by Martha Faë
“Are you going to tell me what happened?” hearing Gondra’s tone of voice, it was evident that my silence was beginning to worry him.
“Do you have a sense of humour?” I asked finally.
“What do you mean?”
“Well, I mean if you like jokes and things like that.”
“Of course I like jokes, but do you really think this is a good time?”
“It’s always a good time,” I said making light of the situation with a wave of my hand. “So,” I proceeded, “why do dragons always win talent competitions?”
“What? You’re asking me why dragons win talent competitions?”
“Yes. Go on, why?”
“How should I know? I’m not in the mood for talent competitions right now. Tell me why you didn’t answer me when I asked you what happened, and tell me why you’re sweeping up what looks like ash... Hold on a moment – ash!”
Gondra spun around to face forwards, looked at himself in the mirror in front, and then used it to look for the reflection of his rear in the mirror directly behind. Very slowly he stretched his paw around his back, at about hip-height. He began to feel the material. He felt a bit further down, then a bit further...
“YOU’VE BURNED MY TAIL!”
I shook my head to say no and continued sweeping with rapid movements.
“What do you mean ‘no’? You’ve completely burnt my crest to a crisp. Those ashes in that dustpan are the remains of my beautiful tail’s crest. You were supposed to be making me look better. ‘No one will be able to recognise you’ you said.”
“And it’s true, isn’t it? You don’t even recognise yourself, do you?”
“I’m going to make you a stunner, you said. Count Gondo. A count! What kind of count has no crest on his tail?”
“I’m sorry. Please forgive me, I’m really, really sorry,” I didn’t know what else to say. It was true that I’d burnt the crest, but I hadn’t meant to. “I just wanted to make you look good, but I didn’t know how to use the hairdryer. I thought it was easy, I’ve seen it done millions of times. Sometimes in the afternoon when I get out of school, I come here and sit by the door to watch the hairdressers work. I thought I just had to put some shampoo on you, make a few bubbles, and then dry it off. And perhaps a touch here and there with the scissors.”
Gondra had turned his back on me and was standing with his arms crossed, tapping the floor with his right foot. I wanted to ease the atmosphere so I brought up the joke I’d begun earlier.
“I still haven’t told you yet why dragons win talent competitions. Do you know why?” Gondra didn’t even look around. “Because they singe beautifully, ha ha. Good, eh?”
If Gondra could have spat fire with just his eye, he’d have burnt me to a cinder, too, with the look he gave me.
“Come on,” I said with a friendly nudge. “It’s not really so bad. See? It’s a smidgeon of a singe. You’re not going to get like that over a little bit of ash, are you? Besides, no one likes long crests these days, Gondra - don’t be old-fashioned. The best thing to do is let me fix it a little bit with the scissors, and then I’m certain you won’t even notice the burnt bit.”
Gondra jumped back and put his arms up in defence.
“Do not even mention the sharp, pointy instrument!”
“What instrument? You mean the scissors?”
“Yes. Keep away from me with that. I think you’ve experimented on me enough with the hairdryer.”
“I know perfectly well how to use a pair of scissors.”
Gondra looked at me with an expression of distrust. My mistake with the hairdryer had been a big one, I admit. But it was true that I knew how to use scissors. I’d used them not just once, but millions of times, and found them a perfect tool for any occasion. Father’s Day? Scissors to make a card for Dad. Mother’s Day? Scissors to make paper flowers for Mum. Christmas? Rainy day? Covering exercise books at the beginning of term? Basically, I’d used scissors tons of times. So with a determined certainty, I dared to claim:
“I have tons of experience with scissors. I don’t like to blow my own trumpet, but I am, in fact, an expert scissorer.”
“An expert sizzowhat?” asked Gondra, amused. “You’ve just made that up.”
“Probably. But I promise you I really do know how to use scissors. Will you let me fix you? This time you’re going to look brilliant, I guarantee it. Level five stunner.”
“Okaaaaaay,” replied Gondra, sitting in one of the salon chairs.
I picked up a pair of scissors and began to use them freely, as I’d seen the hairdressers at Peter, Please! do so many times. I snipped a little here and a little there, stepping back every now and then to see how my masterpiece was coming along. When I finished, I got to do something I had always wanted to do: I picked up one of those old-fashioned, round shaving brushes and swept Gondra with it from top to toe, brushing away all the little bits of fabric I’d cut away, and tickling him in the process.
“Done!” I said at last.
Gondra opened his only eye – he’d had it closed throughout the whole process because he was afraid of being nicked by the scissors. He looked at himself straight on, then sideways, and then checked his reflection in the mirror behind. He couldn’t believe it! His uneven crest which all the other dragons had made fun of so much was now a shorter one and perfectly even all along. The burnt area was all gone – the scissors had snipped it away.
“I have to admit you’ve done a good job.”
“I told you so,” I boasted with a little wink. “I told you that when you come out of Peter, Please! you hardly recognise yourself. Count Gondo is definitely ready for The Forest now.”
“Oh!” cried Gondra, looking very sad, “I think we’re forgetting there’s something you can’t change about me... I only have one eye.”
“Well that’s all right, that’s what makes you special!”
“But I don’t want to be special, I just want to be like everyone else.”
“Gondra, your eye is the loveliest eye I’ve seen in a long time. It’s as pretty as... as...” I couldn’t find anything good enough for comparison. Then, suddenly, I saw my reflection in the mirror. “That’s it! It’s as pretty as the X on my dress. See?”
Gondra came a little nearer.
“You’re right!” he exclaimed. “The picture on your dress is exactly like my eye.”
In our reflection I could see that Gondra’s eye and the X that Gran had decorated my dress with were exactly the same size and colour, as if they had some kind of magical connection.
“Perhaps...” I said, giving some thought to what I was about to say next. “Perhaps it’s not such a coincidence that your eye and the X on my dress are identical. Perhaps we found each other for a reason.”
Gondra nodded. I could see that, in his heart, he was following the same line of reasoning as me.
“I’ve always wished for two eyes.”
“And I’ve always wished for a friend as special as you. I think it’s time to ask for help from the person who created the X on my dress,” I said.
“Your Gran?”
“Exactly,” I replied.
“Great! I love your Gran.”
All of a sudden, without any apparent reason, Gondra looked very sad again.
“What’s the matter now?”
“We still have a big problem. We need to find out how to open the secret passage again to get back to your room. It’s going to be horrible. I think we have no choice but to throw ourselves at the mirrors to see if a magic portal opens. Come on, we’ll have to start as soon as possible. You throw yourself at the ones on the right and I’ll go at the ones on the left.”
“Hold on a minute, crazy dragon,” I said, grabbing his paw to hold him back. “What if we just go out through the front door like normal people?”
“I hadn’t thought of that. Do you think it’ll work?”
“Perfectly logical. Of course it’ll work.”
“But it’s locked.”
“Yes it is,” I said with a smile, “but all you have to do is turn the handle like this and ta-daa! See?”
At the very same moment the door opened, the salon’s alarm went off and shrieked out at full volume.
Gondra and I looked at each other in fright.
“Run!” we both yelled at the same time.
We ran down the street as fast as we could, with no time even to worry about what people might think if they saw a little girl running down the street at night followed by a little dragon made out of tea towels.
16
**
Gondra Sees Part Of His Dream Come True
The front door at home opened with a creak. Our cheeks were still flushed and pink from sprinting all the way there. Count Gondo’s new style was still perfectly intact, however, and our mission at the hairdresser’s had been worth the effort; but now we had to sneak into my apartment without anyone noticing. As soon as we got inside and closed the door we ran into Gran.
“Hello, Amaranta. Hello, dragon,” she said. “Have you been out to buy bread?”
I hate lying, especially to Gran, but what could we do? I knew perfectly well that I would be punished if I was caught going out of the house at night without permission... I limited myself to a simple nod, but Gondra, excited about his new look, burst out:
“I’ve been for a transformation.”
“Is that so?” Gran adjusted her glasses to be able to observe him properly. “It’s true, you do look very handsome. Although really, with or without a transformation, you’ve always been very handsome.”
Gondra couldn’t help blushing.
“Gran, we’re just missing one little detail to finish off the transformation. We need your help. You’re the best person to make one of Gondra’s dreams come true.”
Gran was delighted when we pointed out to her that the X she had sewn onto my dress was identical to Gondra’s eye. Just like me, she also thought that having one eye really made Gondra stand out from everyone else and that it made him special. Well, that, and the fact that he was so lovely and good-natured. Nevertheless Gondra wished with all his heart to have two eyes.
“The only thing that worries me is how to attach the other eye without hurting him,” said Gran as she got out her sewing box.
As soon as Gondra saw the needle appear, he hid behind me.
“One eye is fine. One eye is just perfect. It’s what makes me unique. Why would I want two? Everyone has two, so I’d be better staying as I am, wouldn’t I?” he said, although all that could be seen of him was the tiniest bit of moustache.
“Gondra,” I said, tugging his arm to pull him out in front of me where I could see him. “Of course you’re fine with just one eye; I’m the first one to say it. But are you really going to give up on your dream because you’re scared of a needle?”
“I have an idea” said Gran before Gondra could reply. “If I’m not mistaken, there should be a political debate on TV around about now.”
“Gra-aan!” I complained. “I don’t like politics and neither does Gondra.”
“Wait, I haven’t finished telling you my idea. I think, seeing as Gondra’s made only out of fabric here, that this mind-numbingly boring debate might be anaesthetic enough for the operation. What do you think?”
Gondra and I looked at each other. There was no harm in trying. We went into the living room and Gran put on the TV. She flicked through the channels until she got to one where there were three people sitting around a table and talking non-stop. Gondra watched the debate attentively. I think there must be no TV in The Forest because he seemed very surprised that the people could all fit in a little box. He moved closer and cautiously touched the screen, uttering an “oooh!” very quietly. Then he came back to sit on the couch. It took less than a second for him to start to sway, as if he were feeling very dizzy. Then he passed out flat on a cushion.
“Is he asleep?” I asked.
Gran leaned in to tickle him. He didn’t react at all.
“He’s out for the count – bored stiff, in fact.”
Gran set to work. She expertly unstitched the X from my dress and the one that Gondra had for an eye in the middle of his forehead. She took out the tape measure and marked a little point with a piece of chalk in the exact place where each one of the new eyes would be. She sewed them on and then smoothed them out with her hand. Honestly, they turned out just perfect.
“Amaranta, turn off the TV. Let’s see what happens when your dragon wakes up.”
As soon as the sleep-inducing murmur of the debate was gone, Gondra slowly came around.
“Open your eyes, dragon,” said Gran, gently.
Gondra opened his eyes. Each X opened and closed at the same time.
“So? Can you see all right?” I asked.
Gondra raised a paw to his face; he wanted to make sure it was true that he had two eyes.
“I see perfectly. I see with my two eyes! You’re the best friends I’ve ever had!” he exclaimed, hugging us.
Gran gave Gondra a wink and he, still unable to control anything as complicated as having two eyes, tried to imitate her, but only managed to open and close both of his at the same time.
17
**
‘The Trojan Horse’, Or The Answer Can Be Found In Books
Gondra was beaming with the result of his transformation. Now he really did believe that he could return to The Forest without being recognised, by passing himself off as Count Gondo. What he couldn’t work out yet was how he would get into the castle and meet Princess Enedina. He had heard millions of stories about all the other suitors who had come from far off kingdoms to meet her and been refused.
“There’s no way that the princess is ever going to want to meet me, not even as a count,” he said, downhearted.
“Oh, OK, great. Let’s just focus on the worst part and imagine that all those rejection stories you’ve heard are true.”
“Well, there has to be some truth in them, since no one’s ever set eyes on the princess.”
I nodded. Gondra’s reasoning was very logical.
“We need to think,” I said. “We have to find a solution, there has to be one... I’ve got it! What about a Trojan Horse?”
“A what?” asked Gondra, not understanding a thing.
I told him how one day my auntie Marita had brought a book with stories in it about things that happened a long, long time ago. One of the stories was about two armies who fought a lot. I didn’t really understand why, but the point is that they fought. The ones who were losing had to find a way to get into the city of the ones who were winning. But the ones who were winning were winning precisely because they were smart, so they weren’t going to open the gates of their city to let the enemies in - perfectly logical. But in the army that was losing there was one person who was very clever. This person came up with the idea of making an enormous horse out of wood, which lots of soldiers could hide inside.
“It was a Trojan Horse. Do you get it?” Gondra shook his head. “You know, a horse that looked like a present, but it wasn’t really a present.”
“A trick,“ said Gondra.
“Exactly! The ones who were winning thought the horse was a toy or something.”
“But that isn’t logical at all. I mean imagine the situation: we’re fighting and you’re winning – do you think, on top of losing, I’m going to give you a present?”
“Actually you’re right,” I admitted, giving it some thought, “that isn’t very logical. But I assure you that’s how the story went - that’s what it said in the book. I don’t know, I suppose it could have been a way of giving in, maybe? Like a gift to say you don’t want to fight anymore.”
“Yeah, I suppose. Could be that.”
“But anyway, I still haven’t told you what happened next with the horse and this part is great. During the night, when the Trojan Horse was inside the city, all the soldiers who were hiding in its belly came out and attacked by surprise.”
&nb
sp; “Wow!” said Gondra.
“Good, isn’t it?”
“Very,” replied the dragon with a wicked look. “So I suppose the plan is that we’re going to build a horse and I’m going to hide inside it? And then when I’m inside the castle I jump out with my sword and kill everyone... Wuahahahahahaaa!”
“Wait, no, wait. That’s not the idea. Not exactly. I don’t mean we should build a horse like in auntie Marita’s story, but we should use the same sort of idea. Haven’t you realised yet that in my world everyone thinks you’re just a fabric toy dragon?”
“But your Gran knows I’m not a toy.”
“But that’s because you told her! My idea is that you let everyone think you’re a toy in The Forest. That way I can leave you at the door of the castle as if you were a present for the princess. You won’t be just another suitor asking for an audience, you’ll be a gift that someone has left for her. No card, no letter of introduction... The princess would have to be curious, I’m sure she’d fall for it.”
“Well that idea would be perfect if it were not for one small detail: in The Forest I’m a real dragon. No, forget about it. That plan of yours would get us both thrown into the castle dungeon.”
Gondra was right; his scales, his size, everything would give him away in The Forest.
“The Trojan Horse story is very nice, but that’s just a book,” he lamented, looking all deflated again.
“That’s it! You’re right! You are such a clever dragon. The Trojan Horse isn’t a book itself, but it is in a book. Everything is in books. What we have to do is go to the library and search until we find a book that gives us the answer to your problem.”
“Do you really believe that’ll work?”
“I’m sure of it,” I replied as I started walking. “Come on, hop in the bag. With a bit of luck, this will be the last time you have to travel like that.”