The Dragon Who Gave Away His Goldfish
- LettersLetter
- May 26
- 5 min read
On a small green mountain, there lived a dragon named Bobo.
Bobo was not a loud dragon.
He did not roar.
He did not fly high in the sky.
Bobo liked quiet things.
He liked soft clouds.
He liked the warm sun.
He liked sitting very still.
And most of all, he liked his goldfish.
The goldfish lived in a round glass bowl.
The goldfish had bright orange scales.
And the goldfish made tiny blub blub bubbles.
Bobo named him Bubbles.
“Good morning, Bubbles,” Bobo said one day.
Bubbles swam in a slow circle.
Bobo smiled.
“I will bring you fresh water today,” he said.
He picked up the bowl very carefully.
He always moved slowly.
He did not want to spill even one drop.
“I will be right back,” he whispered.
Bubbles flicked his tail.
That meant okay.
Bobo walked to a little stream.
The grass was soft under his feet.
He knelt down.
“Fresh water for you,” he said.
The water shone in the light.
Bobo filled the bowl and carried it back.
He set it down on a flat stone.
“There,” he said. “Just right.”
Bubbles swam in a happy little circle.
Bobo sat beside him.
They sat like that for a long time.
Quiet.
Still.
Together.
But sometimes, Bobo looked down the mountain.
Far away, there was a village.
Small houses.Little paths.A tiny shop with a wooden sign.
Bobo watched it often.
But he never went there.
A long time ago, he tried.
When the people saw him, they ran.
“Dragon!” they shouted.
Doors slammed.
Windows shut.
Bobo had walked back up the mountain very slowly that day.
Since then, he stayed away.
“I think I am too big,” Bobo told Bubbles.
Bubbles made a soft blub.
“I think I am too scary,” Bobo said.
Bubbles flicked his tail.
That meant no.
Bobo gave a small smile.
“You are kind,” he said.
One day, something felt different.
Bobo looked down at the village again.
It was too quiet.
No children ran.
No one laughed.
No one played.
Bobo leaned forward.
“That is strange,” he said softly.
He watched for a long time.
Still nothing.
He looked at Bubbles.
“Do you see it too?” he asked.
Bubbles swam slowly.
That meant yes.
Bobo thought for a moment.
Then another moment.
Then one more.
“I think… I will go down,” he said.
He felt a little shaky.
But he stood up.
“I will be careful,” he told Bubbles.
Bobo walked down the mountain.
Step by step.
Slow and quiet.
The grass brushed his feet.
The wind moved softly.
When he reached the edge of the village, he stopped.
He took a deep breath.
“Just a little closer,” he whispered.
He stepped forward.
She had dark hair and bright eyes.
She saw Bobo.
But she did not run.
She blinked.
Then she tilted her head.
“You are big,” she said.
Bobo froze.
“Yes,” he said quietly.
“You are a dragon,” she said.
“Yes,” Bobo said.
The girl stepped closer.
“My name is Rue,” she said.
Bobo looked surprised.
“I am Bobo,” he said.
Rue looked at the bowl in his hands.
“What is that?” she asked.
“This is Bubbles,” Bobo said.
Rue leaned in.
The goldfish swam in a slow circle.
“Oh,” she said softly. “He is beautiful.”
Bobo felt warm inside.
“He is my friend,” Bobo said.
Rue smiled.
“Will you come with me?” she asked.
Bobo blinked.
“Come… where?” he asked.
“To see Mr. Tinker,” she said.
Bobo hesitated.
“I do not want to scare anyone,” he said.
Rue shook her head.
“I will walk with you,” she said. “It will be okay.”
Bobo nodded slowly.
“Okay,” he said.
They walked together.
Very slowly.
Very quietly.
They stopped at a small shop.
The door was open.
Inside were wooden toys.
Trains.Blocks.Little spinning tops.
But no children were there.
An old man stood behind a table.
He looked tired.
Rue stepped in.
“Hello, Mr. Tinker,” she said.
Mr. Tinker looked up.
Then he saw Bobo.
He blinked once.
Then twice.
But he did not shout.
He did not run.
“Well now,” he said. “That is a dragon.”
Bobo lowered his head.
“I am sorry,” he said.
Mr. Tinker waved his hand.
“No need for sorry,” he said.
He looked at the toys.
“No one comes to play anymore,” he said softly.
Rue nodded.
“It has been very quiet,” she said.
Bobo looked around.
The toys sat still.
No laughter.
No sound.
Bobo held the bowl closer.
“This is Bubbles,” he said.
Mr. Tinker leaned in.
“Ah,” he said. “A fine little fish.”
Rue smiled.
“Can we show him to the others?” she asked.
Bobo hesitated.
Then nodded.
“Okay,” he said.
Rue stepped outside.
“Come see!” she called.
“Come look!”
A few children peeked out.
Then a few more.
Slowly, they walked closer.
They saw Bobo.
They stopped.
But then they saw the bowl.
A small boy pointed.
“A fish!” he said.
The children stepped closer.
Bobo stayed very still.
Very gentle.
Bubbles swam in a soft loop.
Blub… blub…
The children leaned in.
“He is so bright,” one said.
“He is so calm,” another said.
Rue smiled.
“His name is Bubbles,” she said.
The children laughed softly.
“Hello, Bubbles,” they said.
For the first time in many days, the village made a sound.
A happy sound.
Bobo watched.
His heart felt full.
But then…
A small thought came.
Quiet.
Slow.
If Bubbles stays… they will smile.
Bobo looked at the children.
They were laughing.
Watching.
Happy.
Bobo looked at Bubbles.
Bubbles swam gently.
Bobo’s chest felt tight.
“I…” Bobo began.
He stopped.
Rue looked up.
“What is it?” she asked.
Bobo knelt down.
Very slowly.
He held out the bowl.
“You can have Bubbles,” he said.
The children went still.
Rue blinked.
“But… he is your friend,” she said.
Bobo nodded.
“Yes,” he said.
He took a small breath.
“But you need him too.”
Rue looked at him.
“Are you sure?” she asked.
Bobo looked at Bubbles.
Then, at the children.
Then back at Rue.
“Yes,” he said softly. “I am sure.”
Rue took the bowl carefully.
“Thank you,” she whispered.
Bobo smiled, just a little.
“Take good care of him,” he said.
“We will,” the children said together.
Bubbles made a soft blub.
Bobo stood up.
His hands felt empty.
Very empty.
He turned slowly.
And began to walk away.
Step by step.
Up the path.
Up the mountain.
The wind moved gently.
The sky grew soft and gold.
Bobo reached his stone.
He sat down.
It was very quiet.
He looked at the place where the bowl had been.
He took a slow breath.
Then—
“Bobo!”
He turned.
Rue was running up the hill.
Behind her were the children.
They were laughing.
Smiling.
“We came to see you!” Rue said.
Bobo blinked.
“You… did?” he asked.
“Yes,” she said. “We are your friends.”
The children nodded.
“And we brought stories,” one said.
“And games!” said another.
“And we will visit every day,” Rue said.
Bobo looked at them.
All of them.
Standing there.
Not afraid.
Not running.
His chest felt warm.
Very warm.
“Thank you,” he said softly.
Down in the village, Bubbles swam in his bowl.
Children sat all around him.
Laughing.
Smiling.
Up on the mountain, Bobo was not alone.
Not anymore.
And the quiet did not feel empty.
It felt peaceful.
The LettersLetter "Free Bedtime Stories Club" Team
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