I’m hungry, came the sudden thought emanation, and all other questions apparently banished by the onslaught of physical need. Bradley Wallace was about to make a caustic retort that the dragon was always hungry and what else was new, when he suddenly froze with his mouth half open. Katie was calling him.
“Bradey? Are you here?” She sounded cross as usual, and she was in the house.
Flinging his legs up and over, Bradley Wallace leapt from the bed. “Quick!” he whispered frantically to the confused Whilly, “You’ve got to hide!” He looked desperately around the room. There was only one place. “In the closet!”
He practically shoved the dragon towards the closet, but it didn’t take Whilly more than a few seconds to lock onto the boy’s fear, and its source. He scuttled hurriedly across the red shag carpet as Bradley Wallace lunged ahead of him to fling open the closet door.
“Hurry!” he insisted, heart pounding with panic, “We can’t let her find you! Especially her!”
Like most boys his age, Bradley Wallace was something less than a housekeeper, and something more of a packrat. His closet was cluttered and unkempt, filled with a multitude of junk the boy had collected from who knew where, and it nearly drove his mother to distraction. Today he finally saw her point.
Stumbling over shoes, boxes of books and magazines, clothes, and other debris, Whilly struggled to squeeze himself into the narrow confines of the closet. Fortunately dragons have the ability, rather like cats, of stretching their flexible bodies to fit small or narrow openings.
His lengthy tail proved somewhat more difficult, however. Hearing Katie’s approaching footsteps (she wore hard-heeled shoes that click, click, clicked when she walked), Bradley Wallace grew frenzied and snatched up the end of Whilly’s tail, stringing it uncomfortably through an empty wooden coat hanger.
The dragon sent a howl of pained protest into the boy’s mind, but the terrified Bradley Wallace paid it no heed. “Just be quiet!” he hissed. “I’ll get rid of her as fast as I can.”
He just got the closet door shut when the bedroom door burst open and Katie charged through like a raging bull toward a matador. She angrily confronted her frightened little brother with her usual supercilious arrogance.
“Don’t you answer me when I call you?” she demanded, fists planted firmly on the plaid uniform shirt around her waist, hazel eyes aflame with vituperative fury.
Bradley Wallace cowered under her glare, but fought to appear casual. And whatever you do, don’t even glance at the closet! He felt sure he could hear Whilly’s raspy breathing, and figured he’d better distract her fast. “I guess I didn’t hear you,” he replied lamely. What else could he say - that he had a dragon hiding in the closet?
“I guess I didn’t hear you!” Katie mimicked abusively. “And I’ll tell you why, too. You were watching that stupid show again, weren’t you?”
She sounded so sure of herself; so damned smug he wanted to pop her one. Who did she think she was, anyway, barging in here like this? He looked away to avoid her accusatory glare, and hoped she wouldn’t see the guilt plastered haphazardly across his face like a badly hung strip of wallpaper.
“Well, admit it!” she demanded haughtily. Sisters could be a real pain!
Suddenly anger flared up in his mind, replacing his guilt, replacing momentarily his fear. She had no right to be here, and she wouldn’t intimidate him today. No, sir.
“What do you want, Katie?” he asked coldly, pointedly ignoring her question as if she’d never asked it.
“Originally I just wanted to see if you were home,” she replied, not deterred in the least by his refusal to answer her question. “Now I want to know exactly what you’re up to.”
One thing about Katie, she wasn’t stupid. She always knew whenever Bradley Wallace was hiding something. And she didn’t give up easily. The boy remained rooted to his spot near the closet door, and his seeming reluctance to move instantly aroused Katie’s suspicions. Her eyes narrowed and she pointed past him to the closet. Now he’d done it! Why hadn’t he moved away to distract her?
“You’re hiding something in the closet, I can tell,” she announced. Damn her smugness! “What is it?”
Her tone indicated her unstinting desire to know the truth, and she wouldn’t take kindly to a glib response on his part, the boy knew. Not this time. He looked down at the carpet sheepishly and muttered, “Just magazines.”
“What kind of magazines?” she demanded sharply. Then her eyes lit up with a malicious glee. “They’re dirty magazines, aren’t they? With naked women in ‘em.” She was delighted.
But Bradley Wallace’s own eyes widened in shock.
“Of course not!” he answered quickly, blushing furiously. Actually, he had looked in “Playboy” once down at the Rafael Book and News Stand, but didn’t tried to buy it. And thankfully he hadn’t gotten caught, either. His mom would’ve killed him. He suddenly realized Katie was still awaiting an explanation. “They’re just my monster magazines. You know how Mom and Dad are, so I keep ‘em hidden. That’s all.” He shrugged as though it were all nothing. He flashed a meek, intimidated expression in the hopes she would feel sorry for him and leave. But Katie rarely felt sorry for anyone. And she was pretty sharp for a fifteen-year-old.
“I don’t believe you, Bradey,” she stated flatly. “You’re a lousy liar. Now get away from that door.”
Bradley Wallace stayed his ground, panic coursing through his veins like venom. He couldn’t let her see Whilly, he couldn’t! His mind raced. Sweat broke out on his neck and around his chest. He stared back at his sister silently, but refused to step aside.
“If you don’t get out of my way, Bradey, I’ll push you out.” She meant it, too, taking a threatening step forward. He hated hitting a girl, even Katie (who hardly seemed to qualify). But if it came down to a fight, so be it. His father’d just punish him, and that was no big thing. Whilly was far more important.
“I already told you what’s in there, Katie,” he began bravely, countering her step forward with one of his own. Now they were practically touching. “If you don’t believe me, that’s tough. But this is my room and I say get out.”
Fear and pumping adrenalin gave him renewed strength, and he stood up to his intimidating sister. Obviously realizing he was serious, Katie took a step back.
“Okay,” she replied, a threatening edge to her voice. “But just wait till Dad gets home!”
She whirled huffily as though to leave, and Bradley Wallace was so relieved he let his guard drop momentarily. But it was all she needed. Katie turned back and leapt at her brother, shoving him violently to one side. He crashed into his bed as she grinned gloatingly and reached for the closet door handle.
“No!” he screamed, his heart lodging in his throat.
Katie flung the door open and stared intently into the closet. It was empty.
Astonished and bewildered, Bradley Wallace gaped at the pile of debris on which only moments before had stood a young dragon almost as large as himself.
Even the hanger through which the boy had strung Whilly’s snake-like tail was just as he remembered it. But where was Whilly?
Katie turned to her open-mouthed brother with a look of utter consternation, and she shook her head in disgust. “You’re really weird, Bradey, you know that? Really weird.” Still shaking her head, Katie stalked from the room and yanked the door shut with a loud slam.
Bradley Wallace’s heart was palpitating so wildly that he feared it would burst from his chest in a violent eruption and splatter blood and guts all over his movie posters.
Almost in shock, the boy gingerly approached the open maw of the closet, which, until now, had never seemed mysterious or threatening. He scanned the interior carefully, even though it was obvious the dragon had vanished. What could have happened?
And then Bradley Wallace received his second major shock of the day. Quite suddenly, out of thin air, Whilly appeared, crouched in exactly the same position in which the boy had left him,
right down (or up) to the tail through the hanger. Bradley Wallace gasped aloud and jumped back in fright. He ogled the dragon with a mixture of fear and wonder.
Can I come out now? entered the boy’s befuddled mind. It’s very tight in here.
Bradley Wallace nodded, still unable to articulate his amazement, and stepped back as the lithe dragon untwisted himself and tumbled from the mound of junk out onto the red carpet like a beach ball rolling down a sand dune. Whilly regained his cramped feet and promptly stretched his wings and tail to remove all the crimps. He gazed at the child’s slack-jawed expression of wonder and sent this confused message, What’s wrong with you, Bradley Wallace Murphy?
Bradley Wallace finally located his voice somewhere in the darkest depths of his amazement, but it still sounded small and very far away. “How did you do that?” he stammered.
The dragon’s reply was nonchalant and matter-of-fact. Oh, that’s easy. I can become invisible whenever I want.
The boy’s mind did somersaults. “Invisible?” he repeated in obvious surprise. “Why didn’t you tell me that before?”
You didn’t ask, came the simple reply. Besides, I just found out about it today, and I was going to surprise you.
“You surprised me,” Bradley Wallace agreed, his legs feeling a bit weak. He moved slowly to the edge of the bed and sat down, still astounded by this latest revelation. “Is that how you got over here without being seen?”
Of course.
Bradley Wallace shook his head as though some screws were loose. He was beginning to wonder. Whilly really must not have emotions after all, he thought, what with being able to sit there and talk about becoming invisible as though it were a trip to the grocery store. Invisibility! Wow!
“How come you didn’t know about it before?” the boy persisted.
For the same reason I don’t know how to fly, I guess, the dragon replied with perhaps the barest hint of annoyance.
Bradley Wallace nodded again, digesting this latest discovery. It was definitely food for thought. Invisibility! “How do you do it?”
Whilly paused to consider. I think I just change the way light strikes my body so your human eyes can not see me.
“Wow,” the boy muttered in awe. I wonder what other magic powers he has?
I do not know, Whilly interrupted his thinking, answering his question at the same time. I may be a magical creature, but even magic requires knowledge. I think I have a lot to learn.
Bradley Wallace nodded again, tossing the creature a wry smile. “You and me both.” He directed his gaze at the closed bedroom door and sighed in relief, placing a hand to his heart. The frenetic palpitations had fortunately subsided. “That was close, real close. I think maybe you shouldn’t come here anymore.”
I think you are right, Whilly agreed, nodding his head in visual confirmation.
“I’m also worried about your hiding in the warehouse,” the nervous boy confided, rubbing his hand distractedly through his sandy brown hair.
Where else can I go?
“I’m thinking, I’m thinking,” Bradley Wallace answered impatiently, waving the questioning dragon to silence. The child considered his options. It had to be some place no one ever went, not even curious kids like himself. But was there anyplace he wasn’t curious enough to explore? He lapsed into a thoughtful silence, during which Whilly remained a detached observer. Suddenly the boy had his answer.
The haunted water tower!
The what? Whilly projected, obviously confused by the boy’s erratic mind.
“The haunted water tower!” Bradley Wallace exclaimed aloud. “At least that’s what we kids call it. It’s high up in the hills above the neighborhood, and the thing’s been abandoned forever and ever.”
Why is it haunted?
“Some kid fell in once and got killed, and now his ghost supposedly hangs around there. But I’ve never seen it. And the tower is the perfect place for you to hide in.” His eyes were alight with excitement and pride. He’d actually thought of a solution to a major problem all by himself. Yes, it was perfect, he thought, picturing the aging tower in his mind at Whilly’s request.
It looks very desolate, the dragon lamented, and suddenly seemed to the boy to be less an oversized lizard and more a small, helpless child to be coddled and looked after. Maybe puppy was a better analogy. But in any case, Bradley Wallace felt as though he wanted to hug the creature reassuringly, and yet he couldn’t. Something inside held him back. Why was he always so reticent about getting close to something? It made him feel ashamed.
“Don’t worry,” he verbally assured his friend, “I’ll never be too far away.” He flashed an encouraging smile, and felt the dragon’s answering surge of relief.
As the two who were one sat together in harmonious silence, Bradley Wallace experienced more fully than ever the communion he shared with this magical creature from another time. Despite their obvious differences, he and Whilly were very much two of a kind. Despite the awkwardness of sharing his mind and heart so fully with another, Bradley Wallace was gradually coming to the conclusion that this friendship he’d found was worth it.
Can I ask you something, Bradley Wallace Murphy? the dragon suddenly projected hesitantly.
“Sure, anything,” the boy answered, surprised that Whilly would ask if he could ask, instead of just asking like he usually did. He wondered briefly if parents got sick of kids constantly asking questions, like he did with Whilly. Perhaps he’d ask his mother sometime.
I know it’s very important to you, but I wonder if I could bring the music box to this water tower. It has such a pleasant sound, and it will soothe me when you are not there. Something in the dragon’s words touched the boy’s heart, and he knew he couldn’t refuse his friend’s request. He usually never let anyone touch the precious object, but felt certain Whilly would guard it well.
“Sure,” he replied with a smile, gently picking up the tiny music box. “I found the battery pack to this TV, too, so I’ll leave that with you and you can watch it while I’m gone. Maybe you’ll learn stuff from it. And when I get home from school, we can both watch ‘Dark Shadows’ together. Okay?”
The dragon nodded his massive head. Okay.
Bradley Wallace beamed. He sort of felt like Whilly was almost a little brother, and he liked the feeling of being needed by someone less experienced.
Bradley Wallace Murphy?
Oh, no, another question. Whilly was almost as bad as himself. He also seemed to like the boy’s entire name. Well, at least he didn’t call him “Bradey.” “Yeah?” he replied, fishing through the debris under his counter for the television battery pack he’d hidden there.
Why do you have to spend all day in school?
Bradley Wallace glanced up over his shoulder at the quizzical expression on the dragon’s reptilian features. It was so comical he almost laughed. “I have to,” he replied with a shrug. “That’s what kids are supposed to do.”
But why? This dragon was persistent.
Bradley Wallace stopped his search momentarily to cogitate on a response.
“Well, the official reason is we’re supposed to be learning stuff, like math and reading and Civics and English. Junk like that. But I also think parents have to have some place to stick us kids during the day so they can get a break.”
Whilly nodded, obviously approving the boy’s explanation. That is very logical.
Bradley Wallace grinned and shook his head. “Thank you, Mr. Spock.”
Whilly’s bony eyebrows scrunched in evident confusion, and the boy laughed as he resumed his search.
“I’ll leave you in the warehouse for tonight,” he went on as he tossed aside his slippers, “and then tomorrow we’ll go up to the haunted water tower.” He cast a quick look over his shoulder at the patiently waiting dragon. “Since you can make yourself invisible and everything, I don’t have to worry about anybody seeing you.”
That’s true, Whilly agreed.
He suddenly sensed uncertainty in th
e dragon’s mind. “What’s wrong?”
Whilly regarded him hesitantly, his dancing red eyes filled with questions. I want to say something that I think I understand its meaning, and it seems to mean a lot to you humans.
“What is it?” Bradley Wallace asked curiously.
Thank you.
The boy broke into a delighted smile. “You learn fast. You’re already more polite than me.” He scrambled out of the pile of debris and moved to the door.
Cracking it open, he peered out into the darkened hallway. It was empty. “C’mon,” he gestured to his scaly friend, “do your stuff and let’s blow this place.”
Whilly concentrated deeply for a moment, and simply vanished from sight. Bradley Wallace just shook his head in amazement. Feeling the dragon’s presence behind him, he stepped out into the hall and the two companions slunk surreptitiously from the house, returning to the Gully warehouse for the last time.
That night at dinner, Katie vindictively and priggishly squealed that Bradley Wallace had been watching “that stupid TV show” again. Surprisingly, his parents did not fly off the handle. His father reminded him that he was forbidden to watch that program, and calmly demanded an explanation. Bradley Wallace had to lie again, what else could he do? He said it was the first time he’d watched the show since ordered not to, and only because he felt bored not working with Mr. O’Conner.
“Why didn’t you just go outside and look for some other kids?” his mother persisted, obviously piqued by the mention of Bradley Wallace’s job.
The boy shrugged his husky shoulders. “Didn’t feel like it, I guess.” Why was it they could always make him feel guilty about disobeying even when he felt certain they were wrong?
“Boredom or no, I don’t want you watching that show again,” his father concluded sternly. He meant it, too. “Understand?”
Bradley Wallace nodded meekly, suitably chastised, and stared down at his plate for the remainder of the meal. Having gotten her brother in trouble, Katie reveled in her victory by chattering on happily about her civics class in school. Talk about boring!
A Boy and His Dragon Page 12