Ethan's Dream

By Maggie Morgan

Would anyone believe two Diplodocus, Enrico and Dolly, are alive and well living down an ancient pathway on the Dorset coat? Ethan and his Nan do believe it, as they help these friends daily. But, they soon discover that diplodocus should not eat doughnuts with their coffee.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Margaret Morgan
• Release date: Jul 10, 2020
• ISBN: 9781913704124

Book preview

BOOK ONE

Ethan’s Dream Comes True

Ethan and Nan were dozing on the sofa, after a busy morning. Suddenly, the phone rang. It was Maggie from downstairs. Nan listened and said,

Aha. Oh my. We’ll be down in a jiffy.

Why are we going downstairs Nan? Ethan asked, rubbing his eyes.

A new friend has visited Maggie and David. She wants to meet you too. Come on.

After a ‘wash and brush up’, down they hurried, knocked and went into Maggie and David’s flat.

What a surprise Ethan had!

For in their new sun room, with its head and neck on the new sofa and up the windows, was a young female diplodocus, wearing a red football scarf and a sparkly red bobble hat. Her body was comfy on the new carpet, with her legs tucked up under her. Of course, her tail stretched out of the door and curled round onto the drive. Ethan ran and hugged her, kissing her neck over and over, in his excitement.

Hello Ethan. Hello Nan. I’m Dolly, a female diplodocus. I’ve come for tea with Maggie, David and both of you. Come in, sit with me.

Ethan realised the diplodocus had spoken. He was amazed.

Nan and Ethan squeezed into the sun room, but it was a tight fit. Dolly took up the whole sofa with her neck, although she budged up so Ethan could sit on Nan’s knee, on the leftover bit of sofa.

David brought in tea cups and plates for cakes, plus a big dish of fresh cream cakes and doughnuts. In addition, there was a big bowl of fresh cut juicy grass and hay, with sprinkled mixed dried fruit, for those who wanted it. Maggie poured the tea; cups for them and a big bowl of milky tea for Dolly.

No sugar thank you. I’m on a diet. I want to find a handsome husband, Dolly giggled. I’ll have some grass and fruit. Oh lovely, you’ve put a bit of brown sugar on it. Yum.

I’ll put your bucket of tea behind the sofa Dolly, said Maggie.

Lovely, I can dip down when I want.

Imagine the tea party: Ethan stroking Dolly’s roughish hide and eating a doughnut; Nan sipping tea and flicking away bits of dirt and mud flying from Dolly’s side; David and Maggie sitting on garden chairs trying to make polite conversation and balance cups and plates on their knees, Dolly’s hefty diplodocus body squashing their legs and knees painfully.

Dolly turned round for a cake and accidentally dropped tea from her lips onto everything, including Nan, Ethan, carpet and sofa.

I know it’s naughty to eat cake, but I did have my Weight Watchers’ breakfast, Dolly said, giggling throatily.

It was amazing to see how delicately she picked up an éclair in her mouth. Next, came the chewing, which was a little clumsy. Plip, plop; cream splurged out of the corners of her mouth as she enjoyed the cake. Politely, everyone just wiped themselves of cream and made conversation about the wet weather.

Soon a crream doughnut slid down Dolly’s long throat. They all watched it go, with tea to ease the way, Gulp. Gulp. Gulp.

I’ll have to do double the Dipplo Dance tonight, Dolly said sadly. This was a lovely tea party. You are all so sweet. I have to go now to meet a young male diplodocus. First, will someone paint my nails for me. Purple, if you have it?

I will, cried Ethan.

Let me get my make up bag, said Nan.

She popped upstairs, while Maggie searched her make up bag.

David had to get the file from his toolbox and file down Dolly’s nails. This took Maggie’s help as well, with Ethan doing the cleaning up. Some quite hard nail tips had to be cut and the nails shaped prettily. Well, pretty ish.

Nan hadn’t got any purple varnish, but had a lovely bright orange, with matching lipstick, as yet unused. Dolly was thrilled to bits.

"Oh, I wish I had my nice things on. I have a cold and sore throat, that’s why I’m wearing someone’s bobble hat and scarf. I found them on the beach.

Never mind. Wear my new dark turquoise scarf. I haven’t worn it yet, said Maggie, innocently. I’ll wash these for you.

Ethan tried hard with the nail polish, only needing Nan to finish the last nails.

While the polish was drying Dolly let Ethan clean and polish her face with olive oil. Nan and Maggie meanwhile had applied mascara and eye liner. A bit of lavender scented body spray and Dolly was all set.

Oh, lipstick, said Maggie.

Ethan reached up and smeared the lipstick over Dolly’s lips. My, what big lips they were. David put the kettle on again and looked around his new conservatory. What a mess! The new sofa sank down in the middle; the stylish bucket chair looked like an old bucket; tea and grass had been dropped all over the new carpet. The conservatory side wall of patterned glass was sprayed with sneezes and bogeys from Dolly’s stuffed up nose. Everyone was filthy too, with dirt, bits of nail, tea and grass.

Dolly backed out on her knees, then stood up, her turquoise scarf blowing in the sea breeze. She looked back fondly, whispering,

Thank you Maggie and David, for the lovely tea. I hope to see you again soon. I loved your kisses Ethan. Goodbye Nan.

With that, she walked away, head held high. Cars tooted as she went down the road to Hengistbury Head and she nodded her head sweetly.

Isn’t she gorgeous, said Ethan, his heart full to bursting.

Everyone agreed and started to tidy up. It was decided that they would all have pizza for tea, as no one had the energy for any cooking.

David went for the pizzas, while Maggie and Nan hoovered and cleaned windows. Ethan drew a picture of Dolly for Maggie and David’s glass wall.

The pizzas arrived and were eaten very swiftly. Ethan loved tomato pizza and soon dropped off on the tea stained new sofa.

That Sunday, Nan and Ethan went to Hengistbury Head to fly his red kite. In the gloom of the very old trees, they saw two diplodocus kissing. One of them had orange nails and a lovely turquoise scarf.

I hope they are in love Nan, said Ethan

BOOK TWO

Dolly’s Dream Lover

The following night Ethan and Nan parked in the café car park and walked down to the very old trees. Yes, the two diplodocus were there, making their bed. Ethan and Nan watched Dolly telling her tall, handsome companion what todo.

I wonder what his name is? whispered Ethan.

Did Dolly tell us any names, when she came to tea? Nan said.

No, she just said she was going to see a young male diplodocus, at Hengistbury Head. said Ethan.

Oh no. Look what he’s doing! gasped Nan.

Ethan realised the male diplodocus was eating Dolly’s turquoise scarf.

Stop him Nan. That’s Maggie’s new scarf, shouted Ethan, running towards the huge animal.

The male diplodocus looked down, the last bit of scarf hanging out of his mouth.

You talking to me, tiny human? he spat, bits of scarf and spit flying everywhere.

Um…yes. That’s our friend’s scarf, not food for you, said Ethan, feeling a bit wobbly, so close up to the huge animal.

"Oh, take a running jump you