Alex the Dragon and the King of Cats

By Chris Herborth (chrish@pobox.com)

This is the first children's story that I've written for my son, Alex. The intent is to be easy for kids to read, and to be accompanied by illustrations... I haven't decided on a particular age group to aim this at; the language use varies.

This was written over a few nights between late September and mid-November, 2001. It was ready for Alex's first birthday, but he's still more interested in eating books than in reading them.

Alex the Dragon and the King of Cats

Alex the Dragon lived in a big castle in the forest. He liked to eat, and sleep, and play all day.

Alex also liked to growl and chase cats.

The cats did not like being chased. They ran away to hide in the woods.

With no cats in Alex the Dragon's castle, rats started to eat all of the food in the kitchen. They also kept stealing Alex's toys and drinking his milk.

Soon Alex was lonely. The rats slept all day, and they did not like to play with dragons.

Poe, the King of Cats, was traveling through the woods. He had come to visit the cats in the castle of Alex the Dragon. Poe was very surprised to find his subjects camping under the trees.

"Why are the cats out here in the woods, instead of at home in the castle?" asked Poe.

The cats cried, "How can we chase rats in the castle when Alex the Dragon growls and chases us all day?"

Poe scratched his chin and said, "I will speak to Alex the Dragon." He marched out of the woods and towards the castle.

When Poe got to the castle he found Alex the Dragon crying beside the fountain.

"Why are you crying?" asked Poe.

Alex sniffed. "I'm lonely. The cats have all left my castle. Rats moved in, but they sleep all day. The rats are eating all of my food, too!"

"Why did the cats leave?" asked Poe. He already knew the answer.

"I don't know!" sniffed Alex, wiping away a big tear.

"Then maybe I should leave, too", said Poe.

As the King of Cats turned to go, Alex jumped up and yelled, "Wait!"

"Did you chase the cats?" asked Poe.

"Um... yes", whispered Alex.

"Did you growl at the cats?" asked Poe.

"Yes", whispered Alex.

"Are you sure you don't know why the cats ran away?" asked Poe. The King of Cats swished his tail angrily.

"Maybe", said Alex, "it was because I was mean to them?"

"Yes! You must promise to play nicely with the cats. They do not like to be chased by growling dragons!" Poe flicked his tail.

"I promise!" cried Alex, "Will you tell them I'm sorry? I won't chase them or growl at them again!"

Poe went back to the forest. There he told the other cats about Alex's promise.

"Hooray!", cheered the cats. "We can go home to the castle now!"

The cats returned to the castle. Alex the Dragon was so happy to see them that he cooked a big feast. The cats chased away all of the rats while Alex was busy in the kitchen.

Alex the Dragon and the cats lived together in a big castle in the forest. They ate, and slept, and played all day.

And, instead of chasing and growling at the cats, Alex the Dragon helped the cats chase the rats and growl at the mice.

The end.