BETTY IS A JACK OF ALL TRADES

After the usual family breakfast, Diaval made his way to the guest floor of the mansion. He had arranged for Taren's wife, Anna, and their daughter, Betty, to stay at the Astarot House.

Though Diaval felt a pang of guilt for burning down their home, he justified his actions by promising himself that he would treat them well while they were here.

He knew that keeping Taren on edge, believing his family was in constant danger, would expedite the retrieval of the gold coins he owed.

Anna was a striking woman, with long, flowing auburn hair and bright green eyes that reflected both strength and gentleness.

Betty, their eight-year-old daughter, was a lesser dragon with a head full of curly brown hair and wide, inquisitive eyes that sparkled with mischief and curiosity. She was a bundle of energy, always asking questions and eager to explore.

Diaval knocked softly on their door before entering. Anna greeted him with a warm smile, and Betty ran up to him, her eyes lighting up.

"Uncle Diaval!" she exclaimed, wrapping her small arms around his waist.

Diaval chuckled and patted her head. "Hello, Betty. How are you today?"

"I'm good! I was just telling Mommy about all the things I'm good at," she said proudly.

Anna smiled apologetically. "I'm sorry, young master. She insists on calling you 'Uncle Diaval.'"

Diaval waved her concern away. "It's perfectly fine, Anna. She's just a child."

Betty beamed up at him. "Uncle Diaval, do you want to know what I'm good at?"

"Of course, I do," Diaval said, crouching down to her level. "Tell me everything."

Diaval settled into a plush armchair, ready to listen to Betty's impressive list of skills. The young dragon had an infectious enthusiasm that had already brightened his day, and he was curious to hear what else she had to say.

Betty climbed onto the couch opposite him, her legs swinging back and forth as she prepared to share her accomplishments. Her mother, Anna, watched from a nearby seat, smiling warmly at her daughter's eagerness.

"Uncle Diaval, I have so many skills! Mommy always says I'm very talented," Betty began, her eyes sparkling with excitement.

Diaval leaned forward, giving her his full attention. "I can't wait to hear about them, Betty. Tell me everything."

"Okay! First, I'm really good at drawing. I love to draw Monsters, especially ones with big wings and sharp claws," Betty said, mimicking the motions with her hands. "One time, I drew a monster so real that Mommy thought it was going to fly off the page!"

Anna chuckled, nodding in agreement. "She did. It was a very impressive drawing."

"Wow, Betty. That sounds amazing. Maybe you can show me some of your drawings later?" Diaval suggested.

Betty nodded eagerly. "I'd love to! Oh, and I can climb trees super fast. There's a big oak tree in our backyard, and I can reach the top in no time. One day, I climbed so high that I could see all the way to the village!"

Anna interjected with a story. "I remember that day. Betty was up in the tree for hours, pretending she was a dragon lookout, keeping watch over our home."

Diaval smiled, picturing the small dragon perched high in the branches. "That sounds like a lot of fun, Betty. You must be very brave to climb so high."

Betty puffed out her chest proudly. "I am! And I'm really good at swimming, too. We have a pond near our house, and I can swim across it faster than anyone. One time, I even raced a fish and won!"

Diaval laughed, imagining the scene. "You raced a fish? That's incredible, Betty. You must be a very strong swimmer."

Betty beamed, encouraged by his praise. "Thank you, Uncle Diaval! I also like to play the flute. I learned from a traveling musician who visited our village. He said I was a natural."

"That's wonderful, Betty. Maybe you can play for us sometime," Diaval suggested.

"I'd love to! And I'm really good at storytelling. I make up all kinds of adventures with monsters and knights and treasure," Betty said, her eyes lighting up as she spoke. "One time, I told a story so exciting that all the kids in the village came to listen."

Anna nodded. "Betty has a wonderful imagination. Her stories always captivate everyone."

Diaval smiled, enjoying the young dragon's enthusiasm. "I'd love to hear one of your stories, Betty. They sound amazing."

Betty continued, "I can also dance! I learned from watching the village festivals. One time, I danced so well that everyone clapped and cheered."

Anna added, "Betty has a natural talent for dancing. She's always the star of the show."

"That's incredible, Betty. You have so many talents," Diaval said, genuinely impressed.

"And I can read really fast. Mommy says I'm the best reader she's ever seen. I can finish a whole book in one day," Betty said proudly.

Anna nodded. "Betty loves to read. She devours books like they're candy."

"Yes! And I can write, too. I write my own stories and poems. One time, I wrote a poem for Mommy, and it made her cry happy tears," Betty said, looking at her mother.

Anna smiled, her eyes misty with emotion. "It was a beautiful poem. Betty has a real gift with words."

"That's so sweet, Betty. You're very talented," Diaval said, touched by the story.

"And I can paint! I love to use lots of colors. One time, I painted a picture of a sunset, and it looked just like the real thing," Betty said, her excitement evident.

Anna added, "Betty's paintings are always full of life and color. She's very creative."

"I'd love to show you! And I can sing, too. I learned from listening to the birds. One time, I sang at a village festival, and everyone said I sounded like an angel," Betty said, her voice filled with pride.

"That's wonderful, Betty. You have so many amazing talents," Diaval said, genuinely impressed.

Betty's eyes sparkled with joy. "Thank you, Uncle Diaval! I'm also good at puzzles. I can solve them really fast. One time, I solved a puzzle that even the grown-ups couldn't figure out."

Anna added, "Betty has a keen mind. She's always figuring things out."

"That's very impressive, Betty. Puzzles can be really challenging," Diaval said.

"They are, but I like the challenge. And I can make people laugh! I love telling jokes and making everyone happy. One time, I made a whole room of people laugh until their sides hurt," Betty said, giggling at the memory.

Betty continued, "And I can take care of animals. We have a cat at home, and I make sure she has food and water every day. One time, I even helped a bird with a broken wing."

"That's very kind of you, Betty. Taking care of animals is a very important job," Diaval said.

Betty beamed with pride. "Thank you, Uncle Diaval! And I'm really good at gardening. I help Mommy with our garden at home. One time, I grew the biggest sunflower in the village."

Anna nodded. "Betty has a green thumb. She's always helping things grow."

"That's wonderful, Betty. Gardening is a very rewarding skill," Diaval said.

Betty's eyes sparkled with excitement. "Thank you, Uncle Diaval! I love sharing my skills with you."

Diaval smiled warmly. "And I love hearing about them, Betty. You're a very talented young dragon."

As Betty continued to share more stories and examples of her skills, Diaval couldn't help but feel a deep sense of admiration for her.

She was truly a remarkable child, full of life and potential. He knew that her bright spirit and boundless enthusiasm would continue to bring joy to those around her, and he felt grateful to be a part of her life, even in this small way.

As the conversation continued, Diaval made a mental note to encourage and support Betty in all her endeavors.

She was a special child, and he wanted to ensure that she had every opportunity to grow and thrive. With her bright spirit and boundless energy, there was no doubt in his mind that Betty would achieve great things in the future.

'She's really a great child, her father might be something else entirely but I can tell Betty loves her mom and dad,'Diaval thought looking at Betty who was not finished listing her skills.

/// NEXT CHAPTER: THE GREAT CHEF BETTY