Liam the Lovable, But Fearful, Leprechaun

“Liam the Lovable, But Fearful, Leprechaun” By Edward J. McCoul

There are two things Liam O’Shaughnessy loved more than anything in the world: gold and friendship. And there were two things he feared more than anything else: heights and rainbows. Which was unfortunate, since he was a leprechaun.

Every time he went to check on his gold at the end of a rainbow, he’d have to climb up a hill or down a rocky slope. “That gold won’t guard itself, Liam,” he’d mutter to himself, inching along on shaky legs. Then he’d see the shimmering rainbow stretching from the sky right down to his stash, and his face would go pale as a potato.

“Oh, sweet shamrocks,” he’d squeak. “What if I fall? Or worse—what if that rainbow grabs me and throws me into the sky?”

One day, Liam was sitting under a big, friendly-looking mushroom in the meadow, humming a little tune to himself, when he heard a rustling in the bushes.

“Hello? Is there someone there?” he called out, his heart pounding.

Out popped Fergus McMurphy, his best friend and a leprechaun with as much courage as he had freckles. “Liam, you won’t believe what I’ve found!”

“What?” Liam asked, glancing around nervously. “Please tell me it’s not a rainbow. Or heights.”

Fergus rolled his eyes. “It’s neither! It’s an invitation.” He held up a little green card with gold writing.

Liam squinted at it. “Who’d be inviting us to anything? The last time we got invited somewhere, it was the field mice asking us to help move a few boulders. I was sore for a week.”

Fergus laughed. “This is different! It’s from Queen Clover herself! She’s hosting the annual Leprechaun Ball in her golden castle!”

Liam gulped. “The golden castle? The one at the top of Shamrock Hill?”

“That’s the one!” Fergus said, beaming. “Oh, it’s going to be grand! All the gold you can imagine! And music! And—”

“And heights,” Liam interrupted, his face turning a delicate shade of green. “Queen Clover’s castle is so tall, it practically pokes the clouds.”

Fergus sighed. “Liam, this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity! And Queen Clover only invites the leprechauns who are truly lucky in life.”

“I know, I know,” Liam said, his love for his friend battling with his terror of heights. “But—what if I fall off Shamrock Hill? Or get lost in the castle?”

Fergus put a comforting hand on Liam’s shoulder. “Liam, my friend, you won’t fall, and you certainly won’t get lost. I’ll be there with you every step of the way!”

Liam looked into Fergus’s earnest face, feeling his love for his friend rise up like a wave. He sighed. “All right, I’ll go. But only if you promise to keep a firm grip on me the whole time.”

Fergus grinned. “Deal!”

The night of the ball arrived, and Liam found himself clutching Fergus’s arm as they climbed Shamrock Hill. “Are we nearly there?” he asked, his teeth chattering.

“Almost! Just a few more steps!” Fergus said cheerfully.

Liam whimpered, casting nervous glances at the steep slope behind them. “If I fall, make sure they engrave on my tombstone, ‘Here lies Liam O’Shaughnessy, lover of gold, victim of heights.’”

Fergus snorted. “You’re not going to fall, you big scaredy-potato. Now come on!”

Finally, they reached the top of Shamrock Hill, and there it was—Queen Clover’s castle, glowing like a giant pot of gold. Liam gasped. “It’s...it’s beautiful.”

Inside, the castle was alive with music and laughter. Leprechauns in fancy green coats and sparkly hats were dancing and munching on tiny clover cupcakes. Queen Clover herself sat on a throne at the far end of the hall, her crown gleaming in the candlelight.

“Welcome, Liam and Fergus!” she called out. “Come and join the festivities!”

Fergus grabbed Liam’s arm. “Come on, let’s dance!”

“Oh no,” Liam protested. “I don’t dance. Last time I tried, I twisted my ankle and spent three days hobbling around like an old goose.”

But before he could object further, Fergus had dragged him onto the dance floor. “Just follow my lead!” Fergus said, grinning.

Liam tried, but his feet kept tangling up like two clumps of clover roots. He stumbled, nearly toppling over, but Fergus caught him just in time.

“Steady, Liam! You’re doing fine!” Fergus laughed.

Liam’s face turned redder than a leprechaun’s beard. “I don’t think dancing’s for me,” he said, eyeing the edge of the dance floor nervously. “It’s...well, it’s just so bouncy.”

“Liam, you’ve got to live a little!” Fergus replied, spinning him around.

Then, just as Liam was about to stumble again, he saw something that made him gasp in horror.

A rainbow was forming at the other end of the hall.

“Oh no,” he squeaked, pointing a shaky finger. “Fergus, look! A rainbow! Inside the castle! This can’t be good!”

Fergus laughed. “Liam, it’s just decoration! Queen Clover had it set up for the occasion.”

“Decoration?” Liam gulped, eyes wide. “What if it grabs us and drags us up into the sky?”

Fergus shook his head. “Rainbows don’t do that! Well, not usually…”

But Liam was too busy inching away from the rainbow to listen. He backed right up to the dessert table, knocking over a tower of clover cupcakes.

“Liam, come away from the dessert!” Queen Clover called, watching the cupcakes tumble to the floor. “Those are for everyone, not just your boots!”

Liam’s face went crimson. “I’m so sorry, Your Majesty! I just...I got a bit...carried away.”

Queen Clover chuckled. “Oh, you’re a funny one, Liam O’Shaughnessy. Now, come and have some golden punch!”

Liam gulped. “Er...punch?”

“Of course!” Fergus said, pulling him over to a massive bowl filled with sparkling golden punch. “Drink up, it’ll give you courage!”

Liam took a tiny sip, then another, until he felt a warm, happy glow spreading through him. “Well,” he said, a little braver, “maybe rainbows aren’t that scary after all.”

He was just starting to relax when a trumpet sounded, and a group of leprechauns wearing royal green sashes stepped into the hall.

“Attention, everyone!” the head leprechaun announced. “It’s time for the annual Pot of Gold Parade! All guests are invited to march outside and view the royal pot of gold at the end of Queen Clover’s very own rainbow!”

Liam’s eyes went wide. “The rainbow leads to...to...outside?”

Fergus patted him on the back. “Come on, Liam! It’s the grand finale!”

Liam wanted to protest, but then he saw Fergus’s eager face and remembered his promise to be there for his friend. “All right,” he said, taking a deep breath. “For you, Fergus.”

The guests lined up behind Queen Clover, and together they marched down the hill, following the shimmering rainbow all the way to the royal pot of gold. Liam clung to Fergus’s arm, praying he wouldn’t faint before they got there.

When they reached the end of the rainbow, Liam stared in awe. There it was, the biggest pot of gold he had ever seen, gleaming under the moonlight.

“Well, what do you think, Liam?” Fergus asked, nudging him.

Liam’s fear melted away as he looked at the gold, feeling his love for his friend fill his heart. “It’s...it’s incredible.”

“See?” Fergus grinned. “Nothing to be afraid of after all.”

Liam chuckled, feeling braver than he ever had before. “You’re right. Maybe...maybe I can do this.”

He stepped forward, reaching out to touch the pot of gold. But just as his fingers brushed it, a loud crackle filled the air, and the rainbow began to sparkle brighter and brighter.

Liam’s courage vanished instantly. “Uh...is that normal?”

Queen Clover laughed. “Why, of course! It’s a Rainbow Sparkle! When a leprechaun faces his biggest fear, the rainbow sends a sparkle to celebrate!”

“Really?” Liam asked, feeling a bit proud and a lot relieved. “So...it won’t toss me into the sky?”

“Nope,” Fergus said, clapping him on the shoulder. “Just a little sparkle, that’s all.”

Liam laughed, feeling the sparkle tingle over him like warm sunlight. He turned to Fergus, grinning from ear to ear. “You know, this wasn’t so bad after all.”

Fergus beamed. “See? You’re braver than you think, Liam O’Shaughnessy.”

Liam gave his friend a tight hug, feeling his heart swell with love. “Thank you, Fergus. I couldn’t have done it without you.”

And from that day forward, Liam never looked at a rainbow quite the same way again.