The Tale of Custard the Dragon

Belinda lived in a little white house with a black kitten named Ink, a grey mouse named Blink, a sharp yellow dog called Mustard, a little red wagon, and a pet dragon named Custard. It was a cosy, comic household.

Belinda lived in a little white house with a little black kitten and a little grey mouse, a little yellow dog and a little red wagon, and a realio, trulio little pet dragon. The kitten was Ink, the mouse Blink, the dog Mustard - sharp as mustard - and the dragon Custard. Though dragons are usually fierce, this one was considered a coward.

Custard had big sharp teeth, spikes, scales, a mouth like a fireplace and daggers on his toes - yet he always cried for a nice safe cage. Belinda was as brave as a barrel full of bears; Ink and Blink chased lions; Mustard was fierce as a tiger - only Custard wanted safety.

Custard the dragon had big sharp teeth, spikes on top and scales underneath, a mouth like a fireplace, a chimney for a nose, and realio, trulio daggers on his toes. Belinda was as brave as a barrel full of bears. Ink and Blink chased lions down the stairs. Mustard was as brave as a tiger in a rage. But Custard cried for a nice safe cage.

Belinda tickled Custard unmercifully. Ink, Blink and Mustard rudely called him Percival (a coward knight) and laughed at him in the little red wagon. They asked his age while he cried for a cage. Belinda giggled till the house shook.

Belinda tickled him unmercifully. Ink, Blink and Mustard rudely called him Percival and sat laughing in the little red wagon at the cowardly dragon. Belinda giggled till she shook the house. Blink said Weeck - mouse-language for a giggle. Ink and Mustard rudely asked his age when Custard again cried for a nice safe cage.

Suddenly they heard a nasty sound. A pirate climbed in through the window with pistols in both hands and a cutlass in his teeth. He had a black beard and a wooden leg - clearly he meant no good. Belinda cried Help! Help!

Suddenly, suddenly they heard a nasty sound. Mustard growled and they all looked around. Meowch! cried Ink, and ooh! cried Belinda - for there was a pirate climbing in the window. Pistol in his left hand, pistol in his right, and a bright cutlass in his teeth; black beard, one wooden leg. It was clear the pirate meant no good. Belinda paled and cried, Help! Help!

Mustard fled with a terrified yelp. Ink trickled to the bottom of the household. Blink hid strategically in his mousehole. But Custard jumped up, snorting like an engine, clashing his tail like irons in a dungeon, and attacked the pirate like a robin at a worm.

But Mustard fled with a terrified yelp. Ink trickled down to the bottom of the household. And little mouse Blink strategically mouseholed. Up jumped Custard, snorting like an engine, clashing his tail like irons in a dungeon, with a clatter and clank and jangling squirm. He went at the pirate like a robin at a worm.

The pirate gaped and drank grog from his pocket flagon. He fired two bullets but missed. Custard gobbled him, every bit. Belinda embraced Custard; Mustard licked him. Ink and Blink danced in glee around the dragon that ate the pirate. No one mourned the pirate.

The pirate gaped at Belinda's dragon and gulped some grog from his pocket flagon. He fired two bullets, but they did not hit. And Custard gobbled him, every bit. Belinda embraced him, Mustard licked him. No one mourned the pirate victim. Ink and Blink in glee did gyrate around the dragon that ate the pirate.

Then Mustard said he would have been twice as brave if not flustered. Ink and Blink claimed they would have been three times as brave. Custard agreed everyone was braver than he. Life returned to normal - and Custard still cried for a nice safe cage.

But presently Mustard spoke up: he'd have been twice as brave if he hadn't been flustered. Ink and Blink said they'd have been three times as brave, they think. Custard said he quite agreed that everybody is braver than me. Belinda still lives in her little white house with all her pets - and Mustard is brave as a tiger, but Custard keeps crying for a nice safe cage.