The Glass Dragon

Emily gazed at the delicate glass dragon sitting in the display case at Chang's Emporium. She had thirty minutes to make her purchase and catch the next bus home before the evening news ended and her mother discovered her missing.

She pushed on the heavy glass door and a high-noted bell announced her arrival into the shop. An elderly Chinese man shuffled toward her with the help of a black cane topped with a silver dragon.

"May I help you?" he asked.

"I need a birthday present for my mom."

"You live close by?"

"Over the bridge."

"We are neighbors," he exclaimed. "I am Mr. Chang, and you are. . .?"

"Emily," she smiled.

"Nice to meet you, Emily. What would you like to see?"

"The glass dragon."

"A nice piece, but very expensive."

Emily produced a roll of one dollar bills she earned helping elderly Mrs. Ryan who lived across the hall. Though Emily protested, Mrs. Ryan insisted on paying her one dollar per visit.

"I have twenty dollars."

Mr. Chang sighed, "I'm sorry. This costs much more. It is handcrafted, the only one of its kind in the world."

Emily's shoulders slumped.

Mr. Chang stroked his chin. "Perhaps I have something else. Very special." He disappeared behind the counter. Emily giggled at the clatter of falling objects interspersed with Mr. Chang's words of frustration.

"Ah, here it is," he held up a glass unicorn, which he carefully placed on a lighted display case. The light passing through the unicorn splintered forming many tiny rainbows on the ceiling. Emily smiled.

It is crystal," Mr. Change explained. "Twenty dollars even."

Emily placed her money on the counter. Mr. Chang swaddled the unicorn in tissue paper, tucked it in a sturdy box and handed it to her in a red paper bag embellished with Chinese calligraphy.

"Thank you Mr. Chang." The bell tinkled as she left and Emily smiled.

"You're welcome, Miss Emily. Be careful going home. It is almost dark."

Outside in the bus shelter, she cradled the red bag and glanced at her watch every thirty seconds. The bus was late.

Behind her, the warm glow of lights from Mr. Chang's Emporium disappeared, leaving the glass-enclosed bus shelter bathed in cold, bluish street light. A chill went through her small frame and she pulled her coat tight across her body.

It began to rain, the drops beating the glass like fingers drumming a table.

Time passed and Emily's heart raced. She stepped from the shelter and as she ran toward the bridge, the rain stopped. She knew her mother would never allow her to cross the bridge alone.

Nervously, she walked the narrow pedestrian walkway that paralleled the bridge. Boisterous voices emerged behind and she considered running until she realized the voices belonged to two teenage boys that lived in the neighborhood; boys who would give her trouble if she showed fear.

They passed and she sighed, relieved.

"Hey, Dylan, doesn't that girl live in your building?"
One of the boys looked back, "Yeah. So?"

"Let's have some fun." Emily froze as the boy turned and approached.

"Leave me alone." She tried to sound confident.

"What's in your coat?"

"Come on, Ben, leave her alone," the other boy said.

"I just want to see what's in her coat, Dylan." Ben's hand snaked toward her coat and Emily stumbled backwards. The red bag dropped to the sidewalk.

Ben seized it.

"Please. It's a birthday present for my mom," she pleaded.

"It's a birthday present for my mom," Ben mocked, whining. Emily was certain she didn't sound whiny.

Dylan stood behind Ben, an anxious look on his face. "Let's go."

"Just a second," Ben fingered the package as Dylan turned and ran.

A silver flash sliced through the air and struck Ben's shoulder. Emily recognized the silver dragon atop Mr. Chang's walking cane.

"Why'd you do that, old man?" Ben dropped the package and ran.

Emily cradled the rain-soaked package.

"You not catch bus?" Mr. Chang asked.

She shook her head as hot, angry tears filled her eyes. The unicorn was certainly broken.

Mr. Chang handed her the sack and smiled. "Present wrapped very well. Come. I will walk you home."

When they reached her building, Emily thanked Mr. Chang, ran up the stairs, and slipped inside the apartment.

"Emily?" Her mother appeared. "Were you at Mrs. Ryan's?"

Emily sobbed.

"Honey, what's wrong?"

"I. . .I. . . wanted to get you. . .a. . .present."

"It's OK," her mother glanced at the bag. "Is there something else you need to tell me?"

Emily told her everything and when she finished her mother hugged her. "Oh, honey, I'm glad you're OK."

After dinner, Emily held her breath as her mom opened the box and admiring the perfect crystal unicorn, exclaimed, "It's beautiful!"

Emily silently thanked her friend, Mr. Chang.

A few days later, they went to Mr. Chang's shop and found it closed during normal business hours. Inside, a young Chinese woman busily boxed up items. Mother knocked, the woman opened the door. The high-noted bell did not sound.

"The store is closed." Sadness filled the woman's eyes.

"I want to thank Mr. Chang for walking Emily home the other night," Mother explained.

The woman looked at Emily. "You're Emily, who recently bought the unicorn?"

Emily nodded.

"I have something for you. Please. Come inside."

She left the room and returned with the glass dragon. "My father suffered a stroke a few nights ago. Right before he passed, he said he wished for Emily to have the glass dragon."

"Oh, no," Mother protested, "we couldn't possibly. . ."

"Please. It was my father's wish. It means everything to our family for Emily to have it."

* * * *

Emily placed the glass dragon on the nightstand next to her bed. Each night, as she fell asleep, she thought of Mr. Chang.

When nightmares of crossing the bridge crept into her dreams, the dragon would appear and guide her home.