A MAGICAL ENCOUNTER — Ernesto’s gifts

“A tree called Ernesto and a dragon called Skyblue?” the villagers said. “Made for each other.”

At least they could finally hold the housewarming party. And since Ernesto grew so far away, the young dragons would be safe from Skyblue’s ideas.

Her parents were less at ease. They tried to persuade her to choose a tree closer by, but she had already found her home.

After the celebration, she moved her belongings.

Skyblue began to learn Ernesto’s ways. He did not speak to her in words, but he listened. She could tell him all about an adventure without anyone interrupting to point out what she had done wrong. Sometimes they talked like that; at other times they were silent, Skyblue’s back resting against his trunk.

Whenever she thought up some new mischief, it seemed to her that Ernesto could read her mind. His branches would rustle softly, as though already celebrating what she had not yet dared to do.

One day, a flower appeared among the leaves.

Surprised, Skyblue climbed up to see it. Then there was another, and another. In time, where one of those flowers had been, a small mango began to grow.

The dragon visited it every morning. She did not know what had changed or how it had happened, and this time she felt no need to find an explanation. When the fruit was ripe, she picked it carefully and sat beneath the branches to share her joy with Ernesto.

From then on, every season he gave her the sweetest mangoes Skyblue had ever tasted.