So there's a folk tale involving a fairy song, and a reward for the hero who improves it, and a greedy copycat who barges in and gets their comeuppance. I first read it in the form of "The Legend of Knockgrafton"-I remember the rhymes addressing Lusmore and Jack Madden-but with the English names for the days of the week substituted in for the Irish ones. I wanted to try retelling it in a modern-day setting. It took longer than I expected in terms of word count, so I wrapped it up sooner than planned. This leaves the landlord's fate more implied than specified. Just think of him as Jack Madden from Knockgrafton and it'll make sense.
YOU ARE READING
The Fairy Elevator (excerpt)
Short Story"This is a good lesson to people who cannot see the good luck of others, without coveting it for themselves." A. B. Mitford, Tales of Old Japan, vol. 1
