The Golden Egg

• Charlie James, Grade 3, St Joseph's School -
• Short Story
• 2021

Excellence Award in the 'Play On Words 2021' competition

One day I saw a button, yep a button, just there, so obviously I pressed it and it opened a creepy passage which led to a bunker. Out of the corner of my inquisitive eye, I saw a scaly red dragon. It was sleeping, so I crept past it and found an old, antique treasure chest. I decided to look inside, but just when I was opening the lid I heard a growl, so I jumped inside and slammed the heavy lid shut. “RurrRR”, I heard a rumbling sound and the temperature began to rise.

Initially it was as dark as the sky on a stormy night in the chest, but as my eyes adjusted I became aware of a faint glow in the far corner. It was very cramped, but I managed to crawl over towards the light. To my amazement there was a golden egg glowing in the darkness. As I picked it up, it split open. I couldn't believe what was inside! There was a baby dragon, holding a dragon shaped key in it’s tiny jaw. It was at this moment that I realised that the temperature had risen to an unbearable level and I needed to get out.

Everything had gone quiet, so I slowly opened the heavy lid. I couldn’t believe what was outside. The chest was perched precariously on the tippity top of a volcanic rim with 3 ferocious dragons circling overhead. It now made sense why it had been so hot in the chest, as the volcano was spitting fireballs into the air and exploding everywhere. I had to get out.

It was at this moment that I caught the dragons’ attention. As they swooped down, I grabbed the baby dragon, leapt out of the chest and raced down into a mushroom forest, which effectively blocked the dragons’ attack. It was a strange place and eerily quiet after the roar of the volcano and it felt as damp as my socks after a long run. I trotted 20 miles until I reached a clearing and in the centre stood a tall, grey tower. I was disappointed to find that the door was locked. As I turned to leave, the baby dragon started to screech and it was then that I remembered the baby dragon had a key. Amazingly it fitted perfectly and the rusty lock turned with a loud click.

Cautiously I entered the tower and was alarmed when the door slammed shut behind me. It was dark and I was scared, but I decided to look around. I found the staircase and walked up to the top of the tower and was startled to see a dragon. I froze with fear. But this dragon was friendly and he said “Thank you for reuniting me with my son. For that I will teleport you back, but under one condition, that you will give me that key of yours”. So I did, and was teleported back home safely. What an adventure!