“Kev, have you decided what you want for Christmas?” Kevalan's overly eager mother asked. Kev wasn't the type of boy to get excited about holidays, his mom on the other hand... Her excitement was evident in the shine from her bright blue eyes and the way she always made her graying hair look extra special around the holidays. Taking time to make her outfits fit the holiday season and make cookies for everyone in the neighborhood, Kev's mom seemed obsessed with Christmas. But he just couldn't share in her excitement.1

“A friend,” Kev muttered under his breath so his mother wouldn't hear. Not being a very social boy and not having any qualities that would lead him to popularity, Kev had no friends. Going to a school with so many people, there should be one person there Kev could socialize with...but there wasn't. Already at twelve years old, Kev had never had a real friend in his life. His mother seemed not to notice.2

“What'd you say, dear?” she asked with a smile on her rosy cheeked face.3

“I'm still thinking, mom,” Kev lied.4

“Well, you had better hurry. Christmas is only a couple weeks away.” And with that, she left him to sit in his silent misery alone in his room. He could hear her singing Christmas carols while baking more cookies for the neighbors and sighed, almost despairing over the nearing holiday.5

As Christmas grew nearer, Kev was forced to make a decision on what he wanted his mom to get him. Nothing, was his first choice but he knew she would never allow that so he finally relented. While in a store shopping for his mom's gift, Kev saw a little dragon statue that he liked. The dragon was black with blazing green eyes on top of a magnificent castle. The title the statue had been given was “Attacking Dragon”, but Kev could tell the dragon was really protecting the castle. This is what he told his mom he wanted.6

On Christmas morning, they opened their gifts. Kev had used his allowance money to buy his mom a holiday sweatshirt that he knew she would like and some more baking supplies (she had earlier said she wished she had more supplies in order to bake after holiday cookies for everyone). She was clearly in love with the gifts and gave her son a warm hug to thank him.7

Kev opened his present, glad to see he had the statue of the “Not Attacking Dragon”.8

That night, after his mother said goodnight and went to bed, Kev watched his statue. He knew it was special, more than just because it was really cool to him, it was his one and only friend. He drifted off to sleep wishing he had more friends and thinking of his new dragon statue.9

“Kevalan...Kev...wake up, already.” Kev slowly woke from sleep thinking he heard a voice, but sure it was coming from his dreams. He listened for a moment and after silence, decided to go back to sleep.10

“Kevalan!” Kev shot up straight in his bed. That was no dream, there really was a voice. It was a male voice. Kev's father died when he was young and his mother hadn't dated or considered dating, so Kev was the only male in the house. She wouldn't even let him get a male dog (not that a male dog would be whispering his name in the middle of the night).11

He heard the voice again and realized it was coming from outside his window. Walking to his window, he opened his curtains and suddenly jumped back let out a shocked gasp. Looking back at him through the window were two magical green eyes on a scaly black head. Kev was in shock and was sure he was dreaming.12

“Took you long enough,” said the dragon in a deep whisper. “I've been trying to wake you up for hours...well, okay...minutes. But still...who could sleep with a dragon outside their window?” The dragon chuckled and smiled at Kev, baring a significant number of very sharp teeth, which frightened Kev even more.13

“My name's Birger and you picked my statue so that makes us friends. Wanna go for a ride? Humans seem to love that flying business. I don't get it.” The dragon rolled his large, green eyes. “So...yes, no, maybe so? Go with the yes.” Birger nodded his large head like he knew that was the answer Kev had to give.14

Kev on the other hand, had no idea what answer to give. He was stunned that there was a dragon outside his window. But even more than that, he was desperate for a friend. Slowly walking up the window, Kev tried to smile. But based on Birger's reaction, he didn't succeed in much more than a frightened moving of his lips. He opened the window all the way and before he could say anything more, Birger had gently grabbed Kev in his mouth and tossed him up on his back.15

“Hold on tight,” Birger warned as he jumped into the air with a screaming Kev on his back.16

Kev stopped screaming only when Birger told him to and only because Birger threated to roll over and let him fall to the ground if he didn't shut up (it was giving Birger a migraine).17

They flew over the city where Kev lived and although frightened, Kev marveled at seeing the Christmas lights reflected in the snow from above. It was quite a sight. They were already past his house, but he was sure those lights would be brightest; his mother took great effort in making her Christmas very meaningful in every way. There were no cars on the road like he would have expected to see any other day, this actually made Kev happy. It meant that the families who owned those cars were where they should be...together, snuggled up after a merry Christmas.18

They continued their flight past the city where Kev lived and over a snow cloaked park nearby. Kev loved seeing the leafless trees covered in white and wondered why he hadn't come to this park before. It was a such a beautiful place. There were stunning paths with antique looking lights covered in wreaths for the holidays. Plenty of benches to sit and rest and the benches were all red and green. Kev was sure they weren't painted those colors specially for the holidays, but he liked to think they were...his mother certainly would have offered her services for such a project.19

Birger landed in a clearing near a lake and sat down, letting Kev (not so gently) slide down his back to the snowy ground. That's when Kev realized he was still in his PJ's with no shoes...he was cold. Birger laughed at Kev's temporary discomfort as he lit a fire...the old fashioned, dragon way. Kev plopped down on a log and held out his frozen feet by the fire to warm them up.20

Looking out on the lake, Kev could see the bright moon above reflecting in the snow that covered the frozen lake.21

“Wow,” Kev whispered, never seeing such an incredible sight in his life. It was stunning beyond words. The snow back home was more like slush, dirty and always covered in the trash people threw out carelessly. But this snow was whiter than any white imaginable, it looked almost transparent. The moon showed every detail of the beautiful place Birger had brought Kev to. The trees covered in sparkling white, the breath taking lake, even occasionally an animal skidding on the ice...that always made Kev laugh.22

“How do the animals live in the cold?” Kev asked Birger, suddenly worrying about the furry creatures dying out in this beautiful landscape.23

“They're made to be okay in it. Some of them leave before it gets cold, but the ones you see here...they belong here even in winter.” Birger smiled and was glad he had clearly succeeded in showing Kev a sight he could only dream of.24

“You see, Kev, few people ever see this place for what it truly is,” the dragon began, admiring the surroundings he was quite familiar with. “Nobody realizes what's really out here.”25

“Like dragons,” Kev said, shaking his head in wonder.26

Birger laughed. “Yeah, like us. But it's more than that. This place represents the true meaning of Christmas.”27

“Non slush snow?” Kev joked with the dragon.28

Birger gave him a look and nudged him with his tale. “Well, yeah...but no. The true meaning of Christmas is about those moments and sights that are so beautiful that they take your breath away. It's about seeing something familiar and finally recognizing it's beauty. You saw the beauty in your city, right?”29

Kev smiled. “From above, everything looks different. I didn't see the slush or grime from people. It was so peaceful.”30

“Exactly. That's what Christmas is about.” Birger took in the clean air and laid down next to his human friend. Laying his head on the ground, he looked slyly at Kev. “Well, that and it's also about presents.”31

They both laughed. Kev never realized a dragon could be such a joker. Or, for that matter, that dragons even existed. He never knew about this place. He never knew how incredible mundane, everyday things could be. He never knew he could have a friend. He owed all this new knowledge to Birger.32

They sat, just enjoying the moment for a while before Birger insisted on leaving. Birger took Kev back home shortly before the sun rose. After Kev was in his room, he leaned out the window. “Birger, will I see you again?” He pleaded with the dragon, hoping he would see his only friend very soon.33

Birger smiled but said nothing. He just disappeared. As Kev climbed into his bed, he knew he wouldn't see Birger again and that upset him very much. The dragon had become Kev's only friend and he wasn't ready to lose him so soon.34

As Kev drifted off to sleep, he heard a familiar voice. “Unless you take my statue back to the store, you'll see me every day.” Kev laughed and drifted off to sleep.35

The next morning he took his mom to the place Birger had taken her, realizing that this was a gift far better than baking supplies or a stupid sweatshirt. He saw in his mom's reaction that this was definitely the best gift he had ever given her. Her eyes watered and she hugged her son, deeply appreciative.36

Staring out at the lake in wonder, she felt a pang of both joy and sadness. “This is where I met your father,” she whispered. And Kev saw this place in a new way all over again. It was more than just a beautiful place, it was a place of love. A place of Christmas. Kev swore he would never look at anything like he had before.