dragon_story

Sharee awoke with a big smile on her face.Today is my birthday,' she said to herself. I wonder if there'll be any surprises? She slipped out of bed-and there was the very first surprize! An enormous envelope was leaning against the end of her bed. Sharee peered closely at three mysterious words: FROM BIRTHDAY LAND

Sharee excitedly opened the envelope and reached inside. Her fingers touched a large card. Carefully she pulled it out and this is what she read:

� � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � TODAY'S BIRTHDAY GIRL

� � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � SHAREE

� � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � IS INVITED

� � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � �� TO VISIT

� � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � BIRTHDAY LAND

� � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � �� TO FIND

� � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � HER SPECIAL BIRTHDAY PARTY

� � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � �� AT THE END OF THE RAINBOW.

Birthday land! The end of the rainbow! Sharee whispered to herself. How will I ever find them? She walked over and opened the door. Stretching from her feet, far up into the sky, was a rainbow.

Well, said a very surprised Sharee. This must be the start of the rainbow.And what a red rainbow! I can hardly see the other colours. Sharee put her foot onto the rainbow. It was very splippery! How do I climb up? she wondered. A small voice whispered into Sharee's ear: You can slide up and down rainbows or you can fly over them. And there, flying out of each colour band of the rainbow were seven beautiful butterflies: Violet, Indigo, Blue, Green, Yellow, Orange and Red. They were pulling a leaf by long gossamer threads.

Sit on our leaf and hold on tightly, said Yellow Butterfly, and we will take you to Birthday Land. But I'm far too big for such a tiny leaf, said Sharee, and I would like Jarrod, Krystle, and Ryan to come with me. Green butterfly shook her head. Only the birthday child can visit Birthday Land. To Sharee's surprise she fitted quite snugly on the leaf and soon they were gliding up the arc of the rainbow towards the blue sky.

They reached the top of the rainbow and Sharee looked down to see a huge field of flowers. Everyone has a birthday flower and that's where the birthday flowers are grown, said Orange Butterfly.The butterflies swooped over the edge of the rainbow taking Sharee down to the flowers. As they landed Blue Butterfly pointed. Look over there, Sharee. That's where elves crush petals to make paint for the colours of the rainbow. A smart-looking elf walked over to them and smiled at Sharee.

Ah, today,s special birthday girl, said the elf. Today is November 23rd, so your birthday flower is the chrysanthemum. He handed Sharee a tiny pot wrapped in birthday paper. I have planted a chrysanthemum for you. When you return home you must unwrap it, put it in a sunny spot and give it water. Thank you very much, said Sharee. Could you please tell me why you've painted so much red on the rainbow? The elf looked unhappy. It's not our paint, Sharee, he said. The dragon who gaurds the birthstones is upset about something. He is breathing fire ad it's turning the rainbow red.

Now we must visit the dragon to collect Sharee's present, said Indigo Butterfly. The dragon leaves a special stone for each birthday child at the entrance to his cave. As the butterflies towed her back into the sky, Sharee waved goodbye to the elf. Then she noticed a little card on her birthday flower pot which read: Before you reach the rainbow's end. The birthstone dragon must be your friend. This is very strange. Whatever does it mean? wondered Sharee.

Violet Butterfly smiled. Everyone in Birthday Land is hoping that today's special birthday child can find out what is making the dragon so unhappy. His red breath is spoiling the rainbow. When we reach the dragon,s cave we will collect your stone. Then we'll try to find some way to make the dragon happy and stop the red mist in the rainbow, said Blue Butterfly. The dragon stays deep inside his cave.He hasn't seen a child for a long time.

Sharee held on tightly to the edges of the leaf as they followed the rainbow down- wards. Where is the dragon's cave? she asked. All I can see is lots of red mist. Green Butterfly called out: Look carefully down through the mist, Sharee. Can you see the great mountain of rocks? That's where the dragon lives. They turned downwards pulling a very excited Sharee towards the mountain. They gently landed near the entrance to a large cave. The butterflies looked for Sharee's birthstone but it was nowhere to be seen!

The butterfles talked quietly amongst themselves, then Yellow Butterfly asked Sharee, Are you brave enough to find the dragon and ask him why he is spoiling the rainbow? Sharee took a deep breath and nodded, but she had a little thought inside her head: I wish Jarrod, Krystle and Ryan were with me and I would feel much braver. She stood up and walked slowly through the red mist into the dark cave. Sharee heard a loud grumbling noise. She turned a corner and there in front of her was the enormous dragon!

Who are you? roared the dragon. Bravely Sharee answered, I am Sharee, Today's birthday child. I have come to Birthday Land to find the end of the rainbow and my special party. You have forgotten to put my birthstone at the enterance to your cave. She looked around. The sparkle of thousands of birthstones lit up the cave.

The dragon's scale gleamed. Sharee looked carefully back at him. Why are you spoiling the rainbow? she asked. I will not be able to find its end because of all your fiery red breath.

The dragon hung his head and a big tear fell from the corner of one eye. Sharee, he said. I have lived in Birthday Land for hundreds of years and I've never met a child who shares my birthday. Sharee looked surprised. No child has ever visited Birthday Land on my birthday, the dragon continued, because it's he only day in the year when all Birthday Land has a special holiday and no child visits. When is your birthday? Sharee asked the dragon. He gave a big sigh and said in a sad voice, The 23rd of November.

Why, that's today! cried Sharee. Today is the 23rd of November and it's my birthday, too! The dragon stared at her, then he roared: Impossible! No child visits us today. How did you get into Birthday Land? I think the elves were tired of the very red rainbow, smilled Sharee. They wanted a brave Birthday child to cheer you up so that the rainbow could get back to its true colours. The dragon stood up to his full height and lauhed, What a wonderful birthday this is! From now on I will have someone with whom I can share my birthday!

The dragon stretched out a long claw, picked up one of the special stones and gave it to Sharee. This is a Topaz, he said, your November birthstone. Now you can find your birthday party. The happy dragon took Sharee back to the waiting butterflies. Well done, Sharee! they cried. The dragon is happy and the red mist is disapearing. Now we'll find the end of the rainbow! The dragon smiled: Happy Birthday Sharee! Happy Birthday Dragon! laughed Sharee as she sat down on the leaf. The butterflies flew Sharee back towards the rainbow. All the red mist ha disappeared. Look, Look! she cried. I can see the end of the rainbow!

The butterflies pulled Sharee down towards the end of the rainbow. She carefully held her Topaz and the chrysanthemum present. Down below she could just see lots of balloons and streamers and ... Close your eyes, Sharee, called the butterflies. SURPRISE! Sharee opened her eyes. And there was the biggest surprise of her birthday. There were lots of people she knew and there amongst them were Jarrod, Krystle and Ryan! In the middle of the party table was the most wonderful birthday cake in the world.On it was written: HAPPY BIRTHDAY SHAREE

Written By Margaret Gibson