Spring Willows

Chapter 1

 

One morning, Mrs. Gimblestone called the local police department.

 

“Spring Willows emergency, do you need fire, police, or medical.” Carol answered the phone, mostly alert, at 6am.

 

"There's a dragon in my tomato patch."

 

Carol’s mind blanked for a second before the voice registered. “Mrs. Gimblestone?”

 

“It’s eating my prized tomatoes.”

 

“A dragon is eating your tomatoes.” Carol rubbed her forehead. Last week the old woman had called in to complain the squirrels had organized the theft of prized petunias. 

 

“Yes! That’s what I said. Do you have cotton in your ears, missy? Send the police. I’m going to get the shotgun.”

 

The call disconnected.

 

Carol sighed and hung up the phone before pressing the button on the mic stand. “Dispatch to 403, Mrs. Gimblestone is reporting a dragon is eating her tomatoes. She’s going for the shotgun. Could you check on that, please?”

 

There was no need to give him the address. They all knew it well. They also knew her threat to get the shotgun was an empty one. Chief Smith had confiscated the weapon nearly twenty years ago.

 

To his credit, Officer John Johns didn’t sigh over the air when he acknowledged the assignment.

 

After several minutes, the radio beeped. “Dispatch… I…”

 

Carol frowned. That was an odd response.

 

“Dispatch, call animal control, please. There’s a dragon in Mrs. Gimblestone’s garden.”

 

In the background Carol heard the old woman yell: "I TOLD YOU PEOPLE!"

 

See the next issue of Howell County News for Chapter 2.