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“Dagan’s mum fixed
breakfast for him, called his name and told him to hurry. She said she had
a big surprise for him,” Mac said.
“Mac, I can hardly
keep my eyes open. Don’t make this story too scary or I’ll never get to
sleep. Go on,” Ian said.
“Dagan jumped out
of bed and ran down to the kitchen to eat his breakfast. He loved
surprises. As he ate his scrambled eggs he wondered what the surprise was.
Would it be a new bicycle, or an ice cream cone, or even a trip to the
beach for pony rides. Dagan asked his mum what the surprise was. She told
him he’d have to wait and see. They showered and got dressed and climbed
into the car. Dagan could hardly wait. They drove right past the bicycle
shop, the ice cream shop and the beach. Once again Dagan asked where they
were going, but she told him he’d have to wait and see. She drove to the
park. Dagan was happy because he thought they would have a picnic. He
loved picnics. They climbed out the car and walked through the park, right
past the ice lollie man and the paddle boats. His mum stopped at the
carousel.”
“I’ll bet Dagan
was disappointed. Carousels are for lassies, not laddies.” Ian rolled onto
his tummy.
“He was
disappointed and let his mum know it. What he didn’t know was that it was
a magical carousel. Any child who goes for a ride on it gets to have one
wish. Dagan cried and whined and stomped his feet. He watched other
children going on the carousel. They all seemed happy. Finally he gave in
and climbed onto a dragon. Some parts were dragons; others were unicorns,
fairies and regular horses. He sat on the dragon and waited until the
carousel music began. It turned and the ride began. Around he went. He
didn’t wave at his mum like the other kids were doing to their mums. He
pouted and looked the other way. “
“It sounds to me
like he needs his ears cuffed and a good wallop,” Ian said. “Spoiled
brat.”
“Now now, Ian.
Dagan’s mum didn’t believe in walloping her son. Around and around it
went, faster and faster. Dagan had to hold on tight to the pole sticking
out of the dragon’s back. Finally the ride ended. Dagan climbed off the
dragon and ran to his mum. She asked him if he’d enjoyed the ride. He told
her no, he didn’t. He said carousels were for babies. His mum was getting
rather annoyed with him. He wanted an ice cream cone and she wouldn’t buy
him one. He wanted an ice lollie and she wouldn’t buy him one of those.
Finally he stopped and stomped his feet. He said that he wished he was a
grown up so he could do whatever he wanted. Poof!”
“Poof?”
“Poof! He changed
into a man. His mum was shocked and put her hand over her mouth. Dagan
thought it was great to be a man and not a kid, but he had to go and get a
job and he never had time for ice cream cones or roller coasters, or
bicycle rides, or pony rides at the beach. He’d made his wish on the magic
carousel and he couldn’t change his mind. Every day after work he walked
past the carousel on his way home. He thought about how he’d behaved that
day. Never again could he be a boy. When he got married and had children
of his own, he took them to the carousel every day. He made sure they
weren’t spoiled like he was and didn’t buy them ice cream all the time,
just now and then.”
“You know what,
Mac? That was a good story. When I have my own baby raccoons, I’m going to
take them to the carousel, even if they are laddies. Goodnight, Mac.”
“Goodnight, Ian.” |
