The Dragon of Nottingham - The Postman

Isaac stood at the mail box waiting patiently for the postman. Today was the day he was hoping to receive his copy of The Extraordinary Cat. Series one. Issue one. He saw the new comic book about a super-hero feline advertised on the back of one of his cereal boxes and had asked his mom if she could order him a copy.

"I wonder what this cat does that's so extraordinary?" his mother had said. "Do you think he spits fiery hair balls at troublesome wiener dogs?"

"Let's see, dear," said Isaac's dad. "It says here on the box that The Extraordinary Cat is a ruggedly handsome, fearsome and mischievous alley cat who protects his brethren from the clutches of the notorious county cat catcher Señor Cody Coyote. They have a sampling of dialogue here on the back of the box."

“Please to be coming out of the alley, all you many pussy cats! It is I, Señor Cody Coyote! I only wish to be showing you my fancy new pussy cat wagon! Inside I have the many scratching posts and the catnip on the string! I am also having the many bowls of milk for your thirsty pleasures! What do you say to that all of you many pussy cats?"

“You'll not touch a single hair on another innocent alley cat!” said the Extraordinary Cat. “Not  as long as I have a beating heart and a claw left in my paw!”  

“Who writes this stuff?” said Isaac’s dad.

But it wasn’t the comic book that Isaac wanted. It was the miniature stuffed likeness of the Extraordinary Cat that came with the first edition comic book. Isaac would often wake in the middle of the night to find his Talking Ginger cat missing from his side, only to be found in the arms of the sleeping dragon. So he wanted to surprise the dragon with a cat of his own on the dragon’s birthday.
Isaac didn’t know the exact date of the dragon's birth, so he decided the dragon’s birthday would fall on whatever day the comic book arrived in the mail.

The dragon, long tired from the wait at the mail box, thought it a good idea to take a nap. So into the mailbox he went.

“I don’t know if that’s such a good idea,” said Isaac. “The postman will be here soon. He may need to put things in there."

But the dragon only yawned and let off  a long smoky breath before falling fast asleep. Isaac closed the mailbox door and waited.

When the postman arrived he tossled the boys hair and handed him a package.

"That one’s for you, young Isaac," said the postman. "I’ll put the rest in the mailbox. I've got a heavy load today. I hope it all fits."

Fearing that the dragon had made the mailbox too hot to handle with his dragon's breath. Isaac had a suggestion.

"Can't you just give it to me?"

"I'm afraid not, Isaac. It is my sworn duty to put the mail in the hands of its rightful owners or in an authorized receptacle such as this fine mailbox I see in front of me."

"Can't you bring the mail up to the house?" said Isaac.

"I only do that when I’ve got a package too big for the box, Isaac. Besides, today is Saturday. If I go up to your house now your Dad will hold out a plate of his fresh-baked chocolate chip cookies with one hand and a glass of icy-cold milk with the other. Then I’m done! No other mail would get delivered today. I'll have failed in my duties. No, young man. The mailbox will do just fine. Besides, it looks like rain. I need to move quickly today."

"But my dad didn't make any cookies today."

"No?" said the postman.

"No, sir. Today he made jelly donuts."

The postman stopped in his tracks at the word 'jelly'.

"And not just any old jelly donuts, either. They're boysenberry, with powdered sugar on top."

"And bottom?" said the postman.

"And bottom, as well." said Isaac.

"Well," said the postman, "I do have quite a bit of mail, and if I try to cram it all into the mailbox there's a good chance I may damage an envelope or two. Then I'll have made a mockery of the postman's oath to deliver the mail on time and unmolested! Up to the house it is, young man! Come on! Off we go!"

As the two made there way up the path to he house, the sky thundered and the rain fell quick and heavy.

"We best hurry, young Isaac," said the postman.

Issac turned in the direction of the mailbox and watched as it sizzled and smoked. Its door then popped open and a sleepy dragon made its way out and headed up the path.

Isaac smiled and waved the box high in the air as they all entered the house.