A Green Adversary

A fallen plastic cocktail sword lay half-buried near the garden sandbox, and beside it, a stiff plastic toy lizard with sharp jagged claws and bared teeth stood frozen on a ridge of sand. You really insisted on a dragon with claws, teeth, sword, and shield. I tucked a round, pressed beer bottle cap against my side as a buckler, balancing the tiny red sword tip against the ground with my flipper. I paused, letting my segments click into a steady stance. Then, leaning my chest forward, I pushed the flat edge of the sword against the beast's green claw. Click. The dragon teetered, slowly toppling into the cool, sifted sand. I stayed firmly upright.