`The Dragon Under the Bed'

Harry was surprised when he said, "I know how you feel, Harry. I used to have a monster living in my closet when I was your age."

"Honest?" Harry asked.

"I sure did. I made such a fuss about it my dad finally put a lock on the closet door, so I could lock the monster in every night."

"It's time for Harry to grow out of it," his mother said. "I'm through sweeping the broom around every night."

"I'll sweep the dragon out tonight." Grandpa Will patted Harry's head. "Don't worry about tonight," he said. "But tomorrow I'll be back on my boat until Sunday."

All day Harry worried what would happen Friday and Saturday nights. Later, when Grandpa Will whooshed the magic broom under his bed to scare away the dragon, Harry asked. "Can I come sleep on the boat with you tomorrow night?" He had been on the boat many times, but had never slept there.

Grandpa Will said, "It's all right with me. I'll ask your mother."

After he left, Harry sneaked out of bed. He opened his door a crack and listened. "I guess it will be all right," his mother said to Grandpa Will. "Maybe it will make him forget about that darn dragon."

"At least the dragon won't be able to get under his bed on the boat," Grandpa Will said. "The berths where we sleep are right on top of the storage cabinets. Those storage cabinets are already so full a cat couldn't even get in them."

"Goodness, Dad," Harry's mother said. "You sound as though you believe in the dragon yourself."

Harry crept back to bed. Grandpa Will believed in the dragon too!

Friday: Will the dragon follow Harry to Grandpa Will's boat?

This story will be on The Times' website at latimes.com/kids.