Bedtime story

Location: Marcus's bedroom, dinosaur-themed
Marcus: Gap-toothed, sleepy, but fighting it
David: Patient, creative, present

MARCUS: Tell me about the dragon again.

DAVID: Which dragon? The one who collected library books or the one who was afraid of butterflies?

MARCUS: (giggling) The scared one!

DAVID: (settling in) Okay, once upon a time, there was a dragon named... what should we call him?

MARCUS: Scared-y Rex!

DAVID: Scared-y Rex. Now, Scared-y Rex was the biggest, strongest dragon in the whole kingdom, but he had a secret.

MARCUS: He was scared of butterflies!

DAVID: That's right. Every time he saw a butterfly, he'd run and hide behind the biggest mountain he could find.

MARCUS: But why? Dragons aren't supposed to be scared of anything!

DAVID: Well, that's what everyone told Scared-y Rex. But sometimes, son, the biggest, strongest people are afraid of the smallest, most beautiful things.

MARCUS: That doesn't make sense.

DAVID: Doesn't it? What if... what if Scared-y Rex was afraid that something so beautiful and delicate might get hurt if he got too close?

Marcus considers this, getting sleepier

MARCUS: So he stayed away to keep them safe?

DAVID: Maybe. Or maybe he was afraid that something so perfect would fly away if he breathed on it wrong.

MARCUS: (yawning) What happened to him?

DAVID: Well, one day a little butterfly landed right on his nose. And you know what?

MARCUS: (barely awake) What?

DAVID: It didn't fly away. It stayed there, and Scared-y Rex realized that some beautiful things are stronger than they look. And some scary things just need a friend.

Marcus is asleep. David adjusts the blanket, whispers:

DAVID: Sweet dreams, little dragon.