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Note: My site was off-line for a few days shortly after I posted this and then I was on hiatus for a few weeks. Since it wasn’t available during the prime reading period, I’m giving it a second chance.
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“Come on, little man. Time for bed.” The man scooped up his son and began carrying him to the bedroom.
“First a story though, right Daddy?”
“Of course, buddy. Always time for one story before we go to sleep.”
“Nothing scary this time,” his mother called after them. “You always give him nightmares with those silly things.”
“Right,” the dad agreed. “Nothing scary.”
A few minutes later teeth had been brushed and prayers fervently offered up to heaven. The boy was firmly tucked under the covers. “What would you like to hear a story about?” asked his dad.
“Dragons!”
“Oh, I don’t know. I don’t want you to be scared. When you wake up screaming, that scares your Mommy.”
“Please, Daddy. I won’t get scared. I promise.”
“Dragons, huh?”
“Dragons. Yes, please.”
And so in a low voice his father began:
A dragon can spot you in a crowd. The sick, the lame, the young, the old, the slow, the wounded (most of all, the wounded) — all are easy prey and fair game. Backed against a wall, you face the dragon. The dragon casts a furtive glance and then a spell, of sorts. You stare, mesmerized, into the dragon’s eyes. Eyes like fire.
The claws wrap around your throat. “I want your heart,” the dragon whispers. “I want your heart.”
“Take it,” you say.
Another claw runs down your chest, laying you open. “Does this hurt?”
“Yes.”
“Shall I stop?”
“No. Give me the pain and take away my heart. The pain is mine. The heart is yours.”
“This heart.” The claws reach in and pull it, still beating, from your chest. “This heart is mine.”
“YES!”
“And when I no longer want it?”
“Still, it is yours. Do with it what you will.”
“What use is your heart to me?”
“I don’t know. You said you wanted it.”
“To do with as I choose?”
“Yes.”
“And if I choose to throw it away?”
“Then throw it away.”
“The pain is yours?”
“Yes.”
“And what use is your pain to you?”
“When I feel pain, I know I am not dead yet.”
The dragon drops your heart to the ground. Your heart shudders and quivers. Inexplicably, it still beats. You can see it, but you cannot feel it. The dragon lets go of your throat. You fall, heartless. But not quite dead. Not painless.
The dragon makes a noise that she thinks is laughter and then flies away.
“Why, Daddy? Why does the dragon do that?”
“Because dragons have no heart and they don’t want anyone else to have one either.”
Just then, the mother calls to them, “Okay, boys. Lights out. No more wasting time.”
The father kisses his son. “Coming, dear,” he calls back as he exits the room.
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Let's do Something Cheap and Superficial 
Nothing too scary, huh? I won’t be able to sleep tonight after that little dragon tale. I’ll bet mommy got mad when sonny woke her up crying. Good story within a story, Tim. I enjoyed it.
Nothing too scary… maybe that was a childhood scene from Stephen King’s life…?
Really liked the dragon story!
Thanks, mazzz. It was a childhood scene from someone’s life. Glad you like the dragon story. ~Tim
Ah yes, the sadistic urges of parents are given free reign at story time… nothing wrong with that. Can’t help imagining the child laying wide-eyed in the dark after daddy shuts off the light.
Thanks, Pamela. I expect the child will be wide-eyed and wide-eared for a few hours yet. ~Tim
I loved the dragon section the best. The dad’s comment just wraps it altogether very nicely. Is it possible he’s had interaction with dragons? I like that we’re left wondering. Maybe he has no heart himself?
Thanks, Joanie. The dad does seem to speak from experience. ~Tim
I remember this one! I liked it before and I still do. Creepy and definitely not something I’d tell to my theoretical kids.
Thanks, Valerie. I think theoretical kids are the best ones to tell it to. ~Tim
That’s a very creepy “non-scary” bedtime story, Tim! I think my son would have liked it at that age. I’m going to have nightmares though…
Thanks, Laura. Good thing none of YOUR stories are ever scary. Right? ~Tim
Wow, sounds like bed time at my house. Nothing wrong with bringing a child up right.
Great story. I loved it.
Thanks, Melissa. Our kids should be more afraid of us than anything, right? ~Tim
Bring on the nightmares! I think dad is much like the dragon
where’s your heart dad? Kid’s gonna have some nightmares tonight!
Great post!
~2
Thanks, 2mara. I don’t think the dad is quite as heartless as the dragon, but you may be right. ~Tim
I think there is a little dragon in some of the people I know. Very creepy bedtime story – the kind that would make you jump for the bed lest a dragon reach out and grab you.
Thanks, Laurita. I’ve known a dragon or two as well. ~Tim
That’s a very disturbing story, Tim. I can see the poor kid becoming more and more unbalanced as the years go on.
Thanks, Mark. The kid will probably grow up to be the kind of dad that tells his kids these kinds of stories. ~Tim
[...] “Bedtime Story” by Tim VanSant — What are dragons? And that’s why they tear out people’s hearts. [...]
very subtle but very effective. a tragic tale indeed.
Thanks, Lime. My dragon tales are always either tragic or… no, I think they’re always tragic. ~Tim
This is poetic! It reminds me of the first bit of Meatloaf’s ‘You Took the Words Right Out of my Mouth.’ Spooky and almost surreal. Nicely done.
Of course, I’m damn glad my father never told me this story.
Thanks, Jen. I was actually listening to that album recently and didn’t make that connection. ~Tim