I woke up as usual when the sun came up, the smell of cookies that came from the kitchen made me jump to put aside the sheets, my brother was standing in front of the oven and he was waiting for me with a big smile.
The tree where we lived was the most beautiful of the meadow, every morning the rays of light caressed our home and at night the small entrance that my father had built was lit with fireflies.
That day was very special for me; I was old enough to start working with others. There were three important jobs: collecting gold, making shoes for the fairies, elves, nymphs ... (We are very good at making shoes) and caring for the dreams of children.
I wanted to be a gold collector, the oldest and wisest Leprechauns were gold gatherers and the stories of the journey to the end of the rainbow were fascinating. Making shoes seemed like a boring job even though everyone in my family was shoemakers and taking care of the children's dreams gave me a bit of fear even though it was quite simple, we just had to sit next to them at night, we appeared and disappeared watching they were good, sometimes we entered the dreams of the little ones only to see them smile when they woke up, that was a magical moment but although it seemed beautiful it was the most dangerous work, the owners of the children were big, cruel and stinky creatures; they hated us They beat us with brooms and everything they had within reach, hardly hit us because we are good at disappearing, but anyway it was dangerous to be near them.
My region was small so we all helped with the rest of the tasks; the best part was when the naughty goblins came at the end of the week with barrels full of beer, the best beer of all the meadows based on honey. The mischievous goblins were the bravest; at night they escaped to the other world to make jokes to the owners of the children, hid their things, ate their food and frightened them with noises.
With the children there were many rules, the worst of all was that we could only take care of them for a couple of years, then we could not visit them again and we did not know what was happening with them.
Before leaving for the ceremony my brother approached me with the tray of cookies, they were my favorites and he knew it. After breakfast and filling my body with sweet chocolate was ready to go.
Dante approached me with a handful of leaves in his hand, with an immense smile opened the leaves and I see a pair of emerald shoes, as green as his eyes, shone like fairy dust.
- This is my offering to you brother, put them today. They will give you luck. I made them especially for you, they have the highest sole. You will see yourself bigger - He gave me a hug - Do not let them make you feel less than you are.
I think I skipped this part of the story; I'm an elf smaller than normal. It should not be a problem to be small within the leprechaun world but apparently, it is. I measure 10cm tall, and the standard of normality is 15cm to 30cm. I do not see it as a problem and it is not something that I dislike, but for others, it is mockery most of the time. Being smaller makes things easier for me, the beasts of the other world do not see me, all the flowers give me shade and I enter each hollow of the trees. There are advantages everywhere.
I put on my high shoes and went running to the ceremony that would take place on a large apple tree. It smelled delicious, they were all gathered with beers in their hands and their red beards looked busier than ever, they told jokes and laughed out loud while my five companions and I took a seat. My father had already arrived, I felt like sugar was rising to my head and my hands were sweating. The older Leprechaun welcomed us and started asking us questions.
- My boys! What would you like to do in this region?
- I want to take care of the children's sleep - Ralf spoke first, he was so energetic and the smile did not fit in his plump cheeks.
- Are you sure? You must be aware of the dangers - Interrupted the leader of the groups that go to the other world.
- I'm very sure - He spoke quickly as if the words escaped from his mouth.
- Then you're welcome.
Everyone shouted in a chorus and splashed beer on the table. Little by little my other colleagues talked, in the end, we had two children caretakers, two shoemakers, a collector and almost empty glasses. It was my moment.
- Well, I ... - Everyone interrupted me, toasted and played the Irish music they adored. - Excuse me ... - More and more noise - Hey!
The band stopped playing and everyone fell silent.
- What's going on? - I speak the greatest of leprechauns
- I have not told you what I want to do
- Shoemaker right? - He smiled and raised his jar - Let's drink for that!
The music flooded the room again.
- Gatherer - Scream with all my strength - I want to be a gold collector.
Everything was absolutely silent until there was a slight laughter behind me
- Son, you can't be a gatherer. - My father spoke softly, I could only hear myself
- I want to collect the gold that the rainbow leaves us - Firmly lift me out of the chair
- Sorry, Mike, you're the smallest of us. I can not let you be on my team, you can get hurt. Your place is in the workshop. You have talent and I know you will be the best, just like your brother and your father. - Crom was the leader of the collectors, his hat was full of clovers and his hands were full of bright rings. He was nice to me but it still hurt.
- I know I can ... - My words just came out.
- We do it for your own good, it's already decided.
I ran out of the place as fast as I could. They could not decide for me and I was willing to show them that I could look for gold by myself.
I arrived home and my brother was waiting anxiously, with tears in my eyes I tried to tell him what happened but I could barely speak, he hugged me and helped me to fill my purse with cherries, water, and some bread. I had heard the collectors say that a rainbow was about to appear.
Upon leaving my tree I heard the fairies flutter and their high voices flooded my ears, the rainbow had already shown, so I went after him.
I appeared and disappeared for hours, the bright colors of the rainbow were blinding and the frost that released when the wind blew made me sneeze, again and again, I already saw myself as a green fairy. Tired and somewhat grumpy I followed my path, the sun filtered through the colors and everything around me was an intense reflection of red, orange, yellow, green, blue and purple. In the distance, I could see more than one giant beast, but they ignored me and also ignored the rainbow. A mixture of rain and sun was bothering all day, the raindrops fell on me and hit me strongly, I was drenched and dizzy. The sun came out from time to time to dry me but my strength ran out. For a second I came to think that the Leprechaun was right but just when I was about to disappear I saw in the distance the light that emanates gold. I reached the end.
I ran with all my strength, I was not going to appear there, I wanted to run and feel the emotion in my heart. I arrived at a beautiful lake of crystal clear water, surrounded by nymphs and fairies, sang a sweet song and wore long dresses full of flowers, diamonds, and leaves. They were beautiful, I had never seen nymphs in person. I stood in front of them, watching them, with my mouth open, the fairies began to laugh and I awoke from my dream charm.
- Where is the gold? - I did not see it anywhere
- What gold? - The nymphs looked at me incredulously - This rainbow does not bring gold, small
- How? - It could not be true.
- Everyone knows - They laughed in a chorus - Once a year, Mother Nature gives us this gift. A unique rainbow, that's why we're here. We are at a party.
- The leprechauns did not know that - I did not understand anything
- And how will they know? They spend all day with their beers, their music, and their parties. They have not attended meetings for years.
- I need that gold ... - I was about to cry, but something happened...
A noise made the fairies and nymphs disappear but I was so stunned that I did not notice and out of the bush came a beast. I tried to disappear but I was so tired that my magic did not reach. - Do not hurt me! - I closed my eyes and covered my face.
- You're ... you're a goblin - She knew who I was.
- How do you know? - She lay down on the grass and put her face at the height of my body.
I had never seen them so close, I had never seen their faces, she had beautiful honey eyes, and her lips looked like two rose petals, it was the face of the children we cared for, that face, that innocence ... But it could not be a child, was a beast.
- May l? - Her finger touched my beard and tears began to fall from her eyes.
- Why are you crying? - I had forgotten the gold, I had forgotten the nymphs and I forgot the other Leprechauns. Her eyes were like watching a sunset.
- Because you're real ... I always believed that I had dreamed them. But I saw them some time ago when I was just a girl. I remember them and I waited many years to see them again. I thought they would not come back. - She dried her tears and smiled. - What is your name?
- Mike - I could not talk
- You are not a dream
- And you're not a beast
Here the link of the contest https://steemit.com/twentyfourhourshortstory/@mctiller/writers-win-5-steem-twenty-four-hour-short-story-contest-for-march-13-topic-8-a-leprechaun-can-t-find-the-gold-at-the-end-of-the