"A dinosaur doctor?" Evelyn giggled, splashing her bath toys. "Grandpa, you silly goose!"
Grandpa chuckled, his beard bouncing as he spoke, "No, silly goose is what we'll have for dinner if you don't get clean! Besides, I heard tell of a magical volcano where a dino doctor lives!"
Evelyn stopped splashing. A magical volcano? That sounded like an adventure! She loved adventures, especially ones involving the deep ocean and fishes. Maybe the volcano was near the ocean?
"Grandpa," Evelyn asked, her big eyes wide, "Does the dino doctor help volcanoes feel better? Like when I visit the doctor for a check-up?"
"Well, I reckon so," Grandpa said, winking. "He knows all about hot and rumbly tummies, that's for sure!"
Evelyn decided then and there: she HAD to meet this dino doctor! So, after a dinner of mashed potatoes (not goose!), Grandpa helped Evelyn pack her favorite red boots and a big magnifying glass. They climbed into Grandpa's old, blue truck and set off.
The drive was long and bumpy, but Evelyn didn't mind. She imagined the volcano, tall and grand, with lava flowing like a river of melted crayons. Grandpa told her stories of pirate captains and singing mermaids, making her laugh until her tummy hurt.
Finally, they arrived at the foot of the volcano. It rumbled and hissed, puffing out tiny clouds of smoke. Evelyn held Grandpa's hand tight.
"It's okay," Grandpa whispered, "This volcano just needs a check-up, remember?"
They started climbing, the path getting steeper and steeper. As they got closer, Evelyn noticed something amazing: the volcano was covered in colorful crystals! They sparkled like a thousand tiny rainbows.
Suddenly, the ground shook, and a booming voice echoed, "Well, well, well, what do we have here?"
A giant, green dinosaur with shimmering scales emerged from behind a crystal rock. He wore a white coat and a tiny stethoscope around his neck. It was the dino doctor!
"Are you here to help the volcano feel better?" Evelyn asked, her voice trembling a little.
The dino doctor smiled, revealing a row of pearly white teeth. "Why, yes! This old volcano has a bit of a cough. But first, tell me, little one, are you lost?"
Evelyn shook her head. "No, I came with Grandpa! We wanted to meet you."
The dino doctor chuckled, the ground rumbling with his laughter. "Meet me, you say? Well, most folks run the other way when they see me!"
Evelyn bravely took a step forward. "You're not scary," she said. "You're just big and scaly, like a fish with legs!"
The dino doctor roared with laughter again, and Evelyn realized he wasn't scary at all. He was just a big softie, trying to help a sick volcano feel better, just like her doctor did for her!
They spent the rest of the afternoon learning about volcanoes and dinosaurs. Evelyn even got to listen to the volcano's heartbeat with the dino doctor's stethoscope. It sounded like thunder!
As the sun began to set, painting the sky in hues of orange and pink, it was time to go. Evelyn hugged the dino doctor's giant toe goodbye and promised to visit again soon.
On the drive home, snuggled in the truck with Grandpa, Evelyn knew she wouldn't forget this adventure anytime soon. She learned that even big, scary things can be kind and helpful, and that even volcanoes need a check-up sometimes.
