2nd Prize - The Keeper of the Door by Cadyn Morgan-McGregor
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Transcript of 2nd Prize - The Keeper of the Door by Cadyn Morgan-McGregor
5/10/2018 2nd Prize - The Keeper of the Door by Cadyn Morgan-McGregor - slidepdf.com
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Tke Keeper
of~he Door
Cadyn Morgan-McGregor
5/10/2018 2nd Prize - The Keeper of the Door by Cadyn Morgan-McGregor - slidepdf.com
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/2nd-prize-the-keeper-of-the-door-by-cadyn-morgan-mcgregor
Thirty-one years ago in a small town .....
"Why can't you be normal like other mothers?" cried John bitterly.
"Why do you have to be so different? I think you're just making up this door keeper
rubbish." ,
"It takes a brave person to stand up for what they believe in, John. Just
because we believe in something that many people think couldn't possibly be real, it
doesn't mean that we have to pretend not to believe," John's mother said calmly.
"You don't seem to understand that I don't believe what you believe, so there is
no WE believe, there is only YOU believe!" screamed John.
5/10/2018 2nd Prize - The Keeper of the Door by Cadyn Morgan-McGregor - slidepdf.com
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/2nd-prize-the-keeper-of-the-door-by-cadyn-morgan-mcgregor
Present-day, in the same smell town ......
Tom quietly closed the door and snuck into the kitchen. It was well past his
bedtime, but he had been So absorbed in what his grandmother, Isabel, had been
telling him, that he had completely forgotten the time. He slowly crept towards his
room. Just as he opened the door, a booming voice called out, "Just where do you
think you are going?" Tom froze and turned around. His father, John, was standing
there in his nightclothes. "Where have you been?" he demanded.
"I went out for a walk," said Tom.
"Don't lie to me, you've been at your grandmother's house, haven't you?" John
said. "I thought I told you not to visit her. She'll fill your head with complete
nonsense."
"She does not," Tom said indignantly. "She tells the most amazing stories about
dragons. I don't think they're nonsense at all."
"So, you've been to see her before tonight?" John Sighed. "I guess there'S no
point telling you otherwise then, is there? Go to bed, and mind you don't go visiting
my mother again."
Tom undressed and clambered into bed. He was eleven and smell for his age,
with fair hair and dark brown eyes. Tom was not the most talkative of boys, and he
did not really have any friends. When he was not at school he preferred to read or
5/10/2018 2nd Prize - The Keeper of the Door by Cadyn Morgan-McGregor - slidepdf.com
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/2nd-prize-the-keeper-of-the-door-by-cadyn-morgan-mcgregor
spend time with Isabel. As he lay in bed that night, he resolved to disobey his father
and keep visiting his grandmother.
The next day he woke up especially early and went to see Isabel. When they
were sitting by the fire with warm mugs of cocoa, Tom told Isabel what had happened
the night before.
"Well, I suppose I will have to tell you everything now." Isabel said. Your
father always was a stubborn child, and that is where you two, I think, are rather
similar. After your grandfather died, your father became quiet and preoccupied. He
virtually stopped talking. It wasn't until much later that Ifound out that he was
being teased at school. Children can be so mean," Isabel said, tilting her head as she
looked at Tom. "I have a bit of a reputution around here, you know." She smiled and
leant in closer to Tom, "You see, I believe in Dragons."
"You believe in dragons?"
"Yes, Ido. When Iasked your father why he hadn't told me he was being
bullied at school . we had an argument and he told me he didn't believe in dragons. He
said that everything I'd ever taught him was just silly fairy tales."
"How do you know dragons are rea)?" Tom asked.
"I used to be Keeper of the Door," Isabel replied. "Before your father was, o f
course."
"Keeper of the what?" said Tom.
5/10/2018 2nd Prize - The Keeper of the Door by Cadyn Morgan-McGregor - slidepdf.com
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"The Keeper of the Door looks after the Door that separates our world from
the Dragon's realm," Isabel explained. I was Keeper until John turned twelve. For
hundreds of years now, the first-born child in my family, upon their twelfth birthday r
inherits the job of Keeper of the Door. The Keeper's task is to keep the Door open.
This can only be done by believing in it. The morning of John's twelfth birthday, the
door between the two worlds closed. Itshut tight and has been closed ever since
because John no longer believed it existed. Unless we can find a way to make him
believe again before you turn twelve, it will never, ever reopen."
"Hang on," said Tom, trying to keep up. "Are you saying that if we can somehow
persuade Father to believe in dragons again that I'm going to be the next Keeper of
the Door? But if we don't, then the door will stay closed forever?
"Exactly," said Isabel grimly.
"But it's my twelfth birthday tomorrow!" Tom exclaimed.
The pair sat quietly looking at each other until finally Tom said, "Isabel, where
is the door?"
"Only the Dragons know that. Itwas always kept secret for their protection.
I met with them, in the heart of the forest by a big rock face."
Tom continued to stare at her, his mouth slightly open, his eyes wide. \\ I'm
going for a walk," he said suddenly.
5/10/2018 2nd Prize - The Keeper of the Door by Cadyn Morgan-McGregor - slidepdf.com
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/2nd-prize-the-keeper-of-the-door-by-cadyn-morgan-mcgregor
Tom headed into the forest, his mind whirling with thoughts of his father,
dragons, and the door. He walked without thinking where he was going. When he
looked up, he realized he had no idea where he was.
It began to rain, lightly at first, and then much heavier. He scrambled for
some shelter, drawing back some bracken and fern, unearthing what appeared to be
the entrance to a huge cave in a rock face. Curious, he entered the cave. Itwas
dark, damp, and smelly. Once his eyes adjusted to the gloom, he ventured down a
passageway. The tunnel was tall enough for him to stand upright and the rock was
smooth, and cool to his fingertips as he found his way along in the dim. Suddenly he
rounded a corner and stopped dead in his tracks.
A fiery-coloured dragon was lying, apparently asleep, just a few feet away.
Tom gasped. When he saw the dragon stir, he turned and ran back up the tunnel. He
did not stop running until he reached the edge of the woods where he finally slowed
down to get his breath back. Then, half walking, half running, he returned to his
grandmother's house.
"Isabel" he cried panting. 1\ I just saw a dragon."
"What!"cried Isabel.
"I found a hidden cave in a rock face and inside it was a dragon the colour of
fire," said Tom earnestly.
"No!" gasped Isabel. "Show me!"
5/10/2018 2nd Prize - The Keeper of the Door by Cadyn Morgan-McGregor - slidepdf.com
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Tom guided his grandmother into the forest. When they reached the spot
where the cave was, Tom pushed back the thick bushes, revealing the entrance.
Isabel shook her head in bewilderment, "All these years, and I never knew this was
here. We must be quiet," she whispered in Tom's ear. "Otherwise it might hear us."
They crept into the cave and along the tunnel. When they rounded the corner,
there was the dragon still, except this time it was awake.
"Hello," said Isabel slowly. "It's Flame isn't it?"
The dragon answered in a deep, gravelly voice, "How do you know my name?"
"I used to be the Dragon Keeper," said Isabel. "Don't you remember?"
"Yes," said Flame in surprise. "Forgive me. I did not recognize you, Tscbel."
Tom said, "I didn't know you knew him."
"Oh yes, we're old friends. Flame, this is my grandson, Tom." Isabel said
introducing the pair.
"Hello," said Flame.
"Hi Flame," said Tom cheerfully. "Did you know I've never met a dragon
before?"
"Well, there's always a first time for everything," said Flame smiling.
"Flame, I thought the dragons were all on the other side of the door?" said
Isabel, looking puzzled.
5/10/2018 2nd Prize - The Keeper of the Door by Cadyn Morgan-McGregor - slidepdf.com
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"They are. All except for me," explained Flame, "Years ago, I was out flying
when suddenly the door closed. When I tried to get through it, I just hit a blank
wall."
"Oh, dear," said Isabel. "Have you been here all this time then?"
"Yes," said the Dragon.
"But then the only way for Flame to go back is if Father believes again," cried
Tom.
"Yes," said Isabel. "We really need to make John believe."
"John, is Keeper of the Door?" asked Flame.
"Yes," Tom replied. "He's my father." He turned to Isabel and said, "How are
we going to make Father believe again?"
"I don't know," said Isabel thoughtfully.
"I do," cried Flame. "All you have to do is bring him to this cave and then when
he sees me, surely he will believe again."
"Or we could go and see him?" said Tom.
"Sure, I would look great walking through the town," said Flame, and they all
laughed.
Tom ran all the way home. John, who was gardening, looked up in surprise.
"Father, will you come for a walk with me in the forest?" panted Tom. "I want
to show you something."
5/10/2018 2nd Prize - The Keeper of the Door by Cadyn Morgan-McGregor - slidepdf.com
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"Of course," said John, looking slightly puzzled.
As they set off towards the forest, Tom wondered how John would react
whenhe saw Flame. "Father, why don't you believe in Dragons?" he asked.
"Becausethey are just siJlymyths. Tom, where exactly are we going?"
"Ycu"!l see," said Tom.
When they reached the cave, Tom drew back the bracken and said, "Wait until
you see what's inside."
"Tom, I'm not sure we should. Itmight not be safe," John said warily.
"Oh, please come," Tom pleaded, and John reluctantly followed him into the
cave. Tom kept glancing back at his father to makesure that he wasstill following
him. When they turned the corner, Tom saw Flametalking to IsabeL John cried out
in shock. He stood frozen to the ground, and when he finally spoke, it was in a
whisper, "Tom, am I dreaming?"
I\No,John," said Isabel, firmly. "This is real. If you don't believe me,then
comeand touch Flame."
John approached Flameand cautiously raised his hand in the air. Flame tilted
his head, allowing John to touch the softer scales on the underside of his neck. John
turned to look at his mother and his son. There were tears in his eyes. When he
spoke, his voice wasalmost as gruff as Flame's.\II have been such a fool" he said.
"How could I not believe in dragons?"
5/10/2018 2nd Prize - The Keeper of the Door by Cadyn Morgan-McGregor - slidepdf.com
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"You had a right not to believe" said Isabel, tears in her eyes also, "I never
took you to see one."
"I am so sorry," John said to both of them, when suddenly, a noise made them
all turn around. A huge ornately carved door had appeared in the wail, and they were
just in time to see Flame's tail disappear through the door.
"Can we follow him?" asked John
"No, we can't," said Isabel. "Dragons can visit our world, but we cannot visit
there's."
"How do you know all this?" said John.
"When I met the Dragons, they taught me everything. Everything, that is, that
my mother had not taught me,"
"We should go home then" said Tom, and he turned around and began to walk
back up the tunnel. They walked through the forest without speaking, all of them
deep in their own thoughts.
The next morning, Tom awoke early. He dressed hurriedly, and set out for the
cave, wondering what he would find there. For now, he was Keeper of the Door.
When he reached the cave, more than twenty dragons were there to greet him,
including Flame.
A silvery Dragon stepped forward, "Thank you for releasing us," she said. l iMy
name is Storm, I am the Leader of the Dragons, Now that you are Keeper of the
5/10/2018 2nd Prize - The Keeper of the Door by Cadyn Morgan-McGregor - slidepdf.com
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Door there are a few thing you must agree to. The most important are that you visit
us as often as you can, you may never share what we teach you with anyone but your
first-born child, and you must always believe," she said with a smile.
Throughout Tom's life, he never stopped believing in the Dragons. When his
daughter, Rose, was born, he taught her everything he knew. When Rose turned
twelve and became Keeper of the Door, Tom was happy, knowing that she would
continue to care for the Dragons just as he had.