Free 97 Ways to Train a Dragon by Kate McMullan

Chapter I
    Wiglaf and Angus raced down the hall- way of Dragon Slayers’ Academy. The boys did not want to be late for Dr. Pluck’s Dragon Science class. It wasn’t because they liked Dragon Science. It was because Dr. Pluck was a spitter. When he said the letter “p,” he sprayed the first three rows. So pupils who came late ended up in the Spit Zone.
    â€œSlow down, Wiggie!” Angus panted.
    â€œYou don’t want to get showered, do you?” Wiglaf put on some speed.
    All of a sudden-SPLAT! Wiglaf landed facedown on the cold stone floor.
    Angus bent over him. “Are you all right?”
    â€œI-I think so.” Wiglaf sat up.
    â€œYou fell on that crack. Or maybe one of those.” Angus pointed to several. “When my uncle decided to start a school, he bought this old castle for next to nothing because it was falling apart.” He pulled Wiglaf to his feet. “I wish he’d at least fix the floors. But that would cost money. And Uncle Mordred hates to part with any of his gold.”
    By the time the boys walked into the classroom, the only empty seats were in the first three rows. Bragwort, who would do anything to get on a good side of a teacher, sat in the third row. Wiglaf and Angus were about to join him, when Wiglaf caught sight of his friend Erica. She was waving madly.
    â€œAngus!” Wiglaf said. “Erica’s saved us seats in the back!”
    The two hurried toward her. Erica was always on time for class. It was one reason she won the Future Dragon Slayer of the Month Medal every month. She had also earned nearly every badge offered at DSA. All Wiglaf had was the Dish Washing Badge. Angus had no badges at all. Mordred often said, “If only all you boys were like Eric!”
    That always made Wiglaf smile. For if all the boys were like Eric, DSA would be a girls’ school! How surprised the headmaster would be to learn that Eric was really Princess Erica. Wiglaf and Angus were the only DSA students who knew her true identity.
    Wiglaf and Angus slid into the empty seats by Erica.
    â€œThanks!” they whispered.
    Harley Marley sat in the last row, behind Wiglaf. He burped loudly in Wiglaf’s ear. Normally Wiglaf wouldn’t have taken a seat in front of the school bully. But Wiglaf thought he would rather be burped at than spat upon.
    â€œPupils! Pupils!” Dr. Pluck rapped his pointer on his desk. “Today we will study dragon young—or piplings, as they are called. Please, take a peep at this picture.” He pointed to a chart. Wiglaf saw what looked like a bird’s nest with pink and purple eggs.
    â€œA dragon prepares a nest by digging a pit and putting pine needles in a pile,” said Dr. Pluck. “Then she produces three eggs. Plop! Plop! Plop!” He pointed to the chart. “The eggs are as plump as pumpkins. Some have pink spots and purple speckles. Some have pink or purple polka dots. Dragon piplings peck out of the eggs. Pop! Pop! Pop!” He flipped over his chart to show three newly hatched piplings. They were covered in green egg slime.
    Everyone in the class cried, “Ewwwww! ”
    â€œI think they’re sort of cute,” Wiglaf whispered to Angus.
    â€œYou would,” Angus whispered back.
    â€œBoy piplings have pink ears. Girl piplings’ ears are purple. Piplings go ‘Peep peep peep!’ Piplings purr. Piplings are playful.”
    Wiglaf listened while Dr. P sprayed on and on about baby dragons. There were three piplings in every litter. And when a baby dragon opened its eyes, it was love at first sight ... whoever the pipling saw first (usually the mama dragon) was who it loved best.
    Dr. Pluck flipped the chart to show a cleaned-up pipling. It had bright yellow eyes with cherry-red centers, and a little crest on its head. Wiglaf wished he could pick it up.
    â€œNever pick up a pipling!” warned Dr. Pluck. “The first thing a dragon mama teaches her piplings