Karmic Dragons
I miss my brother. I sit on the headland, the breeze blowing in my face, looking down on the beach we both love so much. At this moment I see no joy amongst its breaking waves. The swell coming from the east building, building before breaking against the long sandy beach. A mirror image of the tears welling, welling, breaking, running down my cheek as his seven-year-old son throws his ashes to the wind. To be carried to a better place. I gaze upon my nephew and am transported back in time to when I was his age.
“Ha ha, en guard “. I burst into his room waving my wooden sword above my head, ready to slay my big brother. He is sitting on his bed. I advance quickly before he can react. I deliver two quick blows to his back and run. I hear him close behind me. I head for our sister’s room, wishing it was a church so I could claim sanctuary.
“I am going to hurt you twerp. Real bad. “
I don’t slow as I enter their room, bouncing off their door to help change direction. I let out a squeal and plea as I vault their play area hoping their protests will slow my brother.
“Help me.” I plead.
“You’re the knight, idiot. Aren’t you suppose to save us?” One of my sisters says in disgust.
“Hey that’s right, I am.” I look down and admire my new knight suit that my mum made from left over leather from a dress she was making. I gain courage from the sight. My brother enters the room, anger was his face.
“Step back dear maidens, have no fear, I will slay this black knight.” I bring my sword up and wave it menacingly in front of me but from behind my sisters.
“You’re a total dickhead, in that suit.” Anger said.
“I am invincible!” I said in a big voice, trying to convince myself.
“Well, if that’s the case lets test it, go down into the backyard and I will send a fire breathing dragon and see if you can slay that.” with Anger waning.
“Ok I will.”
He left the room and I followed cautiously, ready for ambush. I waited in the backyard for the dragon, but using my time wisely practicing my sword handling skills as it was surely needed. Swiping the air and twisting, remembering moves seen on Sunday afternoon movies.
“Ok, I am going to send it down, you need to turn around.” He called from my sister’s bedroom window on the second floor of our home.
I thought this was an odd request, how can I face a dragon with my back to it? I turned around still swiping the air. With a mind of its own my right leg shot forward, I heard a bang as I twisted in pain, thinking this wasn’t fair that I had to face this fire breathing dragon with my back. Lashing out with my sword as I fell, but nothing was there. Why won’t my leg work? I hit the ground. Looking to the sky for the dragon, where is it? My leg was on fire with pain. I looked down at my leg as I pulled my knight suit up. I started crying. What kind of dragon left holes in people’s legs? None I knew of. The maidens watching from the wings ran to the fallen knight.
“Quick, we need to get him to our room before mum finds out.”
The maidens helped me to their room, all the while telling me to be quiet as real knights don’t cry. I didn’t care, this one did. They put me on one of the beds. My brother was there.
“Quick get him to bite on something, that’s what they do in the movies. Those socks will do.” He directed the maidens.
As I slowly drifted away into unconsciousness from blood loss, one of the maidens went and informed mum of the fallen and slowly dying knight. As she ran up the stairs, my brother jumped out the window.
“Oh sweet thing, what have they done to you?”
She scooped me up and rushed me to hospital. Two operations and two weeks later I was home. I wasn’t there to witness my brother’s punishment, so I hope it wasn’t karma that years later sent the same fire breathing dragon that cut him down. But this time, no brother rode its back as its aim was straight and true. And the maidens that came to his aid weren’t waiting in the wings, they had them.
Comments