If It Flies

Who could sleep with all that noise? It was bad enough in the old days with all those young ruffians running around trying to make a name for themselves. They were very bothersome. Gotten so bad that a fellow could not even enjoy a decent meal without them interfering. They and their long shiny sticks and strange metal coverings. It's one of the reasons I decided to move. Even that didn't help a lot.

It wasn't long after I found the new place when another group decided to make a name for themselves, only they didn't do the single thing - oh no they gathered in groups. Now mind you I was doing nothing wrong. A fellow has to eat you know. There's nothing wrong with a good sheep or an occasional cow is there? It wasn't like an everyday thing, just one or two a week was all. Well, it was more on occasion especially before the long cold winters.

It just got too crowded back there and besides it wasn't long before those groups decided they just didn't want me around. Oh sure - - - sure they had some strange ideas. Virgins, some virgins they were, and not nearly as tasty. It wasn't my idea, but a free meal no matter how skinny the pickings - - - well can you blame me? I supplemented the meager amount with large flocks of birds. After all the birds did provide an interesting flavor as well as exercise in my aerobatics. They were rather plentiful back then, though the feathers were a bother.

As I said it just got too crowded and they must have run out of virgins because it wasn't too many years before they stopped the free meals. Not that I really minded, but a fellow has to have a good meal or two so I just helped myself. There were so many by then and they were living rather close to my home.

It was after they started those night raids that I moved here. They wouldn't even let me get a good night's sleep with their noisy banging fire sticks. Besides I was getting older and my appetite was not so great that I needed as much as I had when I was young. This was a nice place. just enough to provide for my occasional meal and no noisy neighbors to contend with either. I had grown fond of flying things and with all the flocks out there on the lake - well it was enough.

I do sleep a lot now - sometimes for months and especially at this time of year. It's always been quiet and I can get my rest without being bothered. As for my eating - well if it's big enough and it flies. . .

It's not my fault you know, dragons don't keep calendars. Besides I woke up hungry and how was I to know it was Christmas eve?

Cherry Kelly

(c) 1997