LONNIE THE LONELY LEPRECHAUNLONNIE THE LONELY LEPRECHAUN
And so it was that Lonnie was playing in willow creek on the sunny Sunday that little Sally Tucker got lost in the woods. She had stumbled out of the bushes with a red face and tears in her eyes, and Lonnie's heart went out to her. Lonnie watched her for a moment, wondering who she might be, then took a deep breath and stepped out of the willows.
"Who are you?" he asked.
Little Sally Tucker stopped crying. She looked at Lonnie.
"What are you?" she retorted.
"I'm a Leprechaun," said Lonnie.
Little Sally Tucker's face lit up with joy and wonder. "A REAL leppy con?" A really, really real one?
"Yes," said Lonnie, "A really real one. Why were you crying?"
Little Sally Tucker's smile disappeared instantly. "I'm lost," she whined, "I was having a picnic with my Mommy and Daddy, and I ran after a butterfly, and now can't find my way back!"
Little Sally Tucker started to cry again. Lonnie felt bad for her.
"Don't cry," he said, "We'll find your parents together."
Sally stopped crying as Lonnie took her hand and led her out of the willows. They began walking toward the place where Lonnie had seen human children before. Surely this was where Sally had been picnicking. They didn't talk to each other as they walked, but that was okay. They could already tell that they would be fast friends. Just when Lonnie was beginning to think he may have taken a wrong turn, and little Sally was beginning to grow afraid again, they suddenly heard voices carrying on the breeze. Sally grinned. "That's my Mommy and Daddy! They're calling me!"
She gave Lonnie a kiss on the cheek. "Thank you! You must be the luckiest leprechaun ever!"
And with that, Little Sally Tucker ran off to the waiting arms of her parents. Lonnie watched her go with as large a smile as was possible on such a little face. She had said he was lucky! As Lonnie walked away, he decided that even though everyone didn't think he was lucky, little Sally Tucker did. He had been lucky for her, no matter what anyone else thought of him. He knew now that he was just as god a leprechaun as any other. And that was all that really mattered.