This blog post includes spoilers for Tears of a Dragon, so if you haven't read the book, you might want to skip this entry.
At the end of Tears of a Dragon, Billy and Bonnie are faced with a heart choice--should they keep their dragon traits or not? A light from a gem would soon pass across them, and whatever decision was in their hearts would come to pass. This light would examine each of them to see what they truly wanted, and God would bring that decision about. The reader learns that Billy loses his dragon traits, but the book doesn't reveal what happens to Bonnie.
I hear from readers every day wanting to know what happened to Bonnie. Does she still have dragon wings? Some even say that they are angry that I would leave them hanging like that. Some are just confused and wondering. Some say, however, that the ending is perfect, exactly how it should have ended.
I made a conscious and difficult decision to leave what happens to Bonnie out of the book, because I wanted readers to think carefully about what their own decisions would be if they were in Bonnie's shoes. Would they be content to have the blessing and the curse associated with having dragon wings? Would they want to be normal and serve God with normal human attributes?
The answer the book gave comes through Billy's thoughts. Bonnie asks him if he wants to know, and he says in his mind, "It didn't matter. It just didn't matter." That's the message I want readers to ponder. Regarding your love for others and your service to God, would it really matter to you either way? Could you obey Him no matter what?
So, even now when readers ask me, I don't tell them the answer. First of all, I really don't know. If the answer isn't written, if the fiction isn't manisfested in the creation of the story, the answer seems unknowable. Second, if I could somehow give the answer, then my desire for readers to ponder the issue would end, and I assume the news of the answer would spread and the intent would be spoiled forever.
Therefore, as of this writing, I don't intend to ever let this answer be known. I won't write it, so there will be no answer to give. Of course, I could go into my crazy mind and ask Bonnie what happened. Would she tell me? Maybe. But I won't ask. Why? Because it doesn't matter. It just doesn't matter.
7 comments:
I'm one in the "perfect ending" camp, as you know, Bryan, and I normally love books to have all the loose ends neatly tied up. But you were doing something more with Billy's line, which really did make her decision a moot point. I think you are wise to keep it that way.
Becky
Becky, thank you. You're right about Billy's line. It was meant to be more than a story ender.
Alyssa, thank you, too. Yes, I intentionally included a lot of depth, and that's something I'm going write about in my next blog post.
I haven't read the book yet, and I'm looking forward to it. I just don't understand how it could end like that. I guess I will when I read it, but until then, I want to know one thing: won't it drive you nuts if you don't figure out what happens to her? I thought she and Billy were supposed to end up together or something....
Oh well, I'll just read the book.
I was wondering if I could email your address with a question not regarding the books exactly....
Nimelen,
Billy and Bonnie will be married someday. This has been prophesied. It doesn't matter to Billy whether or not Bonnie has wings, so either way, it won't stop their eventual union.
Yes, you may e-mail me. You can go to my website, http://www.dragonsinourmidst.com and look in the contact info section for my address.
Even though that I was hoping that in the end, Bonnie and Billy would marry, still with both their dragon traits so that their kids would almost be guarentead (did I spell that right?) to carry the same honor and responsibility as their parents; I think it's still a good ending (Phew! That sentance took awhile!!)
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I don't like it, but I understand why you did it. Personally, I think she kept them, but hey, that's only my opinion, so there's no need to fetch the mallet.
I thought it was a great ending! Although when the Oracles of Fire series came out, one of my first thoughts was, This is the book where I learn whether Bonnie kept her wings or not! I was a bit disapointed that it still didn't tell me, but that's ok. In my opinion I think she kept her wings.
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