Lost dragon is on its way back home

“You should put it in a box with my name on it and put it in the mail,” grandson Nicholas told me. After several months he had finally asked about the stuffed dragon he had left in our backyard way back in February. The dragon has been snowed on, rained on and heaven only knows what the evil squirrels did to it before I finally found it. It has been sitting on my kitchen table for the past couple of months.
I did as Nicholas asked and the dragon is now on its way back to the little boy who owns it. I included trinkets for the rest of the members of the household and put everyone’s name on the box. It should be there at the end of the week.
I had intended to take the dragon to Nicholas myself but time has gotten away from us and we haven’t made the long trip to Texas yet this year. It seems that the weeks fly by so fast these days and the trip gets longer every time we make it.
It was only yesterday that it was February and I was cautioning Nicholas not to fall into my mother’s grave a day before the toy was lost. Now Nicholas and his brother, Jacob, are showing off the baby opossums they rescued from the dogs. They are catching frogs and getting muddy. And Nicholas is asking for the return of his dragon.
In between times the children are attending Bible school. They love it as much as I used to. Is there anything sweeter than children’s voices singing, “Zacchaeus was a wee little man . . .” over the phone? I used to sing that same song to my daughter many years ago, except I took liberties with what Jesus said to Zacchaeus as in, “Zacchaeus, get out of that tree before you fall and break your neck,” and other such nonsense.
A part of summer that I wish I could share with the grandchildren is Portland’s annual Fourth of July parade. They would love collecting all the candy and other things thrown by the parade participants. They would enjoy seeing the sheer variety of floats, soldiers, bands and vehicles. They wouldn’t have expected to see all the dogs walking with their owners or the lone gentleman on his bicycle at the end of the parade. Me, I love the inclusiveness and diversity of our parade.
They would have been surprised at the young man walking behind us on our way home. Three young ladies were walking in front of us. Apparently the guy was with them and had been left behind.
He informed them that he had found new friends to walk with as he fell into step beside my husband. He kept up a running commentary to the girls. He told them he was going home with us and that I was going to make pancakes for him in the morning. He said I was going to introduce him to my daughter and that I thought he was cute. He finally crossed the street and went into the decrepit building housing fireworks for sale.
My husband and I looked at each other and said, “Did you know that guy?” Neither of us had ever seen him before. I honestly can’t imagine that happening anywhere else. The kids’ father would have been astounded, while my daughter would have shrugged and thought it was normal.
I wonder what tales Nicholas’ dragon will tell once it is released from its box. Yes, I know stuffed animals can’t talk, at least not to grown-ups. Had it witnessed oddities that will never be seen in the state of Texas? Is it having an adventure in the post office? Is it looking forward to reuniting with a child who left it outside? I don’t know.
All I know is that I did as I was asked. I put it in a box and addressed it to some of the most precious members of the family. I hope it doesn’t get lost again.