2. My Leprechaun Friend

I believe in speaking. It's a good way to explain yourself. An equally good way to understand others. And very useful when trying to solve a problem. That's why I like to learn languages. 

I also like to walk, especially early in the morning and especially in Ireland, when a rainbow is out. I greet the birds and the ants I find in my path in their own tongues. 

Often during my morning walks I would meet a friendly young leprechaun. He would tip his green hat and say, "Top of the morning to you!" 

"And of the rest of the day to you!" I would answer, because I had learnt that was the proper reply.

One day I said more than that because it had occurred to me that he could teach me to speak the language leprechauns speak among themselves. He was happy to, so we got into the habit of walking together and he would teach me leprechaun speak while we strolled. 

It turned out the leprechaun, whose name was Michael, had a treehouse in Minced Forest. It had an underground tunnel that took one to Ireland, where he liked to walk just like I did. 

One dire day a tall, thin fairy woman crossed our path. She wore a gown the color of two mists and one fog and three delicately carved silver and gold combs in her platinum hair. One of these combs came loose. It dropped right before Michael's feet. Gentleman that he is, he picked it up without thinking twice and returned it to her. 

"Now you've done it!" she scolded. "Don't you know any better than to pick up a comb from the ground here in Ireland? Where are you from? New York? You can't pick up a fallen comb here in Ireland without paying dearly for having done this. Now I'll have to stop to cast a wicked spell on you, and I in a horrible hurry too!"

So what Michael got instead of thanks was that he would have to teach English for nine years. 

The fairy woman was not being mean and ungrateful. It was nothing personal. It was the way things were done. 

I have no idea why you mustn't pick up a fallen comb in Ireland. I am still trying to find out why you have to pay dearly for such an innocent deed. Not even Glorvina, for such was the fairy woman's name, could explain why, but that is how things are done there and she had to do what she did.