Fantastical temptations...

Autumn Mist

      The wind was brisk and refreshing as little Jackie paper walked home from his candle-making class.  He walked at a pace that would seem unnecessarily fast for anyone that would happen to pass by him, but he didn't care about all the looks he would be given.  No.  All he had on his mind was one thing.  His birthday.  Yes, little Jackie Paper no longer could be called that for he was turning thirteen on this special Autumn day and he would now be known as just Jackie Paper.  Sure he may have been quite short for his age, but that didn't stop him from feeling like a man.  He felt as though he could jump up and touch the stars with ease.  Little did he know that this day would change his life forever....

      It was about 3:27 when Jackie decided he would take a detour to see the lovely wild flowers just a few minutes away from where he was.  As he made his way to the flowers he noticed the air began to fill up with a scent stronger than his grandmother when she passed gas.  Though unlike her gas this smell was welcoming to his nasal passage and urged him to follow it. He stumbled along the way as he took in as much of the smell as he could for it smelled like his favorite drink, a Shirley Temple. He passed through tall grasses and long open fields until he finally reached the area that had been giving off the scent that he so desired to have.....

      Jackie looked out in amazement. In front of him was a wide open field filled with wild flowers and grass as green as Shrek (with whom was his favorite children's book character). Then suddenly the grass began to waver and up came a sight more amazing than Jackie could have ever imagine. Out of the grass came a large dragon about the size of a medium sized cottage in Jackie's village. The dragon gracefully swept up and over the field to where Jackie was standing. The dragon looked deep into Jackie's eyes with deep curiosity as he felt a pounding in his heart...

      "And who might you be?" Asked the dragon in a strong steady voice that made Jackie wince with intense pleasure.

      "Me? I uh I-I'm..." Jackie struggled to find his voice, "my names Jackie, Jackie Paper..."

       "What a... Lovely name you have there." Responded the dragon. "Mine is Puff. Puff the Magic Dragon. I live over yonder by the sea," said Puff as he pointed out in a direction opposite from where Jackie had entered the field.

      The two talked and walked for quite some time. Stopping only to enjoy the breeze of the wind. They soon learned more and more about each other and became more curious in one another. Human and dragon, dragon and human....

      It wasn't until about 4:49 when Jackie realized that he had to get home.

      "Oh I simply insist on flying you." Said Puff.

     "Oh it's fine.." Blushed Jackie though he did wonder what it would be like to ride on those strong wings that Puff held proudly behind him.

     "It is not fine! I must fly you. It is only common courtesy for a dragon to offer assistance in a humans time of need."

      And so it was that puff would fly Jackie home and they would fly softly through the autumn air. Jackie made it home in time and told his parents that he had stopped to read and due to the fact that is was his birthday they let it slide.

      For the next 20 years Puff and Jackie would meet in the same field and talk for long periods of time and then Puff would fly Jackie home. They grew closer every time and thought about each other on their spare time. Though they didn't know it at the time, they loved each other with a burning passion that would blossom a flower made purely of love and truth that would never shrivel or die.

      One day on their usual hang out session, Jackie was frolicking with Puff in the grasses. They both fell over from exhaustion and looked at each other intently. Puff had something he wanted to say, but was choking on his words as though he had just swallowed a ghost pepper.

      Well, what is it?" Questioned Jackie.

      "Uhh... Ummm... Well..." Puff struggled to find words. "Only actions can say this." Said puff intently and out puff thrusted a huge bulky.....

      Diamond ring. It was gorgeous, like the stuff you see in jewelry commercials, but can't afford. It shimmered in the sunlight and glowed like a child on Christmas. Jackie's face lit up with turning a blood red color before calming..

      "Jackie Paper?" Asked Puff.

      "Yes?...." Responded Jackie nervously...

      "Will you marry me?"

      Jackie had no words.... His face was a Ronald McDonald red and his hands shook vigorously. Jackie calmed himself and sighed, "yes, yes yes yes! A thousand times yes."

      They were both overjoyed with happiness and couldn't contain their excitement. They ran around like overexcited turkeys.

     When Jackie got home that night he looked up through his bedroom window out at the stars. His childhood hero Shrek seemed to be in the stars that night and he looked down at Jackie, nodding at him and then flying off into the moonlight with his gang of seven dwarf fairies following him. Jackie smiled at the ensemble and then quickly fell asleep dreaming of dragons and marriage..

      Unfortunately this bliss wouldn't last long for as the song goes,

Dragons live forever but not so little boys
Painted wings and giant strings make way for other toys.
One sad night it happened, Jackie Paper came no more
And Puff that mighty dragon, he ceased his fearless roar.

His head was bent in sorrow, green scales fell like rain,
Puff no longer went to play along the cherry lane.
Without his life-long friend, puff could not be brave,
So puff that mighty dragon sadly slipped into his cave. oh! 🎤

      And unfortunately it was true. Jackie would not live forever for he was swept over with a harsh disease unknown to man at the time and was to dank for the meme doctors to deal with. It was untreatable. And so on that fateful day in autumn Jackie died in a hospital bed. As he went into his lifelong slumber he greeted the people that he would then see for the rest of his life. Awaiting him in his dreams were Shrek and his idol Kim Kardashian. They welcomed him with open arms.

     Unfortunately it wasn't so easy for Puff. He couldn't take the stress so he became addicted to helium. And so the dragon lived on never forgetting that boy that he had met on that brisk autumn day....