Heartfire Day

It is a special time of year in the Book Dragon Realm: Heartfire Day!

It's a wonderful time as the snowy days ease, just as everyone tires of winter winds and storms, where book dragons show their love and appreciation for everyone around them. There are all sorts of ways to show that you love your fellow dragons! A favorite treat (in a heart shape for the holiday, of course), a heartwarming story with pink ribbon wrapped round, or a heart shaped pebble from the far North, book dragons find all sorts of ways to tell each other how much they mean to each other!

But not all dragons live close by, and not all dragons can fly very far, and some dragons are very little, and some dragons--well, some dragons just like getting a box by delivery.

And so, as you can imagine, Heartfire Day is a very busy day for delivery dragons.

Today is one book dragon's very first day as a delivery dragon. He is very nervous! He stretches his wings once, twice more (okay, maybe six) just to be safe before hurrying into the delivery building. There are boxes piled high, painted with hearts or stuck with shiny stickers. One very small package has a tiny dragonling scrawl: "i luv u grama" along with an address, which looks like the little dragon had some help to write.

A more experienced dragon helps the newest recruit find his route map and hands him a bag to put the boxes in. Much to his delight, he even gets the box with the tiny dragon's handwriting! Then, with one final review and check that he has all his boxes, he's sent off with an encouraging shout from the other dragons.

His route takes him to a village a short flight away, one with a stone castle and some beautiful trees that start to bud pink at the end of winter. He has been this way a few times before, but he's so worried about getting it right that he checks his map and the ground a few more times than he probably needs to. He waves to a passing bird and her family, and appreciates the cool clouds on his cheeks as he races by. The sun is just glimmering over the hilltops--it is a busy time for delivery dragons, and they need the head start on the day!

He delivers his biggest boxes first, the familiar thud of books against the sides of the box like an old friend. A very generous dragon has sent their friend some of their favorite romance novels: "The start of a beautiful series," says the note on top in beautiful, curling cursive, "Fair warning! I cried at the end! Let me know when you finish and we'll get together for tea and a chat."

Next, a series of heartgrams: large hearts cut from thick paper, lined with lace and glitter, with silly, loving sayings like "You are my heart's fire" or "I'd put down my favorite book for you--even at the cliffhanger". Now that is true love, the delivery dragon thought as he slipped the heartgrams into the mail slots on dragon's doors. He was delighted when a lovely young dragon popped out of one door to call, "thank you!" as he flew to his next delivery.

Then, a sequined heartgram to a rather embarrassed book dragon on his way to school. He had to chase that one down the street for a ways before he accepted the delivery! The recipient of that particular heartgram was blushing hot pink by the time the delivery dragon left for his next delivery, but he would have sworn he saw a little secret smile as the dragon read the note.

He did run into one small snag. Rather, a very literal and very time consuming snag. He was distracted by the pink buds of the lovely trees in town and flew too close, only to get his bag caught at the very top of the tree! It jolted him back midflight and tangled his bag hopelessly, little boxes and hearts tumbling through the branches as he struggled to get it out. Thankfully, just as he thought fire would come out his nostrils he was so frustrated, the little bird and her family stopped by to help. They made untangling look easy! He thanked them and gave them some of his lunch for good measure. (Seedcake and fruit salad make a very fitting bird lunch too, it turned out!)

He had thought his troubles were over, but as he checked that he had picked up all the boxes and cards and lovely paper hearts--he found one was missing. The tiny dragonling's box with its baby scrawl was gone! He was going to be late on his other deliveries, but there was no helping it. The box had to be found.

He searched high and low. Every branch was visited and revisited. A nearby bench was searched above and below and all around. He checked the bushes, the cobblestone path, right up to the houses and back. Now he was really going to breathe fire! He was so frustrated! And then...an idea occured to him. He opened up a little side pocket on his bag, securely fastened with a shiny button, and there--safe and sound--was the tiny box. His dragon friend back at the delivery place must have made sure it was kept extra safe! He breathed a long dragon breath of relief, and headed off as quickly as he could on his deliveries.

A box of strawberry heart tarts for one dragon, a little book of hearts and love notes for another, more romance novels than he could count, and a few books of heartwarming friendships, some candy, and so many things...and finally, finally, the little box.

He landed on the porch of a very wrinkled, very smiley grandma dragon just as the sun was beginning to set. She smiled so wide he could barely see her eyes and offered him a sugar cookie with sweet pink frosting that melted on his tongue. He handed her the little box. He didn't think she could have smiled any bigger--but she did! She untied the clumsy bow with soft grandma paws, lifted up the tiny box lid, and unfolded the little paper heart inside to find a tiny drawing with the words "i <3 u grama. hugs. xoxo."

The old granny dragon held the little heart to her chest for just a moment before she asked the delivery dragon if he had room in his bag for one last delivery.

As the sun set pink and gold against the hills, a certain delivery dragon didn't mind the extra time flying. He had a box full of beautiful pink sugar cookies to take to one little grandbaby dragon. It was a beautiful way to end Heartfire Day.