Zovah and Catha were so absorbed in catching up that they didn’t notice the passage of time. They had grown up together and had been nearly inseparable until Catha met, fall in love with and married Jonas three years ear4lier.
They were laughing at something when there was a very soft knock on the front door followed by the door being pushed opened. The girls heard neither the knock nor the door opening, but Crispin had heard. There was a blur of motion as Crispin hurtled himself toward the invader. He was brought up just shy of tackling the invader by one word, “Hi.”
Zovah and Catha caught a glimpse of his white furry form flying past them and toward the front door. Zovah turned with a sense of impending doom and Catha was flat out confused. “What the…” she said and at that precise moment she heard Hermonia’s voice.
Hermonia was completely oblivious to the commotion she had just caused. She had woken from her nap, gotten a cookie and went wandering. She saw the larger dragons snoozing in the back garden and decided to ask for permission to go play with them. Being three and precocious meant that Hermonia’s natural sense of wonder and curiosity sometimes got her into serious social dilemmas of which she was completely unaware.
Crispin stared at the wee being in front of him, confused at how her voice could have prevented him from tackling her when she invaded his home. “Hi yourself,” he replied. “Just who are you and why have you invaded our home?” His voice was deep and rumbled, completely unexpected from a creature of his stature.
Hermonia looked unperturbed. “I’m Hermonia. I’m three and I want to play with the dragons in the garden. May I?”
Zovah and Catha watched in mute silence. Catha was mortified that Hermonia had barged into Zovah’s home. Zovah was amazed at how completely unafraid Hermonia was and how she could command respect from a dragon she had never met with one simple word.
Zovah glanced over at Catha, and laid a reassuring hand on her arm. “Well, I see you two are in the process of becoming friends.” Zovah began. “However, I don’t know how you are young lady so why don’t we try this again. You go outside and knock and allow me to properly invite you into my home.”
Hermonia looked up at the adults in the room for the first time and her smile widen when she spied her mother. “Mommy!”
“Don’t you Mommy me Hermonia! You do as requested right this instant. We will discuss your behavior later, at home. And before you go back outside and knock properly, apologize to Zovah for barging into her home like a heathen.” Catha’s tone was firm and Hermonia instantly complied.
The proper niceties having been taken care of, Hermonia was now seated on the sofa between Catha and Zovah. Crispin had positioned himself on the floor directly in front of the “blonde bomb” as he had named her. Crispin didn’t trust her, but at the same time, he trusted her completely.
Hermonia was a still but quivering bundle of energy between the two adults. Catha could feel her practically vibrating between them but she wasn’t about to indulge Hermonia’s intense drive for knowledge after a display of bad manners.
“Well, it is time to go.” Catha said getting up from the sofa. “I’ll come over tomorrow and join you on your walk like we talked about.”
“I’d love that and you are welcome any time you want.” replied Zovah.
The two best friends exchanged looks, their ability to communicate without words still intact. Hermonia only knew that she wasn’t being included and she still had questions that were unasked and unanswered.
“But Mommy,” she began.
“Stop right there missy. Before you wind yourself up any further, there is no discussion. If you are well behaved then maybe someday you can come over and ask questions and play with dragons. Now wave goodbye to Crispin and Zovah and let’s be off.”
Crispin was listening intently. He very much wanted to get to know the blonde bomb but he was willing to wait. Hermonia waved solemnly and then took her mother’s hand with the most forlorn look on her face.
Hermonia was quiet and subdued for the remainder of the day. It was too good to last everyone knew.
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