"Look, Mummy! A dragon!" Anna let go of her mother’s hand and ran to the park bench, where a dragon about the size of a collie dog sat, sobbing.

"Why are you crying, little dragon?"

"Because nobody wants me. I’ve been sitting here all day holding this card and no one stops to read it."

"I’ll read your card if you want me too, Anna said."

The dragon nodded.

She bent down to read the card.

DRAGON FREE TO GOOD HOME

"Well, that’s strange,usually pets are advertised in the papers or in pet shops. Mummy! Come and see this cute little animal."

Mother read the card. "Don’t even think about it, Anna. We have two cats, a rabbit and seven goldfish. That’s quite enough."

"I know, Mummy, but it’s cold out here and it might rain. He’ll get wet."

The dragon hung his head, waiting. Then he looked up. "I haven’t eaten for two days," he said, sighing.

"Oh, Mummy. We can’t leave him. He’s really very small for a dragon. He wouldn’t take up much room. And don’t you just love the way his green scales shine in the sunlight? And his little ears wiggle when he talks?"

"All right, we'll take him home and feed him. He can have a good meal and a warm bed and be off on his way tomorrow."

"Thank you, Mummy." Anna was overjoyed. She turned to the dragon. "What’s your name?"

"I don’t know. I don’t think I’ve got one."

"Of course you have. Everybody’s got a name. Who brought you here?"

"The man I used to work for. He drove me here in a van and told me to sit on this bench until someone took me home. I used to be in a circus but the circus closed down."

"Oh, that’s awful. The man should have taken you to the RSPCA."

"He did but they said they don’t take dragons." He sniffed. "Has anyone got a hankie? I think my nose is running."

Mother produced a white lace handkerchief from her bag and the dragon blew his nose loudly, handing it back to her. "I’m sorry, but I don’t have any pockets."

"Come along," Mother said. "It’s started to rain."

When they got home, they had a lunch of tomato soup and cheese sandwiches.

"That was wonderful," the dragon said looking around. "You have a nice home. I really like it here. Everything is so bright and cheerful. And peaceful after the circus. It was very noisy there. Sometimes I got headaches and they put me to bed with a sock on my head."

"What a funny cure for a headache," Anna said.

"Now, Anna. Don’t be rude," Mother said. "Why don’t you think of a nice name for your friend?"

"Let me see. I think Doby would be suitable."

The dragon looked pleased and wagged his tail, ruffling the kitchen rug.

"Be careful, please," Mother spoke sharply.

"Sorry," Doby said. "I may be small but I have a very powerful tail."

"Don't worry, we'll soon put it straight again."

All afternoon, Anna played with Doby. They played noughts and crosses and hide and seek.

That night, after a big supper of salad, spaghetti and ice cream, Mother showed Doby the bed in the spare room. He was thrilled.

"At the circus I had to sleep with the monkeys and they used to jump on my tail," he said.

"No one will jump on your tail here," Anna patted his head. "And you can let it hang out at the end of the bed. You’ll be quite safe"

The next morning, while Doby was still in bed, Mother told Anna her plan. "We must take the dragon to the Police Station. They take care of Lost Property."

"But Doby isn’t property."

"Maybe not, but he is lost and they will know what to do with him."

Doby coughed. He was standing at the sitting room door wearing Mother's old pink bathrobe.

"Sorry," he said. "I couldn’t help overhearing. Couldn’t I stay just one more day? I’m so afraid I might end up in another circus if I’m sent to Lost Property. And I couldn’t stand balancing on those giant balls again. It hurts my tail. Once I fell off and broke a toe."

"Oh, dear," Mother said. "I don’t know what to do for the best."

"Please, Mummy, let Doby stay one more day until Daddy comes home. He might think of some way to help Doby."

Doby sighed. "I do so like it here," he said wistfully. "You’ve been so kind to me and nobody makes me do silly tricks. I’m just allowed to be me and I like being me. And I’ve been thinking about something."

"Do you have an idea?" Anna asked.

"I’ve always wanted to try my hand at gardening. You have a very nice garden. I’ve been studying it through the window. But I’m sorry to say that it looks very untidy."

"We have been looking for help," Mother said." Do you think you could do something with it?" She didn’t sound very hopeful.

Anna showed Doby the gardening shed and all the tools.

All afternoon the little dragon mowed the lawns and weeded the flower beds. He pruned the bushes using his sharp claws as cutters and swept up the fallen leaves with his strong tail. He changed the water in the goldfish pond. The fish came up to the top and looked surprised when they saw a dragon holding the hose.

When Anna’s father arrived home and saw how neat and tidy the garden looked, he was very pleased. "Did you find a man to help out with the garden?" he asked Anna’s mother.

"Not exactly," she said. And she told him all about Doby who was waiting quietly in the kitchen, sighing and looking worried.

Daddy called for Doby to come into the sitting room. For a minute or two he looked shocked and went quite pale. But he soon recovered himself and looked the little dragon up and down. "What previous experience have you had?" he asked, a stern expression on his face.

"None exactly," Doby answered truthfully. "But I’m the sort of dragon who can turn his hand to anything." He put on his best smile and looked hopeful.

"I must say, you’ve done a very good job," Father said. "We have been looking for someone to help out. If you want the job, I think we could come to some arrangement."

He turned to Anna’s mother. "What do you think?"

Anna stood quite still, holding her breath.

"I think he could be a great help," Mother said. "Now I must start thinking about supper."

Anna threw her arms round the little dragon. She whooped with joy. "I know you’ll be happy with us. And you’ll never have to work in a circus again."

Anna and Doby did a little dance while Father and Mother watched, smiling.