The classroom walls were covered in orange paper pumpkins. Milo tapped one and leaned close. What was hiding inside?
Milo pressed his fingertip against the crinkly paper. It made a whispery sound. He could almost hear something breathing on the other side.
At the library, Milo found a book about Samhain — an old Celtic festival. His finger traced the pictures of bonfires and masked people.
He gasped. The flames in the pictures looked so real. He decided right then — he had to become a dragon.
At home, Milo wrapped a green tarp around his shoulders and taped a colander to his head. He blew through a straw at a candle. The flame wobbled — but stayed lit. He struck a pose.
At the class party, Milo roared like a dragon and told his friends about the Celtic fires. Then every carved pumpkin on the desks glowed with warm yellow light.
His classmates jumped back — then started cheering. Milo's eyes went wide. He had done it. He was a real dragon.
Milo handed out dragon cookies to everyone. They all wore their costumes and danced around the room, laughing.
Milo laughed so hard he blew a puff of flour into the air. It sparkled in the light like dragon dust.
Outside, the October wind swept through the neighborhood streets. Milo walked home feeling like a dragon himself.