What Happened Here?

The results of soft core parenting.

“What happened here?” I asked as calmly as I could. The stench from the still smoldering couch was awful.

"Toby, sneezed."

"Miles, who is Toby?"

My son smiled broadly and opened the shoe box he clutched. I couldn't believe it but inside the box was a fragile looking dragon hatchling. It put its cute front talons on the edge of the box.

"Where did you get that?"

"John's dragon laid a clutch. I hid the egg in my sock drawer and this morning he hatched."

I picked up the dragon, and lifted her tail. Yes, her tail. "Sweetie, it's a girl. And you aren't keeping it!"

"But ma! Toby imprinted on me. I'm her daddy!"

I sighed. There really was no separating them now. "Fine, but no desert for either of you for at least a week."

Miles put "Toby" on his shoulder. He trotted off as he whispered to her, "Don't worry, Daddy's a softie. He'll sneak us some pie."

For the hundredth time since Miles was born I wished it was the good old days when you could put your kid in a stockade on the front lawn without neighbors calling children's services.


212 words

prompt ▶︎

entry for

Daily Flash Fiction Challenge  (13+) Enter your story of 300 words or less. #896794 by Arakun the Twisted Raccoon

Prompt for 4/15
Write a story that includes the line: “What happened here?”
Have fun!