Sophia was playing with her toy cars in the living room when her dad came in with a big smile. "Guess what, Sophia?" he said. "We're moving to a new house!" Sophia stopped playing and looked up at her dad. A new house? That sounded exciting!
"Will it have a big park nearby?" Sophia asked, her eyes wide with curiosity. She loved parks! They had swings, and slides, and lots of space to run around.
"It sure does!" her dad chuckled. "And this park is extra special. They say there's a friendly dragon who lives there!"
Sophia gasped. "A real dragon? Can we go see it today?"
"Of course," her dad said, scooping her up in a big hug. "Let's go pack a picnic basket and head over there right now!"
The park was even bigger and greener than Sophia imagined. The air smelled like fresh-cut grass and blooming flowers. As they walked along the path, Sophia kept her eyes peeled for any sign of the dragon.
Suddenly, Sophia saw something amazing behind a big oak tree. It had shimmering scales, giant wings, and a long, swirly tail. It was the dragon! And it was even more colorful than she pictured, with scales of blue, green, and purple.
"Dad, look!" Sophia whispered, pointing excitedly.
The dragon turned its head and saw Sophia. It smiled, and Sophia noticed it had sparkly teeth! The dragon lowered its head gently so Sophia could pet its snout. It felt warm and smooth, like a giant, polished stone.
"Hello, little one," the dragon boomed in a friendly voice. "Are you new to our park?"
Sophia nodded shyly. "We're moving to a new house nearby."
"Ah, moving can be a big adventure," the dragon said wisely. "But remember, home is wherever your loved ones are."
Sophia hugged her dad's leg. The dragon was right. Even though they were moving to a new house, she would still have her dad and her toys, and that's what really made it feel like home.
They spent the rest of the afternoon playing games with the dragon. Sophia even got to ride on its back! It soared through the sky, giving her a bird's-eye view of the entire park.
As the sun began to set, it was time to go. Sophia gave the dragon a big hug goodbye.
"Thank you for being my friend," Sophia said.
"Anytime, little one," the dragon said with a wink. "Remember, this park will always be here for you."
Sophia and her dad walked hand-in-hand back to their car. She knew that even though moving to a new house might feel different, she had a feeling her new home would be just as wonderful as the old one, especially with a friendly dragon in the park nearby!
