I Was Glad To Be With Her,

Paul Patted Mrs. O'leary's Snout. The Living Room Shook —boom, Boom, Boom—which Either Meant A Swat Team Was Breaking Down The Door Or Mrs. O'leary Was Wagging Her Tail. I Couldn't Help But Smile.

Let Me Explain: There Are Dragons, And Then There Are Drakons. Drakons Are Several Millennia Older Than Dragons, Andmuch Larger. They Look Like Giant Serpents. Most Don't Have Wings. Most Don't Breathe Fire (though Some Do). All Are Poisonous. All Are Immensely Strong, With Scales Harder Than Titanium. Their Eyes Can Paralyze You; Not The Turn-you~to-stone Medusa-type Paralysis, Buttheoh~my~gods-that~big~snake~is~going~to~eat~me Type Of Paralysis, Which Is Just As Bad.

Life Is Only Precious Because It Ends, Kid.

I Found Myself Staring At Her, Which Was Stupid Since I'd Seen Her A Billion Times. Still, She Seemed So Much More Mature. It Was Kind Of Intimidating. I Mean, Sure, She'd Always Been Cute, But She Was Starting To Be Seriously Beautiful.

A General Never Shows Despair. He Instills Confidence In His Troops. He Leads Them Forward, Even Into The Mouth Of Death.