From that night, my whole life turned upside down. I became a = whole new person. It seems like only yesterday, but I guess it was a few years ago. = It started like a normal evening for a poor family like us. Daddy was = heavily in debt, and he lost his job last Friday. The whole family- = Daddy, Mommy, Shawn, Karen, Brittany, Me (Yoshiko, or Yoshi for short), = twins Hope and Faith, and twins Kyle and Kevin- was expected to help = cook dinner, although you couldn't really call it a dinner. If we were = lucky, we would get a whole sandwich! That used to seem like a feast. = Anyways, I wasn't working with much heart that night because my old = friend Meagan had stopped talking to me for some reason I can't figure = out. I had to be reprimanded quite a few times for being careless, but = I just hadn't the heart to do a good job. For all I knew, I could just = die and nobody would care. After our meager meal, I went to my rug and blanket with a heart = that was in my feet. I felt alone, abandoned, and I even felt like = Mommy and Daddy had adopted me just to see me suffer. I shivered = underneath the blanket as close to the old radiator as I possibly could, = listening to the cold winter winds howling outside our little shack we = called home. Faith was cuddled next to me, for she was my best friend = now that Meagan abandoned me. For some reason, I could not fall asleep, = even though I was exhausted from the day's work. I counted off each = minute that went by from the watch Meagan had given me for my tenth = birthday. I think it's the most expensive thing I own. It was nearly midnight, but I still couldn't fall asleep, though my = eyelids felt like they weighed a ton. I was just about to drift off = when a deafening roar made me sit bolt upright. I looked around the = cramped room (more like a closet) and realized that everyone else was = still fast asleep. I was puzzled; how could anyone not hear the roar? = That roar was so loud it would have woken the dead! Just then I = realized: what could have made a sound that loud? Ears ringing, I = scrambled out of my ragged blanket and bolted to our little window. I = peered outside, but all that was visible was snow and the peaceful = little street lighted by- wait! That was what was wrong! The = streetlights were blacked out! I looked at my sorry looking brothers = and sisters, then back outside. The lights were on again! By then I = was starting to get scared. I whipped around, scanning the darkness of = the room for a sign of an intruder of any sort. I peered out of the = window again, but everything seemed normal, so I nervously crawled back = under the semi-warmth of my blanket. The next morning, when I woke, I immediately snapped my eyes open = and scanned the room. Everything was normal. Then I heard Mommy's = screechy voice calling, "Yoshi, dear, will you please go buy us some = bread at the store?" She carefully pressed a dollar into my hand. = "Alright," I said, climbing out of the blanket I got myself tangled in = when I had nightmares during the night. The sound and sight of last = night was still vividly burned into my mind. I grabbed my coat from the = floor and tightly zipped it up, then stuffed my hands in the pockets. I = stepped outside and searched (again) for anything unusual. Still = normal. I trudged down the sidewalk and turned right towards the store. = As I walked, my mind automatically drifted towards the subject of last = night. Why hadn't anyone else heard the roar? And why were the = streetlights out right afterwards? And WHAT could have made the roar? = The thought of encountering whatever it was made me shiver. Just in = time, I was at the store, for my fingers were starting to get numb. I = casually strolled in, pretending nothing was wrong, and heard the = familiar chime of the bells that announced my entering. I glanced at = the different kinds of bread the store, but took the kind I always got- = the cheapest. I moved towards the counter to make my purchase. I = noticed some freshly baked cookies there that made my mouth water. = "Gonna buy some?" the voice of the clerk interrupted my thoughts. I = sadly shook my head and handed him the bread and the dollar. He bagged = the bread and handed me the receipt and my change. I thanked him and = left. The bells chimed again as I left. I trudged back up the street, swinging the bread. I walked back = inside and handed Mommy the bread and change. Then I wandered around, = looking for Faith. I found her sitting by the radiator. "Hi, Faith!" I = called out. She turned around and looked at me. "Hi," she replied. I = strode towards her. But at just that moment, I heard the roar again. = It seemed to fill my whole body, and I couldn't keep it out no matter = how hard I tried. The last thing I remember before blacking out was = Faith staring at me, eyes bulging out of their sockets, mouthing words I = couldn't hear. And then I was in another world. At first everything was dark. I felt the presence of another = creature, but was it human? It was impossible to tell. And it was hot. = Really, really hot. I started to sweat almost immediately. Now I have = got you. The voice filled my head, just like the roar. I jumped, = startled. But whatever it was, its tone didn't sound menacing. = Actually, it sounded kind! I relaxed a little bit. "Who, what, and = where are you?" I called out, getting courage from some unknown source. = I'm right here, and you will easily figure out what I am when you see = me. I didn't jump as much, since I was expecting an answer. The = voice-in-my-head deal was a bit unnerving. So I waited for 'it' to = appear. I was startled (again) as a fireball appeared right in front of = my nose, making me move backwards, only to hit a slimy stone wall. Only = then did I realize that I was trembling. But by the light of the = fireball, I could tell what the creature was. It was a dragon! I heard a voice screaming and realized it was my own. Be quiet, = Yoshiko! I would not hurt you! That startled me so much I stopped = screaming. "How did you know my name?" I asked quietly. I have been watching you. It replied. Or rather, hearing you. "How? I mean, I haven't heard you so how could." Then it dawned on = me. I heard the roars. "Did you make those roars? And why?" Yes, I did. I did it so you would know of my existence. You are = the only one left on all of Earth that can hear me. If you die, the = link between humans and dragons will be forever destroyed. You needed = to know of your importance. You have a great gift that cannot be = wasted. To help you, anytime you want, day or night, you can mentally = connect with me. No one will be able to listen in, as it used to be = when half of the humans on Earth could hear us. "Us?" I asked. "There is more than one of you?" No. I am the last dragon, as you are the last one able to hear me. = You must help. I cannot live here forever. With your help, I could = see the trees and breathe the fresh air once again. But only with your = help. "What do I have to do? I'm only 12 and I have no money, so what = could I do? It doesn't seem like a simple task," I said to the dragon. You are right. It is not a simple task. You will know what to do = when the time is right. There was a pause. I shall send you back now. = Just remember to talk daily, or I may think you have forgotten. = remember. remember. remember. The words echoed in my mind. I blinked = and was back home again. The worried faces of my whole family surrounded me. "She's awake!" = Mommy yelled, although everyone already noticed for I had leaped up as = soon as I had realized that I was lying down. "Careful, honey, you'll = overexert yourself!" "Mom, I'm alright, really. I'm not about to faint again. If I do, = sue me," I said, being overly sarcastic. "Well, at least she's got her wits back," I heard Shawn mutter. "I'm going outside," I told everyone. I needed time to think and = talk with the dragon. I had to wait, though, for Faith had followed me = out. "What happened?" she greeted me. "All of a sudden you just = stopped, and then you turned all white. You made this face that made = you look like you were in pain. Then you covered your ears with your = hands and fell to the ground, and squirmed for a couple seconds before = stopping and going unconscious. By then I had called for Mommy. So = what happened?" "Well.umm.uhh." I couldn't tell her about the dragon, she wouldn't = believe me! "I don't know," I lied. "Oh." I could tell she didn't believe me. There was a few = minute's silence. "I'm going in. It's getting cold. Then she left, = leaving me free to ask questions. I screwed up my face and thought very = clearly: Are you a he, she, or it? A she, was the immediate response. I jumped. Her words seemed to = flood my mind, just like the roar! =20 How do you do that? I asked. The same way you are, she replied. When can I see you again, and how can I get to you without being so = obvious? My mom and dad made a fuss over me when I got back. They = didn't believe me that I was okay. And, please, give me warning next = time, don't just roar so I faint. =20 One at a time, one at a time. You will see me again when you ask = to. You will not be so obvious by not being in so obvious a place when = you ask, of course. And you will not need warning if you ask, although = if I need you, I will tell you so that you can get to a good spot, and = then you will tell me when you are ready. Then I will transport you to = my cave. Could I see you again now? Except not be gone so long? I want to = see what you look like. Are you in a good spot? Yes! Do you have a flashlight so I will not have to torch you? I could = then swear she had a sense of humor. Hold on a second.got it! Mommy made me promise to be careful with = it, it's our only one, and it's not like we have the money to buy = another one. =20 Are you ready? Yep! |