From Staff Reports
Last week, students in Lynn Salo's fourth-grade class at Bryant Elementary School in Anna wrote creative stories based on a sketch by Irving artist Brad Foster.
Nathan Oakes was chosen as the contest winner. His story:
The Red Scaled Dragon
"Enter!" announced a booming voice. The knight slowly walked in the cave and saw the red scaled dragon! Quickly, the knight reached for his sword.
"No need for that," said the dragon, "follow me." The knight looked surprised but did as he was told.
They walked down a long corridor and went into a strange room. The knight noticed something right off the bat. Bones. Lots of bones. They still had some flesh on them. The knight noticed a head with maggots crawling in and out of the left eye socket. The knight was hoping that his own bones wouldn't be in that pile.
"What do you want?" asked the dragon. The knight stood silent looking at the dragon. Light coming from the top of the cave made the dragon visible. The dragon was only as tall and long as a carriage. Every time he blinked, his eyes changed colors. There were spikes on the end of the dragon's tail so sharp they could kill a rhino. Then the knight took notice of the dragon's horns. What amazing horns. Pure gold from top to bottom. The knight suddenly remembered why he was there.
"I need one of your scales," said the knight.
"Why?" questioned the dragon.
"The princess of our town is ill and only the scale from a red dragon can save her," explained the knight.
"OK, but you don't think I'll just give it to you for free, do you?" asked the dragon.
"I do," said the knight.
"Well, that's too bad, isn't it? I only make deals," said the dragon.
"What type of deal are you looking for?" asked the knight.
"Bring me the eyes of a lion and I will give you one of my scales," said the dragon.
"Deal," replied the knight.
As fast as the knight could run, he went to catch a lion. There were many lions in that area so it was easy to find one. Quietly, he took out his sword and threw it. Direct shot! Right into the heart. The knight walked over to the dead lion, took out his pocket knife, scooped out the eyes, and put them in a cloth bag. Quickly he ran back to the cave and entered.
"Back so soon?" asked the dragon, "Where are the eyes?"
"Where are what?" remarked the knight.
"The eyes!" the dragon repeated angrily.
"Oh, yes, the eyes!" exclaimed the knight. "OK, let's see here ... ah, yes, here we are."
The knight handed the bag to the dragon.
"You've done your part," said the dragon, "now for mine." Then he chipped off a scale.
The knight took it and rushed to the castle. When he got there he gave the scale to the princess and she survived.
About two weeks later they were married and lived happily ever after.