Summer with the Leprechauns by Tanis Helliwell

Author:Tanis Helliwell
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: spirituality, ireland, fairies, elves, elementals, nature spirits, leprechauns
Publisher: Tanis Helliwell

Chapter 14:

CHURCH AND PUB

Days came and went, with no leprechaun. The end of my month at the cottage was fast approaching and I seemed to be no further ahead on my spiritual pilgrimage. I’d done a lot of meditating, when not entertaining my elemental friend, and I was still not enlightened.

A traveling bookmobile arrived at the village one morning and I decided that some light reading would brighten up my lonely days. Having finished Dante’s Inferno and both Matthew and Luke’s gospels in The New Testament, I was ready for some science fiction. With that thought in mind, I walked up the wobbly steps of the old van to browse through the selection.

“Good day. Can I help you?” I was greeted by a cheerful attractive man, looking more like a cross between a soccer player and a fisherman than a librarian. He had the tanned, healthy look of someone who worked outdoors.

“Would I be allowed to take out some books?” I inquired.

“Of course, just as long as you bring them back. I come every two weeks and park here for two hours,” he replied, smiling, and continued, “You’re allowed five books.”

Eyes now accustomed to the dim light, I saw rows of books stacked on either side of the van. “I’ll just look around first, if you don’t mind.”

“Not at all. Just call if you need assistance.” He turned to the next customer coming up the steps.

Moving through the shelves filled with biographies and picture books on the origin of our star system, I searched for science fiction. There were lots of love stories, which I imagined were in hot demand by the women of these remote towns. However, I could find no science fiction books at all.

Momentarily disappointed, I absentmindedly picked up the book on our star system. As I turned the pages, my eye caught sight of the children’s section. There, a large book protruded over the edge of the shelf. Fairies, it said. Reaching over, I picked it up and opened it at random. A large picture of a leprechaun stared back at me. Perfect, I thought. I’ll get it for the little ’uns—they’ll love it.

Picking up my bag of groceries, I checked out the two books and strolled back up the lane to the cottage. Walking in the door, I saw the little ’uns waiting for me beside the dining room table. They knew full well what I’d brought them. I put down the groceries and carried the faery book to the table. They jumped up and down and kept pushing each other out of the way to get a better view. Because books did not exist in their realm, they had never seen pictures of elementals before and were fascinated that humans had recorded them. They behaved like children discovering a mirror for the first time. Opening the book to the first page, I said, “I’ll turn the page every day, so you can see another elemental.”

They leaned over and had a look at a goblin that looked very similar to the one on our lane.

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