A Dragon for Christmas

by M. D. Neu

  The door to my room opens. I didn’t think it was possible for any more people to fit, but Master Trainer Baqri strolls in. He isn’t smiling, and that is never a good sign.

  The room becomes so silent that I think I’ve lost my hearing. But it is the kind of power a Master Dragon Trainer possesses. “How are you doing, Carmen?”

  “I’m tired.”

  He crosses the room to my bed as everyone steps out of his way. Instead of the parting of the Red Sea, it’s more like the parting of the butts. I smile. At least my brain is starting to work again.

  “That’s to be expected,” Master Trainer Baqri says. “As you can see, there is no dragon here. Now, that doesn’t mean you weren’t selected or that you aren’t getting a dragon, so don’t worry,” he says that more to my mom and dad than me. Facing them. “However, we’re going to keep watch and monitor you.” This part he says to me. His smile doesn’t reach his eyes, and I’m not sure I believe him.

  “Okay.” I swallow and glance over to Mattie, and she gives me a thumbs-up.

  “The next ten days will be the big test. If a dragon doesn’t show up by the new year, then we’ll reevaluate your status and go from there, but I’m not worried.” He nods. “I’ve already scheduled you for your charm session for the second week of January.” Master Trainer Baqri pulls out his tablet and makes a few notes. “In the meantime, I want you and your family to have a great Christmas. You can get anything you want from the kitchen. The cooks are under my orders, so the sky’s the limit.”

  My stomach grumbles. “Even pizza and ice cream?” It was nice to think about food and really want to eat and not just have to eat to keep my strength up.

  “Yes, ma’am.” He rests a hand on my leg. “You did amazingly well during the final test. I have no doubt everything will be fine.”

  “Thank you,” Dad says.

  “Now, I have a few other candidates to go and check on,” Master Trainer Baqri slips his tablet into his long white work coat.

  With each step Master Trainer Baqri takes to the door, the volume of the conversation in my room increases. Once he’s gone, there is so much noise I want to put a pillow over my head to block it out. Instead, I smile at Mattie as she walks back over to my bedside.

  WHY MY MOM insists on playing Christmas music as we open presents is beyond me. There are only so many times I can hear “Frosty the Snowman,” especially since San Jose has no snow, not even on the hills this year. Plus, I am not in the mood for presents. I want my dragon to show up. It has been two days and nothing. Not even Aunt Rebecca’s tamales cheered me up. And I made sure to eat a bunch of them just to make sure. Instead, I sit here with a bunch of presents and out the window all I see is rain.

  “Carmen, open your gifts.” My dad leans over from his chair and picks up a wrapped box.

  “What does it matter?”

  “Mija.” Mom tries to keep her voice as level as possible. “I realize you wanted your dragon by Christmas….”

  I turn from her and the window. I can’t watch her try to cheer me up. All I see is the red and puffiness of her eyes. She’s been crying but hiding it from me.

  I know it’s not good. I know the curse will come back.

  “What about this one from Mattie?” Dad holds up a medium flat box with a bright gold bow on it.

  I sigh. I take a bite of the cookie from our neighbor. It’s chocolate chip and yummy. It’s not their fault. I have to be patient, but it’s so hard. I saw Rella. I flew on her. So why isn’t she here yet? If I miss the window to get my charms, then I have to start all over again, and that means more time feeling crummy and more money my parents have to spend to keep the curse from coming back, money I don’t think they have. I don’t want them to have to sell the house. Plus, I’m tired of always feeling lousy. I need my dragon.

  I reach out, pick up the present, rip through the wrapping, and open the box. It’s a picture in a silver frame of Mattie and me from when we first met. We were kids. Even though Mattie was older, I was taller, at least back then. Now she’s taller than me. We are both out in the dragon training yard, wearing dumb Christmas hats because we had to shave our heads for the first part of our testing. I run a hand along the frame. That was a bad Christmas. We were both sick because of the charms and the curse, and the training was awful. This was probably our best day that whole holiday.

  “I remember that Christmas.” Dad points to the picture.

  “It was awful.”

  Mom gets up, picks up another gift, and joins us. “Those sessions…” Her voice cracks. “You pulled through. Mattie and you really got close that first year. I’m glad you met her.”

  The smile on my mom’s face makes me all toasty inside. “You called us the Terrible Two.”

  She and my dad laugh.

  Despite being sad about the dragon, I laugh too. I put the picture aside, take a breath, and look up at my mom and dad. “If I don’t get my dragon, I don’t want to do this again.”

  “Carmen,” Mom says.

  “It’s too hard, and I hate the way the charms make me sick. I want to be able to enjoy eating like these last few days. If I don’t get Rella, then I can’t go through the process again. I get I was selected, but maybe I’m not meant to be a Dragon Keeper.”

  The tears in my mom’s eyes force me to look at my dad.

  “I’m too tired, Daddy.” The color slowly drains from his normally warm face. “I can’t do it anymore. I want to rest.”

  “Don’t talk like that. You’re going to get your dragon.” My mom’s voice is so loud I fall back into my pillow.

  “I’m just saying if I don’t get it, then I don’t want to do it anymore. Two times is enough. Give someone else a chance.” I don’t want to hurt them, but I need them to understand.

  “You’re going to get your dragon.” Dad’s voice breaks, and for the first time, I see all the uncertainty and fear in his face he’s been hiding from me.

  “Okay.” I’m not going to push it. I said what I wanted to say, and they heard me, but I can’t push them. I want to make sure they understand it’s okay. I don’t need a dragon. If it isn’t meant to be, then I have to be fine with that and so do my parents.

  My mom bites at her lips and pushes another wrapped gift into my hands. “This is from Santa.”

  “But I didn’t write a list.” I glance at the box.

  “I guess you’ve been good enough this year that he didn’t need a letter or a list.” My mom wipes her eyes.

  I smile, realizing this is the very last Christmas I’m going to spend here no matter what happens. I take a breath and open the wrapping, and there in a new box is my own cell phone. I grin up at my folks. A warm tingle starts in my toes, and I adjust how I’m lying in bed. My stomach grumbles again, and I realize I haven’t been this hungry since before I started my training. Maybe I am finally getting used to the charms.

  No, that isn’t it, something is different. I’m feeling different, feeling stronger. Then I sense it. It starts at the bottom of toes and rushes up through my body. I turn to the window. The box falls out of my hand, and I start crying.

  “Carmen?” my dad says.

  “Mija.” My mother’s hands tighten around me.

  “I’m calling the doctor. Something’s wrong.” He reaches behind me.

  “No,” I gasp, “it’s Rella.” I point to the window. “Open the window.” Outside the window in the rain is a Blue Bottom Dragon. She’s tiny, barely the size of the cat. Her purple wings are flapping hard, and she is fighting to stay in the air. Rella is squawking and starting to hit the window with her muzzle to get into my room. Our eyes lock as she nips at the window, and I nod. It’s real. She’s real. I knew it all along.

  “I got my dragon.”

  Chapter Four

  RELLA AND GARY flap around above Mattie and me. Rella nips at Gary’s tail, and he flips around midair and nosedives right at her, but Rella is lean and fast and easily dodges his attack. Mattie laughs, and I chuckle at them.
/>   This has been the best Christmas ever. My first full Christmas with Rella. I’ve only had to come to the Dragon Training Campus four times this year—once a quarter to have them check on my bond with Rella and adjust my charms if needed. So far, I’m fine and so is Rella. This is my last check-in before it becomes twice a year.

  I reach into my pocket and feel for my newest bonding charm. It’s still there. This one smells of lavender. Not the awful rosemary-and-coffee one my dad gave me, or the not-so-bad-smelling cinnamon-and-vanilla one from my abuela.

  “Are you going to be able to come to Reno for my thirteenth birthday?” Mattie pulls out her cell phone and checks a message.

  We’ve been sitting out with the dragons all afternoon, and it’s been nice, despite the chill in the air. I pull at my scarf and jacket, trying to keep the cold out.

  “I want to. It depends on my parents, if they’ll bring me.” I pull out my cell as well to make a note about talking to my parents.

  “You could take the train.” Mattie nudges me. “It’s only half a day.”

  I laugh. “Right. My parents let me go alone on the train…” I shake my head. “It takes too long.”

  “You won’t be alone.” Mattie points to Rella.

  “True, but I still don’t think my parents will let me go.”

  Mattie frowns. I hate her frown. It hides her pretty blue eyes. This is only the second time we’ve seen each other this year. We’ve texted and Facetimed, but it’s not the same.

  “Well, try. Okay.”

  I nod. “You have my word.”

  I HAVEN’T SEEN Mattie in months, not since my quinceañera. Well, we saw each other at Jasper’s funeral, but that was an awful day and I don’t want to think about that. Not today. Getting off the train in downtown Reno is weird because the train station is all underground. But I find Mattie at once as she rushes over to me and we hug.

  “I can’t believe you made it.”

  “There was no way I was going to miss your sixteenth birthday.” I adjust my backpack and catch a whiff of the lavender-and-rosemary charm. It’s a new charm I got from the dragon center. I don’t mind it as long as it helps me keep my bond with Rella.

  “Coming down for your quinceañera was easy. It was summer, and my folks didn’t mind getting rid of me.”

  We laugh.

  “I know, right.” I inhale her strawberry scent. I’ve missed it.

  “Well, you’re here and I’m here….”

  “And it’s going to be great. You totally rock for having your party on Saturday.”

  “Anything for my girl.” Mattie gives me a peck on the cheek. I tingle all over.

  There is a screech above us as Rella bolts for Gary, and the two fly through the air, spinning together as they nip at each other. They are both getting so big. Rella is about as big as I am, and Gary is a little bigger than Mattie. Mattie and I chuckle. I take Mattie’s hand in mine as we walk to her car.

  This is going to be a great weekend.

  “I THOUGHT YOU were going to come to school here?” I say to the screen, waiting for Mattie to respond. The plan was for her to transfer to San Jose State to their criminal justice program, now that I got accepted at Santa Clara University.

  “Carmen, UNR has a really good program and transferring would be a pain in the ass.” Mattie flips her hair over her shoulder. “Look, we can still see each other. It’s not like you can’t take the high-speed rail to Sacramento. Then jump on the train the rest of the way. I can do the same thing. Or you could drive, but the train’s faster.”

  I try not to frown, but it’s too late. Mattie senses my disappointment. “I just…I miss you and Rella misses Gary.”

  “I know. I miss you, too.”

  The truth is, I was hoping she would move down here and we could share an apartment. The dragons could spend time together, and we could both work on our degrees. With all the unanswered texts and the missed video chats, I shouldn’t be surprised this is happening. Even as busy as I am, I still make time for her. I just wish she would do the same for me. My mom says it’s because we’re not kids anymore, but I have to wonder if maybe Mattie doesn’t want to be with me anymore. Or possibly she met someone else. I don’t know and I don’t want to ask, because I don’t want to fight again.

  “Am I going to see you at Christmas?”

  “Absolutely,” Mattie says. “We’re going to be at my folks’ cabin in North Shore. You’re coming up on the twenty-sixth, right?”

  I nod.

  There is no way I am going to miss Christmas with Mattie. It is the best time of year, especially since her parents bought the cabin a few years ago. The snow is wicked, and it’s a nice break, especially from my crazy family. I swear Aunty Rebecca’s only goal is to fatten me up with tamales, but as good as they are, I don’t mind. It means I have to watch what I eat the rest of the time.

  “Crap,” Mattie says as her screen blinks. “I have to head to work. Call me this weekend, okay?” She kisses her hand, then touches it to the screen. “Love you.”

  “Love you, too.” I kiss my hand, then do the same.

  I sigh as the monitor goes blank. I pick up the vanilla-and-berry charm and toss it between my hands. I look over to Rella and she huffs. “Sorry, girl. You can see Gary next time.”

  I SLAM THE door, causing Rella to start. “What the hell!” I can’t believe Mattie would do this. I’ve been planning this trip for months. “We’re not going to be around for Christmas.” I mimic Mattie’s voice in an unflattering way and pretend to flick my short brown hair over my shoulder like she does.

  I’ve hardly seen her. She’s barely around. Doesn’t keep our dates and comes up with excuses not to see and talk to me. I’m sure she’s seeing someone else, but she keeps denying it.

  “What the hell is wrong with her?” I mumble under my breath.

  I pull the vanilla-and-berry-scented charm from my neck and toss it on my dresser. I can’t smell it right now.

  There’s a knock at the door.

  “What?”

  “Can I come in?” Mom’s gentle voice barely makes it past the door.

  I cross over to the door and open it, then fall into Rella’s large frame for warmth and comfort. Rella is the size of my bed now, and it amazes me how she still fits in my room, but she does and I don’t question it. After all, dragons are special creatures, and right now, my dragon is the only one who understands me. The only one who can really comfort me.

  “I didn’t mean to overhear,” Mom says. “So, you’re not going to Mattie’s this Christmas?”

  “We spend Christmas and New Year’s together every year, for as long as I can remember.” Rella’s breath brushes past my ears.

  “I know, mija, and I’m sorry.” She rubs my back. “It doesn’t make it any better, but your father and I are glad you’ll be here. We can spend more time together. We love Mattie, but it’s nice to have our daughter around.” My mom rubs my shoulder.

  I face her. “I just…”

  “I know, honey. I do. It was hard for me to be apart from your dad when we were dating.” She chuckles. “Still is. Well, most days. But don’t let it affect your relationship. Mattie cares about you.”

  “I’m not so sure. What if she met someone else?” I run my hand over Rella’s belly, and a little puff of smoke escapes her nose. “What if this is her way of breaking up with me?”

  “Oh, mija, don’t say that.”

  “It’s like she’s pulling away from me, and I don’t know why. Did I do something wrong?”

  “Of course not.” My mom forces me to turn and look at her. “You are a wonderful girl. You and Mattie are lucky to have each other.”

  “I don’t feel so lucky.”

  “I know.”

  Tears tug at my eyes. “I just love her so much. Maybe I’m being too needy. What’s wrong with me?”

  “Nothing’s wrong with you. Relationships are complicated.” I hear the frown in her voice. At least she accepts who I am and realizes my rel
ationship with Mattie—assuming I still have one—isn’t some phase or side effect of the dragon training. “I’ve never seen two people more perfectly matched than you and Mattie.”

  “Sometimes I don’t know, Mom.” I sigh.

  “There’s always Rob. He’s a good guy and likes you.”

  “Gross, we’re friends, and he has a way-too-unhealthy affinity for Starbucks and Cup of Noodle Soup.” I glare at her.

  “Throwing it out there. You never know. A mother can hope.” She rests a hand on my leg.

  I shoot her another sore face.

  “Anyway, I knew there was something special between you and Mattie. The moment you two met, you started telling everyone you were going to marry her. You never faltered, even when you wanted to give up on…” She pointed to Rella.

  “Maybe it’s time. Maybe we ran our course.” Tears dance in my eyes. “Mattie and I haven’t seen each other nearly as much as we used to. She still won’t move down here, and I’m still at SCU.” I wipe at the tears that are falling down my cheek.

  “Mija, don’t make any rash choices.” My mother gives me a big hug and whispers into my hair. “We love you no matter what.”

  “I know, Mom.” I hug my mom really hard.

  She leans back and brushes the loose hair back over my shoulder. She crosses over to exit my room and smiles. “It’ll all work out.” She opens the door and leaves.

  I brush at my teary eyes. “What am I going to do?” I meet Rella’s peaceful gaze and hug her tight.

  I’M RUNNING DOWN the hall of the new training center in Reno. I had to leave Rella outside. She is almost as big as a car now, so she can’t come in, but she’ll get over it. Maybe she can find Gary and figure out what is happening. I stop at the door, then rush in.

  “Mattie,” I say.

  Mattie’s lying in bed. Her eyes are closed. She is under the blanket. Various charms are all around her. My nose is assaulted with odd scents that I can’t distinguish and that don’t mix well together. The room is small, but Mattie has a window that looks out to the falling snow.

  How could this be happening at Christmas?