Errant Thoughts and Stuff I Write

How I Caught a Leprechaun

Finding faeries was commonplace. But I never expected to meet a leprechaun. He wasn't all red beard and green clothes and shiny black shoes with buckles though. Oh, no. He was taller than me with a cloak made of red autumn leaves, and I woulda thought he was a nutter if I'd not heard what he said.

He told me, "Listen here, young'un, I'll give you my gold if you tell people about me, change the stories they've told."

I asked him, peering up at his face, "Why? What have they said?"

He glared at the sky, his gaze burning a hole in space, and said, "They're all liars, saying I give 'good luck', that I'm a little green man, dancing jigs around them. No, it's not true, though I'm a man of my word, and I need you to tell them all that you've heard!"

I though for a moment, then nodded. "I will tell them, but I need no gold."

"Then tell me what you want and I'll give it to you."

"Give me a month to spread the word, and I'll come back here. Promise you'll be here." I hold out my hand, my pinkie extended, and he hooks his with mine, and we shake.

I start my work subtly, leaving notes in library books, and then start talking, telling the truths.

One month goes past, and I go to the clearing where I first met the leprechaun. He's sat at the base of an old oak tree, eyes closed in his slumber. I wake him gently, and he peers up at me.

"So you've come back." He says, and I nod with conviction.

"I've done my work, and I know what I want." I say.

"Very well. Tell me your desire and I will give it to you." I see his reluctance in his eyes, and I know he believes me another greedy human. I shake my head, a wry smile twisting my lips.

"No, I do not want material things. No gold, wealth, nothing of the sort."

"Then what do you want?" The leprechaun asks, confused, puzzled, baffled, by a human.

I hold out my hand to the man sitting down, and he reaches out slowly to take it. I stand him to his feet and hook my pinkie with his. His cloak of red wrapped 'round him rustles with a warm breeze.

"A friend."

And that's the story of how I caught a leprechaun.