Free Monster in My Closet by R.L. Naquin Page B

cut.
    “Now,” Andrew said, “let’s take a look at my first dragon.”
    Without warning, Molly let out a series of yippy barks that bore an eerie similarity to the sound of a fennec fox, then made a flying leap off the ledge of the linen closet shelf. I didn’t have time to react. My heart felt like it blew a valve in that single second. She did a little somersault midair and landed neatly on Milo’s back at my feet. After grabbing a double handful of fur, she barked once. Milo answered and trotted off toward the front door.
    Andrew and I exchanged alarmed expressions and tore after them.
    When we reached the back corner of the garage, I was a little out of breath. Maybe those trips to the gym with Sara shouldn’t be such a low priority after this. If I ever had time.
    Molly was tsk-tsk-ing from astride her mount.
    “You did not say he was pink. This is not good. Who ever heard of a pink dragon?”
    Andrew and I agreed that we had not, up until today, seen or heard of a pink dragon.
    The brownie woman made a series of snorting sounds which were returned by the miserable dragon, punctuated by sneeze-induced sparklers.
    “We must cool him off,” she said. “Inside and out. And he is very hungry.”
    “I’m on it,” I said. I ran into the house and yanked bowls out of the kitchen cupboards. “Maurice!” I hadn’t seen him since Andrew had arrived. That was odd. Still, whatever his sudden bout of shyness was about, he was at my elbow within seconds.
    “I’m here,” he said.
    “Where did you go? Never mind. I need towels. Will you grab some out of the linen closet and bring them to the sink, please?”
    He was gone as quickly as he’d appeared. I dumped every ice cube in my freezer into one of the bowls, congratulating myself for getting a fridge with a sizeable ice maker. In another bowl I piled every bit of frozen meat I could find. Chicken, fish, hamburger, steak. I was a little sad about the steaks. They had been on special, and I’d been so pleased with myself about getting such a good deal on an expensive cut. I shrugged. The universe had given me a deal on dragon feed.
    Maurice brought in a stack of towels and set them on the counter.
    “The steak, too?” he said. “You have to be kidding me. That was going to be tomorrow night’s dinner.” He looked pouty.
    “I’ll get you more steak. Don’t be stingy.” I sorted the towels, grabbing a few of my favorites and setting them aside. I didn’t know if wet towels on a hot dragon would disintegrate on contact.
    The rest I threw into the sink and ran under the faucet. Without wringing them out, I dumped them into my monster-sized popcorn bowl.
    “We’re set. Can you help me get it all out there?”
    Maurice looked a little ashen. Well, compared to his normal ashen complexion.
    “He won’t bite,” I said. I shoved the bowl of sopping towels into his arms. “I promise. He saved my life, remember? He’s a good guy.”
    “But.” Maurice’s bottom lip quivered. “But he’s human.”
    “I’m human. My mother was human. What’s the problem?”
    “You’re special. Regular humans aren’t supposed to see the Hidden.”
    “Trust me. Andrew’s special, too.” I gave him an encouraging smile and walked out, hoping he’d follow. I did not have time to hold a closet monster’s hand. I was terrified a baby dragon was going to spontaneously combust in my garage.
    Between the metal bowl of ice cubes and the plastic bowl of frozen, packaged meat, my teeth were chattering by the time I got back into the garage. Andrew took the ice from me and knelt down next to the dragon.
    “Hey, handsome. How about something cold to chomp on with those wicked teeth of yours?” He held a chunk in the palm of his hand and offered it like a sugar cube to a horse. The dragon sniffed at it, slithered out a forked tongue, then grabbed the ice with his lips, exactly like a horse. He crunched it once and swallowed. Steam blew out his nostrils in twin streams.
    The