When The Dragon Smells A Cookie...

“What are you doing in the kitchen tonight Mom?” Dobby asks walking into the room.

“Celebrating Valentine's Day.”

“Mom? This is Saturday, Thursday was Valentine's Day. You missed it.” Dobby points out, while Mom is taking bowls, measuring cups and other baking supplies out of the kitchen cabinets.

“Dobby you are so silly sometimes. I didn't miss Valentine's Day, I was not feeling good so I delayed my celebration. I promised myself a batch of my favorite triple chocolate cookies. I am baking them now.”

The dragon. She is going to wake the dragon...I haven't told her about the dragon yet. As soon as Furnatche smells a cookie it's over. Dobby thinks for a minute. “Are you sure you want to do this tonight Mom? It is Saturday night and there is still the blog to write. You have been so sick lately. You wouldn't want to have a re-lapse.”

Mom stops taking out supplies and looks down at Dobby. “Baking cookies? Baking cookies is going to make me sicker? I went to work yesterday didn't I?”

“Yes.”

“If I can go to work, I can make cookies.”

“The blog. What about the blog? Doing both is going to be too much for you Mom.” Dobby says looking up at Mom with huge watery eyes. “I'm concerned for your health. Don't make me an orphan.”

Mom puts down the spatula she is holding and kneels down next to the ginger tabby. “Dobby kitty that is so sweet. I already wrote the blog.” Mom gets quiet for a minute then her eyes narrow. “Something else is going on here. There is something you don't want me to know about. Isn't there?”

Silence.

“It will make you feel better if you talk about it.”

More silence.

Getting back to her feet Mom goes to the bathroom to wash her hands. Returning to the kitchen she says. “Okay. I'm sure you will tell me when you're ready. In the meantime I am making my cookies. Happy Valentine's Day to me.”

Mom starts taking out butter, flour, sugar, cocoa, vanilla and her other cookie ingredients.

Dobby sits quietly for a minute. “So um Mom...there is something I have to tell you. I'm not sure how to say it. This could take a while.”

“Take your time.” Mom says, continuing with her cookie dough.

“Well see, a few months ago, you know, before we moved these um...people came looking for you. You hadn't seen them in a long time. You were really busy.” Mom turns on the mixer. “They are still waiting to see you.”

“What? Just a minute kitty. Let me finish mixing this up.”

Dobby curls up on the kitchen floor on the opposite side of the room to wait.

“Dobby, Dobby kitty? Wake up sweetie.” Dobby opens one eye, Mom has knelt down close and speaking to him gently. “Finish telling me what is going on. I can listen now.” Dobby stretches one leg out, then the other. Yawns. Putting his weight on his front feet so he can stand on all fours he stretches fully. Dobby shakes his head washing his face a bit. A gentleman doesn't break news like this without being properly freshened up.

An annoyingly loud beeping commences and Dobby prepares to run from the kitchen. Mom stands up and walks across the room.  She reaches out for the timer on the counter to stop that horrible beeping. Mom picks up her hot pads and opens the oven door. The aroma of warm cookies invades the room.

Dobby hears the sound of heavy feet thumping across the house. Loud puffing could be heard mixed with children calling, “Furnatche. No!” from the far side of the house. There was a large pair of eyes coming at the kitty then darkness. Dobby expelled air when the dragon's feet ran over his body like a flexible speed bump. With one last gasp of breath Dobby says, “When baking cookies watch out for the charging dragon.”

Darkness surrounds....