Dean Dragon loves the park.
He spins on the merry-go-round and feels like he is flying.
He swings on the swings and dreams of the day he’ll soar higher than the clouds.
He digs in the sandbox, looking for buried treasure.
And he goes up and down on the seesaw, laughing with his friends.
But there is one thing Dean Dragon has never done. One thing that always catches his eye on the far side of the park.
The slide.
Dean Dragon is afraid of the slide.
At least, he thinks he is.
When he sees it, big and tall and blue, shining in the sun, he feels his heart beat. He feels his wings pull close to his body. He feels his claws tighten.
Looking at the slide, Dean Dragon is amazed.
And terrified.
But there is something different about today. He feels his heart and his wings and his claws. He feels the sun on his snout. And Dean Dragon says, “I am a dragon. And today I will ride the slide.”
Saying these words doesn’t make Dean Dragon feel differently. They help him find courage in the middle of his feelings.
The other boys and girls watch as Dean Dragon walks toward the slide.
He walks slowly. He looks brave.
The slide grows bigger and taller and bluer as he comes closer until, standing in its shadow, it is the biggest, tallest, bluest thing he has ever seen. He cannot even see the top. The slide seems to become the sky above him.
Dean Dragon feels his heart beat. He feels his wings pull close to his body. He feels his claws tighten. But looking up the ladder, Dean Dragon says, “I am a dragon. And today I will ride the slide.”
So Dean Dragon puts one claw on the ladder.
Then another.
And another.
And another.
He starts to climb.
Higher.
And higher.
And higher.
Soon, when Dean Dragon looks down, he can hardly see the ground.
And when he looks up, he can hardly see the top of the slide.
And Dean Dragon feels his heart beat. He feels his wings pull close to his body. He feels his claws tighten. But looking up the ladder, Dean Dragon says, “I am a dragon. And today I will ride the slide.”
So he climbs on.
And on.
And on.
Until, after a long time, Dean Dragon reaches the top.
He looks out at the world and says, “So this is what the park looks like from the top of the slide.”
Dean Dragon’s heart beats. His wings are close to his body. His claws are tight. But now he doesn’t notice. He only feels brave. And he says, “I am a dragon. And today I will ride the slide.”
With the sun on his snout and the wind in his wings, Dean Dragon pushes off.
And slides.
And slides.
And slides.
Dean Dragon smiles the whole way down.
His heart is happy. His wings are free. His claws are calm.
And Dean Dragon says, “I am a dragon. And I cannot wait to ride the slide… again.”
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