Small Wonders · complete story

The Dragon with Bubble Hiccups

Tedray · Listening & inclusion

Dodo the dragon was chosen to announce the garden concert. He polished his little badge, straightened his bow tie and said, ‘Welcome, every—hic!’ A bubble floated out of his mouth. Inside it was a tiny squeak. Dodo covered his snout. ‘Oh dear.’

His next announcement produced three bubbles, a wobble and a noise like a rubber duck. The musicians giggled. Dodo’s ears drooped. Kavi noticed and put down his paper drum. ‘Would you like quiet, help, or a different job?’ he asked. Dodo thought. ‘Help first. Then perhaps a different way to do this job.’

They tried giving him a very short announcement. ‘Hello!’ Hic. They tried waiting a little. Hic. Dodo had an ordinary drink of water when he wanted one, but nobody promised it would fix everything. ‘We can still have a concert,’ said Mina. ‘Announcements do not have to be spoken.’

Mina drew big picture cards: a drum, a flute and a little dancer. Kavi attached ribbons so Dodo could hold them comfortably. They practiced. Dodo lifted the drum card. Kavi tapped his paper drum. Dodo lifted the flute card. Mina pretended to play her paper flute. When Dodo lifted the dancer, both children did a tiny wiggle.

At concert time, Dodo stepped onto the low garden rug and showed the first card. A bubble appeared. Nobody laughed at him. The drummer played. The bubble bobbed in time, and its tiny squeak became a cheerful extra sound. Dodo showed the next card. Three bubbles floated like sparkling notes.

Soon the audience was following every picture. The smallest visitor, who did not know the announcement words yet, understood the cards too. Kavi looked at Mina. Their new idea helped more than one friend.

After the final dance, Dodo held up a card with two waving hands. The audience waved back. His hiccups finally stopped. He could have shouted goodbye, but he liked the card. It was easy to see all the way from the back row.

The next concert had spoken announcements and picture cards together. Dodo wore his badge proudly. It said CHIEF WELCOMER, although his bow tie covered the last three letters. ‘Chief Welcome,’ he read. ‘That is almost right.’ One tiny bubble drifted out. This time he gave it a name: Encore.