Want to know what Dragons for Kris is all about? 

Take a peek. The first chapter is here for you. 

                                                    Kris is anxiously waiting for Grandpa to wake up so
                                                    they can leave. But someone is at the door to Kris's
                                                    bedroom. Is it Grandpa? Is it Aunt Kathrine? Or is it
Uncle Stan?


  Dragons for Kris  
                              by Galand Nuchols



The Escape

Kris looked at the clock once again, 4:25. Except for the lighted clock, the room was dark. Only moonlight and a street light made it possible for Kris to see the packed suitcase waiting by the door.
Kris looked around the room searching for anything he had forgotten to pack. His mother’s picture was safely tucked in among his clothes. His baseball cards, stamp collection, and other important stuff had been secretly moved earlier. It was waiting down the street with friends.
Again Kris looked at the clock, 4:32. Will this night ever end? Kris wondered. Fully dressed, he sat on the edge of his perfectly made bed. Waiting was hard.
Planning, then action had gotten him this far, but now he had to wait. Wait and pray nothing went wrong, or slowed them down. Kris adjusted his cap and looked at the bedside clock again, 4:35.
Grandpa had come last night. Kris had almost given up. But late last night, the big eighteen wheeler had pulled to the curb in front of his aunt and uncle’s house. Grandpa was here at last. Everything was going to be OK now.
A noise in the hall--the soft click of a door latch—sounded like an explosion to Kris’s ears. Holding his breath, he stared at the door to his room, listening for clues telling him who was moving around in the hall.
Maybe it’s Grandpa coming to wake me. Kris watched the door knob. Maybe it’s Aunt Katherine going to the bathroom. Let it be Grandpa or Aunt Katherine, not Uncle Stan, Kris prayed silently. Before, he had always pretended to be asleep when his uncle prowled around in his room. He couldn’t do that this time. He was fully dressed. Kris stared at the brass doorknob, shining in a strip of moonlight. It was turning. It was slowly, silently turning.
  I can’t hide. Kris’s mind searched for a possible course of action. He knows I’m here. If he thinks I’ve done something wrong he might not let me leave with Grandpa. He’s big on discipline when he’s making the decisions.
Kris quickly scanned the room. His catcher’s mitt and ball lay on top of the dresser. Kris leapt to his feet snatching the glove and ball up as the bedroom door silently opened. It was neither Grandpa nor Aunt Katherine standing in the doorway. Noise, excitement, and confusion would have to serve as his excuse for not being asleep in bed.
“I’m ready, Grandpa!” Kris darted through the door ducking under his uncle’s arm.
“Kris, get back here,” the towering man hissed. But Kris was tearing down the hall and entering the living room.
“Where’s Grandpa? He didn’t leave did he?” Kris raised his voice knowing his grandfather slept in the nearby bedroom.
His uncle walked down the hall, his big fist clenching and unclenching. “No, he hasn’t left yet. Shut up and get back to your room before you wake everyone up.”
Kris looked about as if confused. “Where’s everyone?” he asked. “Grandpa said we had to get an early start this morning. I’m ready. My clothes are packed. I don’t want to keep him waiting.” Kris heard a noise in his grandfather’s room. Grandpa’s awake. Everything will be OK now. Kris breathed deeply. Please let it be OK.
“Everyone’s asleep,” his uncle replied. “Now get back to your room.” Just then the bedroom door on the right opened, and his grandfather appeared, pulling on his shirt.
“Well now, Kris will make a good traveling buddy for a trucker like me. No slug-a-bed is Kris.” Grandpa stretched and walked past Kris, ruffling his hair as he went. “Early morning is usually good driving in this part of the country. Not much traffic. We’ll make good time.”
Grandpa continued toward the bathroom, his back to Kris and the boy’s uncle. He almost missed the murderous look his son-in-law sent Kris. A casual glance in a wall mirror, however, revealed the tense scene behind him.
“If you’re about ready, Kris, we’ll pull out and have breakfast down the road. No use in waking Katherine. She needs her sleep. Pregnant women need lots of sleep.”
As Grandpa closed the bathroom door another opened in the hall. Kris’s aunt walked forward, a gentle smile on her face. “Dad’s always been an early riser. He wants to be on the road when the sun comes up. I’ll have breakfast ready in a jiffy. I got most of it ready last night.”
Sensing tension between her husband and Kris, she shot a worried look at each, then motioned for Kris to lead the way into the kitchen. Yawning, she flipped on the coffee pot as she went past. “Coffee will be ready in a couple of minutes. Your grandpa has to have his coffee first thing in the morning—hot and black.”
Pulling a bowl of fresh fruit from the fridge, she smiled at Kris. “Could you pour us some milk? Pregnant women and growing boys need milk.” Turning from the table, she cupped both hands around Kris’s face. “I’m going to miss you,” she murmured, and bent to brush a light kiss on his forehead. “Grandma will be surprised at how much you’ve grown this year.”
Kris tried to hug his aunt, but his short arms only partially circled her expanding waist. “I’ll miss you, too,” he said softly.
Kris carefully poured the milk, recapped the jug, and returned it to the refrigerator. He put bread in the toaster then meticulously closed the wrapper with a twist tie. He found butter and jelly in the refrigerator and placed them on the table. Careful, he warned himself. Don’t mess up now. Don’t give him an excuse to blow up.
Kris had just finished putting knives, forks, and napkins at each place when his uncle and grandfather came through the door.
“Smells good,” his grandfather announced, “but you shouldn’t be up this early, Katherine. You have to get your rest with the baby coming so soon. We could have eaten down the road a ways.” Grandfather gave Kris a mock blow to the chin. “We’re truckers you know.”
“Yea,” Kris grinned. “We’re truckers. Will I get to meet your friends? Can I talk on the CB? Will you teach me to drive?” Kris continued to chatter looking from his aunt to his grandfather.
“The kid will talk your ears off if you let him,” his uncle laughed. But Grandfather noticed that Kris didn’t look at, or speak to his uncle. The old man said nothing but finished his meal, complimenting his daughter on her wonderful breakfast. The adults sipped their coffee and talked.
Kris nibbled at his breakfast and drank some milk. Let’s go! he shouted silently. Stop Talking. Let’s go! He squirmed in his chair and looked about but remained outwardly quiet. Don’t do anything the big guy can complain about, Kris warned himself.
Finally, Grandfather emptied his cup and stood. This is it! I’m finally going to get away! Kris carefully took his plate to the trash can and scraped it off. Be careful, Kris continued telling himself, fearful his uncle would find some excuse to keep him from leaving with his grandfather. Kris gently put his plate and glass in the sink to be washed. Don’t break anything. Don’t mess up now. Quietly, he slipped to his grandfather’s side and took his hand.
Aunt Katherine filled Grandpa’s thermos with coffee and handed Kris a cooler of cold drinks. She carried a box into the living room as Grandpa picked up Kris’s suitcase. “Here’re some cookies to eat on the way,” she said. “Kris is a growing boy and gets hungry often. You like these cookies too, Dad”
Kris hurried around his grandfather and headed for the truck, leaving long, dark trails in the dew-covered grass. His aunt and uncle followed Grandpa down the sidewalk.
Kris’s aunt gave him a big hug saying, “I’ll miss you. Give Grandma a hug and kiss for me. Wish I could see her.” Kris climbed up into the cab. Grandpa handed up the suitcase to be stored in the sleeping compartment.
Kris watched his aunt turn and hug her father—a long, hard hug. She finally stepped back. Grandpa climbed up and into the huge maroon cab.
Kris’s uncle stood behind his petite wife as Grandpa fired up the engine, bringing the monster to life. Sitting on the edge of his seat as his grandfather checked out the wide panel of dials and gauges, Kris silently urged him to put the big truck in gear and go.
At last the rhythm of the powerful engine changed and the huge machine began to inch forward. Kris waved to his smiling aunt and shivered at the stare he received from his uncle.
The truck eased slowly away from the curb, leaving his aunt and uncle behind. Kris slumped back into the seat; his body relaxed for the first time days.
Grandpa noticed Kris’s reaction and raised one bushy eyebrow  in question, but he said nothing as he maneuvered the long truck around the corner and headed toward the highway. But there was one more stop Grandpa didn’t know about.