"The Secret Weakness of Dragons. I mention it now and again."

"Oh, yes, yes - that secret. What about it?"

"I." The boy hesitated, "I don't think you know what it is."

"What? Me? Not know The Secret Weakness of Dragons?" cried the dragon, incredulously. "That is impossible! Certainly, I know The Secret!"

"I'm pretty sure you don't."

The dragon laughed and laughed. "You have come up with some good ones, my friend, but this one takes the cake! A dragon that doesn't know The Secret! That is funny!"

The dragon flopped his head to the ground and let out a snort. He snuck a peek at the boy to see his reaction.

"I'm serious," insisted the boy. "You don't know it, do you?"

The dragon looked off into the distance far, far way. He had pretended for too long. If he were ever to learn what The Secret was, he would have to admit that he did not know it. And besides, he now felt in his heart that he could trust this boy. Finally, with a great sigh of resignation, he admitted, "No. No, I don't know what The Secret Weakness is."

"That's what I thought." The boy sighed too.

The silence resumed as the friends sat for a few more uncomfortable moments.

The dragon turned, and looked down at the boy.

"Will you tell me?" he asked.

"Very well my friend, I will tell you. tomorrow."

"Tomorrow?! But I must know today! I have waited so long to find out! I sit up all night, trying to figure out what it is. I have gone over every scale one hundred times, I have no allergies, no aversions, no phobias! No weapon can hurt me, no potion can poison me - I am as truly invincible as any dragon ever was and it is killing me not to know! So, I must know today! What is it? What is The Secret Weakness of Dragons?"

"Very well," replied the boy. "I will tell you today, but first you must promise me one thing."

"Anything!" cried the dragon, "I will promise you anything! But you must tell me today!"

"You must swear to me that after I tell you The Secret, that you will leave this land forever. You must swear to me that you will fly far away and never harm the smallest inch of this little kingdom again!"

The dragon's heart sank. How could the young man ask such a thing?

How could he ask him to leave forever when they had become such good friends, had grown so close, and shared so much? Why? Why would the boy, his friend, ask him to promise such a thing?

"But. I would. I would miss you!" whimpered the dragon. He felt tears begin to well. Dragon's tears are very large.

"This is true," said the boy, "and I would miss you. Therefore, youmay return once a year, on this day, to visit. But you still cannot harm anyone or anything in this kingdom."