Prompt 

A little girl picking flowers accidentally picks up a leprechaun. 

-----------------------------------------------******---------------------------------------------------

“Get some fresh flowers. Today hopefully we should be able to sell a good bunch of them,” Clara’s mother was sounding optimistic. In a life full of misery, optimism was the only ray of hope. 

“Yes, mother.” Clara was only sixteen but misery was a perception left to the ones comparing their lives with the others. For her this was life and it had been this way since she was born. She did not have to take the crutches of optimism as she was full of life, the way she was. 

As Clara hopped and skipped her way to the field, the fragrance of the flowers led her their way. The cool breeze was soothing and the chirping birds stirred her soul; clearly, optimism was not for the big-hearted. She loved her life. Clara went about picking flowers until she came across a big one, one she had never seen before. 

“This one is so beautiful.” As she picked up the flower she heard an angry voice.  

“Let go of my hat.” It was a tiny man. A one she had never seen before. Even her neighbor’s three-year-old son was taller than him. 

“Who are you mister?”

“That’s none of your business,” the old tiny man shot back. 

“Oh, I am sorry about your hat,” Clara apologized but she could not hold her amusement back. 

“That does not look like an apology.” 

“Sorry about that mister. I am just so happy to see you.”

“Happy to see me? What am I, your long-lost uncle?” 

“No. You look cute.”

“Cute? Cute?” Clara could see the tiny man getting all red, “That is not a word used to describe me.”  

“I just like you. Can I take you home?”  

“Oh, there we go. Another huge little child.”

“Another? Have you met my friends before? They never told me about you.” 

“Look you seem to be a nice kid. Now, let me be on my way and you go about your business. What say you?” 

“Yes, but what is your name?”

“Huuhh… So you are not going to let me go without telling you my name. Okay then, I am Schmitzzig and I am a Leprechau….,” the tiny man stopped himself mid-way. “You did not hear that did you?” 

“I heard you. You are Schhhmmitchau and you are a Lepppzzig.” 

“Muahhahaaha,” the tiny man could not hold back his laughter, “And that’s what you heard? Muahahhahah.”

“That is so impolite.” “Haa… Huhh… Okay, I did not intend to hurt your feelings.” 

“I am not hurt,” Clara was still euphoric, “That’s what mother says if I laugh too much.” 

“I am starting to like you kid. You are not as grumpy as the others,” it was kind of ironic coming from the tiny man. “I am a Leprechaun and I have the power to grant wishes.”

“Oh, now I remember. Mother telling me about all those stories but I thought they were all fantasies.” 

“Well, I am not. Now, hurry up and tell me what do you want?”  

“I don’t want anything,” Clara said and Schmitzzig could not hide his astonishment. He had never seen or heard a human wanting nothing. It was just crazy for him. 

“Nothing at all?” 

“Nothing?” Clara asserted. 

“What about your family. What do they want?” 

“I don’t know but mother keeps saying that she would love if she could have acres of land where she could grow her flowers. That way I would not have to come here to pluck flowers. A big house in the middle of such a land. Also, people working for her to pluck flowers and sell them. To be really rich and have all these things.”

“Do you want them too?”

“No,” Clara said. 

Schmitzzig was finding it hard to believe that he was actually helping a human to get a wish right. Normally, he would flee or wriggle out of a situation where he had to grant a wish. “Okay, tell me this, do you want your mother to be happy?” 

“Yes.” 

“Will getting all those things make your mother happy?” 

“Yes, I think.” 

“So, again, do you want to see your mother happy?”

“Yes……” Clara’s gaze shifted from Schmitzzig to a place far off. Schmitzzig noticed that. 

“What happened?” 

“That puppy. The cart is going to crush it. Save the…..” before Clara could complete her sentence, Schmitzzig was back with the puppy. At the twinkling of an eye. 

“The puppy you mean?”  

“How did you do that?” Clara was amazed to see the safe and sound puppy in his hand. 

“I am a Leprechaun. Magic is my middle name. I have saved the puppy and granted your wish. Off you go now.”

“Thanks mister Leprechaun for granting my wish to save the puppy. You are very kind.” 

“I am. I know that. You have not gone, yet?” Schmitzzig was beaming back at her. “

I am off.” Clara smiled and kissed the Leprechaun and saw him turn red the second time. This time, though, she had reasons to believe that he was not angry. 

She did not realize that she was short-sold on her wishes. But then when she had no expectations, she had no reasons to feel bad about it. She did not even realize that she was short-sold.

-----------------------------------------------******---------------------------------------------------

Epilogue 

Clara came hopping and skipping back and stood few yards from her home. It was not her home at all. There were flowers in her yard and spread all the way as far as she could see. There was big house in the middle of it. Few men were plucking flowers and planting new plants. She did not know them. Just then her mother opened the door and came out arms stretched, calling out her name. She seemed happy. The naughty little Leprechaun had indeed granted her wish. 

She did see her mother happy! 

-----------------------------------------------******---------------------------------------------------

This story in written in response to @mctiller's short story contest which can be found here. 

Image Courtesy: Pixabay