--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Last summer, when he thought I wasn't…" description: "\"“Last summer, when he thought I wasn't looking, I observed Cubby telling one of the neighborhood six-year-olds that there were dragons living in the st..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/737/john-elder-robison-15225_last-summer_last-summer-when-he-thought-i-wasn-t-loo_621310.jpg" --- # Last summer, when he thought I wasn't looking, I observed… ![“Last summer, when he thought I wasn't looking, I observed Cubby telling one of the neighborhood six-year-olds that there were dragons living in the storm drains, under our street. 'We feed them meat...and then they don't get hungry and blow fire and roast us.' Little James listened closely, with a…” quote by John Elder Robison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/737/john-elder-robison-15225_last-summer_last-summer-when-he-thought-i-wasn-t-loo_621310.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/737/john-elder-robison-15225_last-summer_last-summer-when-he-thought-i-wasn-t-loo_621310.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/737/john-elder-robison-15225_last-summer_last-summer-when-he-thought-i-wasn-t-loo_621310.jpg) > ““Last summer, when he thought I wasn't looking, I observed Cubby telling one of the neighborhood six-year-olds that there were dragons living in the storm drains, under our street. 'We feed them meat...and then they don't get hungry and blow fire and roast us.' Little James listened closely, with a very serious expression on his face. Then he ran home to get some hot dogs from his mother.”” [John Elder Robison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-elder-robison/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Children’s imaginative stories can blend fantasy with reality, revealing deep fears and curiosities. **In simple terms:** Kids’ tales mix dragons and real life. Key Takeaway Listen to children’s narratives. Themes psychology imagination childhood Mood thoughtful empathetic Type narrative reflective When to use this quote - parenting - therapy - creative writing Key Concepts mythmaking fear storytelling Questions to Reflect On - What does the dragon symbolize for the child? - How can adults support healthy imagination? A Different Perspective Adults may misinterpret symbolic meaning. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Cubby Telling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cubby-telling-5026669/) [Dragons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dragons/) [Dragons Living](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dragons-living-5026670/) [Hot dogs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hot-dogs/) [James Listened](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/james-listened-5026672/) [Last summer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/last-summer/) [Observed Cubby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/observed-cubby-5026671/) ## Related quotes > [“I am proud to be Asante, as I am sure you are proud to be Fante, but after I lost my brothers, I decided…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yaa-gyasi/i-am-proud-to-be-asante-as-i-am-sure-you-are-proud-to-be-fante-but/) [Yaa Gyasi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yaa-gyasi/) > [When you eat a lot of spicy food, you can lose your taste. When I was in India last summer, I was listening to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-carr/when-you-eat-a-lot-of-spicy-food-you-can-lose-your-taste-when-i-was/) [Jimmy Carr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-carr/) > [“The raids brought a revival of recurring rumors of tipoffs on days when hits were made by lucky patrons in the 500 to 1…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-w-harshaw/the-raids-brought-a-revival-of-recurring-rumors-of-tipoffs-on-days/) [John W. Harshaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-w-harshaw/) > [The fire in leaf and grass so green it seems each summer the last summer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denise-levertov/the-fire-in-leaf-and-grass-so-green-it-seems-each-summer-the-last/) [Denise Levertov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denise-levertov/) > [I also want to thank Arizona citizens for their efforts at conserving energy last summer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-d-hull/i-also-want-to-thank-arizona-citizens-for-their-efforts-at-conserving/) [Jane D. Hull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-d-hull/) > [“Meteorologists agree that our planet is heating up! Now I know that many people disagree with this or just think that it is part…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/captain-hank-bracker-seawater-one/meteorologists-agree-that-our-planet-is-heating-up-now-i-know-that/) [Captain Hank Bracker, "Seawater One](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/captain-hank-bracker-seawater-one/) > [“Thus began the weeks of what we termed being reckless - and I worry from that viewpoint, at least, that word defines our entire…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tammara-webber/thus-began-the-weeks-of-what-we-termed-being-reckless-and-i-worry/) [Tammara Webber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tammara-webber/) > [“Last summer, in London at least, the hoodie was transformed from a benign piece of leisurewear into a uniform for the disaffected, the angry,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-capell/last-summer-in-london-at-least-the-hoodie-was-transformed-from-a/) [Mark Capell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-capell/) > [Way back last summer I asked some of the most outstanding educational minds in this Nation to tackle this problem. I gave them a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lyndon-b-johnson/way-back-last-summer-i-asked-some-of-the-most-outstanding-educational/) [Lyndon B. Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lyndon-b-johnson/) > [I was like the only diverse kid in my high school, and I'm half-Puerto Rican. But yeah, I have a huge family and tons…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aubrey-plaza/i-was-like-the-only-diverse-kid-in-my-high-school-and-i-m-half-puerto/) [Aubrey Plaza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aubrey-plaza/) > [I wouldn't mind the early autumn if you came home today I'd tell you how much I miss you and know I'd be okay.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacqueline-woodson/i-wouldn-t-mind-the-early-autumn-if-you-came-home-today-i-d-tell-you/) [Jacqueline Woodson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacqueline-woodson/) > [“Hey, Arnold," he said. I looked up 'in love with a white girl' on Google and found and article about that white girl named…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherman-alexie/hey-arnold-he-said-i-looked-up-in-love-with-a-white-girl-on-google/) [Sherman Alexie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherman-alexie/) > [“My intention all along had been to get my wakeboarding legs back this first day. Maybe I'd do tricks when we went out the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-echols/my-intention-all-along-had-been-to-get-my-wakeboarding-legs-back-this/) [Jennifer Echols](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-echols/) > [“There are various reasons why an individual might habitually consume large quantities of alcohol, but they all effectively boil down to the same thing.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haruki-murakami/there-are-various-reasons-why-an-individual-might-habitually-consume/) [Haruki Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haruki-murakami/) > [“Then someone else appeared from the crowd, and Annabeth's vision tunneled. Percy smiled at her-that sarcastic, troublemaker's smile that had annoyed her for years…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/then-someone-else-appeared-from-the-crowd-and-annabeth-s-vision/) [Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/) ## More by John Elder Robison > [“There are plenty of people in the world whose lives are governed by rote and routine. Such people will never be happy dealing with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-elder-robison/there-are-plenty-of-people-in-the-world-whose-lives-are-governed-by/) [John Elder Robison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-elder-robison/) > [“I tried to show him things, but he didn't seem to study what I showed him. Usually, he just put whatever I handed him…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-elder-robison/i-tried-to-show-him-things-but-he-didn-t-seem-to-study-what-i-showed/) [John Elder Robison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-elder-robison/) > [“(The only time making a fist around the fork helps is when you want to stab someone because he’s stealing your food. Now I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-elder-robison/the-only-time-making-a-fist-around-the-fork-helps-is-when-you-want-to/) [John Elder Robison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-elder-robison/) > [“We began reading books together. He loved Dr. Seuss. I read those books so often I could turn the pages and say the words…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-elder-robison/we-began-reading-books-together-he-loved-dr-seuss-i-read-those-books/) [John Elder Robison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-elder-robison/) > [“Asperger’s is not a disease. It’s a way of being. There is no cure, nor is there a need for one. There is, however,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-elder-robison/asperger-s-is-not-a-disease-it-s-a-way-of-being-there-is-no-cure-nor/) [John Elder Robison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-elder-robison/) > [I don't really understsand why it's considered normal to stare at someone's eyeballs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-elder-robison/i-don-t-really-understsand-why-it-s-considered-normal-to-stare-at/) [John Elder Robison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-elder-robison/) > [“Individuals are labeled “different,” “geeky,” “abnormal,” or even “Aspergian” or “autistic” at a young age. Among other things, these labels suggest that the people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-elder-robison/individuals-are-labeled-different-geeky-abnormal-or-even-aspergian-or/) [John Elder Robison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-elder-robison/) > [Building up a weakness just makes you less disabled. Building a strength can take you to the top of the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-elder-robison/building-up-a-weakness-just-makes-you-less-disabled-building-a/) [John Elder Robison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-elder-robison/) > [“Sociopath” and “psycho” were two of the most common field diagnoses for my look and expression. I heard it all the time: “I’ve read…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-elder-robison/sociopath-and-psycho-were-two-of-the-most-common-field-diagnoses-for/) [John Elder Robison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-elder-robison/) > [“Nice people like them by children like him and raise them as pets. But he didn't want to be a pet today.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-elder-robison/nice-people-like-them-by-children-like-him-and-raise-them-as-pets-but/) [John Elder Robison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-elder-robison/) > [“Girls are the trickiest and most unpredictable creatures a fellow like me will ever talk to.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-elder-robison/girls-are-the-trickiest-and-most-unpredictable-creatures-a-fellow/) [John Elder Robison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-elder-robison/) > [“Find Your Strengths and Interests”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-elder-robison/find-your-strengths-and-interests/) [John Elder Robison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-elder-robison/) > [This is a f\*\*\*ing mess," I said tactfully.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-elder-robison/this-is-a-f-ing-mess-i-said-tactfully/) [John Elder Robison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-elder-robison/) > [“I used to fear barking dogs. I would cringe and say to myself, 'Nice doggie please don't bite me I'll just go away,' but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-elder-robison/i-used-to-fear-barking-dogs-i-would-cringe-and-say-to-myself-nice/) [John Elder Robison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-elder-robison/) > [“Soon I was spending all my time in the basement, and I had moved from taking things apart to putting new things together. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-elder-robison/soon-i-was-spending-all-my-time-in-the-basement-and-i-had-moved-from/) [John Elder Robison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-elder-robison/) [Explore all 43 John Elder Robison quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-elder-robison/) ## More Dragons quotes > [“Metal makes everything magical. Just ask a unicorn.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sybrina-durant/metal-makes-everything-magical-just-ask-a-unicorn/) [Sybrina Durant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sybrina-durant/) > [Arouse a bee and it will come at you with the force of a dragon.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/takeda-shingen/arouse-a-bee-and-it-will-come-at-you-with-the-force-of-a-dragon/) [Takeda Shingen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/takeda-shingen/) > [Either dragons should exist completely or fail to exist at all, he felt. A dragon only half-existing was worse than the extremes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/either-dragons-should-exist-completely-or-fail-to-exist-at-all-he/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [“If you banish the dragons, you banish the heroes...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-solomon/if-you-banish-the-dragons-you-banish-the-heroes/) [Andrew Solomon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-solomon/) > [“What do you want?" "You." His voice was soft, low. His eyes were intense and watchful.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-grant/what-do-you-want-you-his-voice-was-soft-low-his-eyes-were-intense-and/) [Donna Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-grant/) > [“Unable to help herself, she traced the tat, startled by the black and red ink mixed together. But it was the dragon design itself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-grant/unable-to-help-herself-she-traced-the-tat-startled-by-the-black-and/) [Donna Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-grant/) > [For fantasy is true, of course. It isn't factual, but it is true. Children know that. Adults know it too, and that is precisely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ursula-k-le-guin/for-fantasy-is-true-of-course-it-isn-t-factual-but-it-is-true/) [Ursula K. Le Guin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ursula-k-le-guin/) > [My brother believed in all sorts of mythical creatures: pixies, dragons, werewolves, honest men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/my-brother-believed-in-all-sorts-of-mythical-creatures-pixies-dragons/) [Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/) > [Fairy tales are more than true: not because they tell us that dragons exist, but because they tell us that dragons can be beaten.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/fairy-tales-are-more-than-true-not-because-they-tell-us-that-dragons/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I shopped with G-Dragon a long time ago but now that we live together, I can't buy clothes with him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seungri/i-shopped-with-g-dragon-a-long-time-ago-but-now-that-we-live-together/) [Seungri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seungri/) > [“Part II: Misgivings & Magic Darkness? Is it terrifying, or is it beautiful?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-vaineo/part-ii-misgivings-magic-darkness-is-it-terrifying-or-is-it-beautiful/) [J.R. Vaineo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-vaineo/) > [We started this together, Leo. Seems only right you come along. You find us a ride, you're in." "Yes!" Leo pumped his fist. \*…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/we-started-this-together-leo-seems-only-right-you-come-along-you-find/) [Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/) > [“The dragon is a more enduring animal than the pterodactyl. I have never yet met anyone who really believed in a pterodactyl; but every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-grahame/the-dragon-is-a-more-enduring-animal-than-the-pterodactyl-i-have/) [Kenneth Grahame](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-grahame/) > [“He rose up over her, intending to enter her when she suddenly sat up and shoved at his shoulders. He fell onto his back…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-grant/he-rose-up-over-her-intending-to-enter-her-when-she-suddenly-sat-up/) [Donna Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-grant/) > [To have dragons one must have change; that is the first principle of dragon lore.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/loren-eiseley/to-have-dragons-one-must-have-change-that-is-the-first-principle-of/) [Loren Eiseley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/loren-eiseley/) [Browse all 1,011 Dragons quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dragons/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Last summer, when he thought I wasn't looking, I observed Cubby telling one of the neighborhood six-year-olds that there were dragons living in the storm drains, under our street. 'We feed them meat...and then they don't get hungry and blow fire and roast us.' Little James listened closely, with a very serious expression on his face. 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