry

Third Place - D. Kay Valentine, Dragon vs. Toddler

Fact, toddlers toddled. Also, a fact, snakes slithered. And if one resided in the northern mountains of Arkansas, it was entirely likely that toddlers and large leggy winged snakes could end up face to snout in the Ozark Forest.

The toddler, a three-year-old girl wearing only a diaper, had toddled away from her trailer nestled into the side of Magazine Mountain. She’d been sitting in front of the trailer with her faithful hound Scratch enjoying mudpies and juice while her momma hung the laundry out to dry.

Momma had never enjoyed laundry day, especially since the dryer stopped working three months prior. Momma did, however, enjoy a sip or two of ‘shine, which after the dryer broke had become a major part of laundry day. On that day she had enjoyed a full glass of moonshine while she did the wash. She had enjoyed a second while she hung the wash on the line, and a third while she stared at the wash waiting for it to dry in the summer heat.

Scratch knew something was wrong with Momma when she had leaned over to rest her forehead on the cool wet sandy ground and never raised back up. It had been over four hours. Momma was not likely to raise back up, ever.

The toddler, Prussia had been crying, apple juice and mud pies long gone.

Scratch had gently taken the girl’s hand in his mouth and led her slowly into the forest. He took her to the lake to get a cool drink of water. That had always made him feel better when he was hungry and there was no food.

At the lake he found an enormous reptile sunning on the banks. He’d seen the beast before. He growled and put himself between it and Prussia.

The beast raised its head and quirked an eyebrow.

“What have we here, dog?” it asked in a deep voice neither male nor female.

Scratch growled again, ready to protect the child at any cost.

“Don’t’ worry. I won’t eat her. She is too small and most likely too fatty,” said the beast chuckling harmoniously.

Prussia moved around the dog towards the large reptile. Scratch immediately snapped onto the toddler’s diaper and tried pulling her backwards.

Prussia giggled and wiggled out of the Huggies, running towards the monster. She fell forward, arms around the long green scaley tail which twitched in a serpentine motion while she laughed.

“Hmmm, she isn’t afraid of me,” it noted with a pleased expression. It spread its wings and raised up on its hind legs, looming almost two stories over the girl, still sprawled atop its tail.

She beamed up at it, pink cheeks and gapped grin, and giggled.

“Uncky Gree!” she exclaimed.

“Am I your Uncle Green?” chuckled the beast, the voice shaking the woods around them.

Scratch was still trying to corral the girl, but she was too delighted to be herded by the mutt.

“Dog!” commanded the beast, “I am of the great Dragon Clan Gowrow, and I give you my word I will not harm the child. Stop acting foolishly.”

As the dragon spoke, the ground quaked and the air sizzled, noting the binding words.

Scratch whimpered and backed away at the commotion.

“You may stay and help protect the child,” it said.

Scratch couldn’t help wagging his tail at the assignment.

The dragon turned its attention back to the girl.

“Tell me, what is your name, child?”

“‘m Pru-sha, an ‘m tee,” she said holding up three fingers proudly.

“I see. Well, this won’t do at all,” said the dragon. “You are too young to be in the forest alone. You will need to stay with your Uncky Gree. Tell me, what is your dog’s name?”

“Dawg?” asked Prussia.

The dragon pointed a clawed forefinger at the dog.

“Scratch!” said Prussia proudly. “Scratch is scratch!”

“I see education was not in the forefront of your family’s mind. Let’s see what we can do. Dog, Scratch, can you bring her something to wear that is not made of plastic? Don’t worry, you have my word. The great dragon ‘Uncky Gree’ has decreed the girl’s safety.”

Scratch reluctantly backed away from the beast. Prussia was still perched on top of its tail like she was riding a pony when Scratch left the forest by the lake.

He returned later with a cotton sundress that had been in the laundry basket. It was mostly dry from sitting in the sun. Momma had still been lying below the laundry line, eyes open, motionless.

When Scratch returned, the dragon was snout to nose with the toddler singing to her in a language that he didn’t recognize, although his English vocabulary was limited.

Prussia was fast asleep. He sat the sundress down at the dragon’s hind legs and backed away low, in deference.

“Dog Scratch do not fear me. You are now the young-one’s knight. You will protect her and guide her through the forest. I will educate her and teach her the ways of my kind. She will be my person and someday we will ride together.”