Hello,
My name is Jacqueline and my story is about to begin.
The Most Unlikely Friends Flame was a big green dragon with a scaly rough back and a soft golden belly.
At a very young age he was made an orphan when an earthquake destroyed his neighbourhood.
Flame had been out playing by himself when the earthquake struck.
The terrifying noises made him think it was the end of the world and he ran away in sheer panic and hid in a dark cave.
When the noises stopped Flame crept out of the cave and looked around.
A thick cloud of dust stretched before him and the sound of silence was kind of eerie.
As the dust settled Flame went back to his home but his parents were not there.
Everything had been demolished and piles of rubble was all that could be seen.
Flame went back to the cave and stayed there overnight.
The next day he went to look for his parents again,
Hoping they would appear but they never did.
Flame spent three more days waiting and searching and eventually he realised that his parents were gone and he was all alone.
At first he felt sorry for himself but he didn't like that feeling so he decided to do something different to make himself feel better.
Flame left the cave and started walking to explore places he had never been to before.
But he was lonely and scared.
The slightest noise sent him in a dither.
Now this was hardly surprising after being in an earthquake but Flame didn't know this because he had no one to talk to about it.
So his anxious thoughts built up in his head and he became a very nervous dragon.
One day Flame was walking through a forest enjoying the beautiful day as the sun beamed down through the leaves on the trees.
He had never been in this forest before but he liked it with the tall trees and pretty foliage on the ground.
He would often try and reach up to the top of the trees but although he was a big dragon most of the trees were a lot taller than he could stretch.
As he was enjoying the beauty around him a noise caught his attention.
Flame stopped and listened.
There it was again.
It was the sound of twigs breaking.
He looked around but couldn't see anything moving.
Then he heard the sound again but this time it was much louder than before.
Oh no!
Thought Flame.
It's a big hairy monster out to get me.
What am I going to do?
I'm too big to hide behind a tree and I'm too big to climb a tree.
Oh I wish someone was here that could help me.
Hello!
Said a little voice making him jump.
Ah don't hurt me!
Said Flame in a shaky voice as he threw his arms around his head scared to turn around and see the big hairy monster who was speaking to him.
Hey I'm not going to hurt you!
Said the little voice again.
Flame started shaking still scared to take a look.
Suddenly he felt something on his foot and peeked out from behind his arm to see what it was.
There looking up at him was a tiny mouse.
Oh Flame exclaimed as he looked down at the mouse.
I'm not afraid of you!
He said feeling brave now.
I should hope not!
Said the tiny mouse standing up on his hind legs.
I'm so much smaller than you.
Why was you scared anyway?
You're a big dragon so you shouldn't be scared of anything.
Flame felt a little silly hearing this.
The mouse was not at all scary but seemed quite nice.
Flame decided to explain.
I lost my parents in an earthquake he said and I have nobody to talk to about my fears and worries.
I just seem to feel worse the more I think about things which I don't understand and noises really scare me.
Well I'll be your friend!
Said the tiny mouse kindly.
My name is Eric and my parents have taught me that I am in control of my thoughts.
They always tell me,
Be happy Eric,
Stay positive and only think good thoughts.
They sound lovely said Flame wishing his parents were still around.
They are!
Agreed Eric.
They taught me that life is for having fun and I make sure I have fun every day.
When I'm having fun nothing seems to be a problem and if there is a problem,
Especially one I can't do anything about,
I turn away from it and find something fun to do.
But do noises scare you?
Asked Flame,
Liking this tiny mouse even more.
I'm not scared by any noise announced Eric but I could be scared of what is making the noise if I let it.
If it's a big cat that could scare me but I simply run away from it and then I have no reason to be scared.
A noise doesn't scare us,
It's our thoughts about what the noise could be which scares us.
Oh I think I understand said Flame.
When I heard you breaking tweaks as you walked up to me I immediately imagined a big hairy monster and the thought of that scared me,
Not you.
You're so tiny,
How could I possibly be scared of you?
Exactly said Eric,
I'm too tiny to even scare a fly.
Flame laughed,
I like you he said.
I'm happy to have you as a friend.
Me too agreed Eric but you haven't told me your name yet.
Flame told Eric his name.
That's a very strange name said Eric,
Why are you called Flame?
My dad called me Flame because I learnt to blow fire from my mouth at a very young age,
Far earlier than the other tiny dragons,
Declared Flame feeling quite proud of himself.
He hadn't felt this way in a long time and it felt good.
Oh really said Eric,
A little unsure of what his new friend was saying,
Show me.
Flame looked around to make sure it was safe for him to do this.
His dad had taught him to only blow his fire when it was necessary and in a safe place as fire was very dangerous.
I can't show you here said Flame sadly,
There are too many trees which could easily catch a light.
I can only blow fire in a big open space so that I don't cause any damage.
Eric thought for a moment and then said,
Follow me,
I know somewhere that will be a very safe place.
Flame followed Eric along a path through the forest.
Eventually the trees ended and before them lay a beautiful sandy beach which stretched out to a blue ocean.
Wow said Flame,
I would never have known this was here.
It's beautiful and so spacious,
The beach stretches for miles.
The friend stood on the golden sand and looked around.
There was no one in sight.
They walked towards the ocean and stopped next to a group of rocks,
Some large,
Some small,
By the edge of the water.
Eric climbed upon one of the rocks so he was higher up and better able to watch Flame do his demonstration.
Okay,
The mouse said,
There's nobody around so blow fire for me.
Happy that he wouldn't harm anything with his flames,
The dragon stepped away from Eric and prepared himself.
He took a big deep breath in and roared loudly as he opened his mouth and blew out his magnificent flames of red,
Orange and yellow.
The flames flickered and danced as the dragon put on an impressive display.
Finally Flame gave one last roar and the fire disappeared,
Leaving just a puff of smoke which floated slowly up into the sky.
That was amazing,
Said Eric,
Clapping his tiny paws together.
Can you teach me how to do that?
I think only dragons can blow fire,
Replied Flame,
Feeling quite proud of himself.
Suddenly they heard a sobbing noise coming from somewhere amongst the rocks.
Eric jumped from rock to rock until he could see what was making the noise.
He saw a sea turtle cowering down in the sand and covering his head with his flipper arms as he sobbed.
Hey,
Said Eric gently,
Are you okay down there?
The sea turtle moved one flipper away from his face and slowly looked up at Eric.
What was that frightening noise?
He stammered.
It sounded like the earth was coming to an end.
It was so scary.
Oh,
That was my friend Flame,
Said Eric.
He's a dragon and was showing me how he blows fire from his mouth.
A dragon?
Exclaimed the sea turtle,
Backing up against a rock in fear.
Oh no,
He will eat me.
I must get away fast before he could catch me.
At that moment Flame appeared,
Towering over the sea turtle.
Immediately the sea turtle covered his head again with his flippers and whimpered,
Don't eat me,
Please don't eat me.
Flame felt upset that this creature was so scared of him.
It reminded him how frightened he used to be of everything he wasn't sure about.
Understanding exactly how the sea turtle was feeling,
Flame said,
Why would I want to eat you?
You don't look very tasty,
Plus I don't eat my friends.
Still hiding behind his flippers,
The sea turtle replied,
I'm not your friend and anyway,
In my head,
I think you'll eat me.
I used to think the same way as you do,
Said Flame,
But my friend Eric here taught me to think differently.
Yes,
Explained Eric,
It's our thoughts which make us scared,
Not what is going on around us.
Look,
Flame is a gentle dragon,
Come out and say hello.
The sea turtle slowly crawled out from behind the rock.
He looked up at Flame and said,
In as brave a voice as he could,
Hello,
My name is Tom,
You are very big,
Aren't you?
Yes I am,
Replied Flame,
But I'm really not scary.
No,
I can see that now,
Said the sea turtle,
Relaxing slightly.
But are you really my friend?
Yes,
Said Flame,
And I hope you'll be my friend too.
Yes,
I will,
Said the sea turtle,
Feeling a lot happier.
And I'll be your friend too,
Eric,
If that's okay,
He said excitedly,
Looking over at the mouse.
That will be wonderful,
Said Eric,
Once again clapping his tiny paws together.
What a great day this has turned out to be,
We have all made two new friends.
Come on my friends,
Said Flame,
Let's take in this beautiful scenery together and enjoy the day.
And the three most unlikely friends set off along the beach,
Chatting and laughing,
As if they had known each other forever.
If you're still awake,
I'd like to thank you for listening to my story,
And I really hope you enjoyed it.
Before you go,
I'd like to ask you a question.
Which unlikely animal would you like to have as a friend?
