Dragons are not cute and cuddly creatures, unless they are sewed up with stuffing and fabric. A real dragon loves to breathe fire and fly over the world as if he or she could go on flying forever. People say there are no real dragons. But, if you've never seen one how do you know there aren't any?

I think of myself as a dragon. I was born in a Year of the Dragon many years ago, like last year when it was the Chinese Year of the Dragon. I don't have scales, fly or breathe fire like the dragons in stories. But I do like to fly through the water in the swimming pool. Its almost like flying to soar through the water, light as a bird. I've been known to breathe fire when I'm very angry, that doesn't happen very often. You have to try to get along and be nice to people, the world just works better that way.

Being a real dragon would be a lot of fun. What would a real dragon be afraid of? Not much! How nice it would be to feel that way. I think dragons must be able to do anything. Some dragons are so big they can hold the whole world on their backs. But I've seen pictures of dragons so small you can hold them in your hand. However, big they are dragons are always strong with that tough scaly hide, claws and fire breath to protect them.

A real dragon would never be chilly after a swim in the pool. All a dragon would need to do is start a fire to warm up. Dragons would love to camp outdoors. Sleep under the stars, listen to the night time creatures and catch a few bugs to snack on. Well, I don't want to eat bugs, exactly. Some parts of being a dragon I could skip.

Most dragons are so big they could never hide well. I think real dragons, even little ones, would have to spend a lot of time in secret caves, hiding from people who want to catch them. I wouldn't like living in a cave. Dragons would have to find a patch of light just to read a good book. They have big claws on their fingers, it would be hard to do most arts and crafts. I don't know how they would write with a pen or pencil. Also, they would never get an Internet connection in a cave. It would be lonely being a dragon.

I think the best part about being a dragon is flying. I'm so glad I can swim and fly in the water without having to be a dragon. I'll settle for being a dragon in my dreams. Dreams don't have to follow all the rules. I'll be a dragon in my dreams then I can do anything I want to and no one but me will ever know. Its a lot of fun being a secret dragon. Tonight I'm going to be a dark red dragon with huge silvery wings and a tail that curls out behind me as I fly up to the sun.