Over The Top: Make A Wish

There was a little man in the cupboard! He was sitting all hunched up, with his hands over his knees, and he was dressed in green. Beside him was a shoe and a little hammer.

"Oh dear, oh dear" the man was saying, "You've gone and messed up your spells again! When will you ever learn Shamus O'Flannigan?"

I didn't know what to do, or say, but Reginald did.

He grabbed the man by one of his skinny legs.

"Gotcha!" he said.

"You have me indeed," said the little man dangling upside down, "Tis true, and now I suppose you'll be wanting something from me?"

"That's right," said Reginald, "You're a leprechaun. That means I can have three wishes!"

"That's the truth," said the man, "But I'd better be warning you. Take care what you wish for, because you might just get it!"

"A leprechaun!" I said. I still hadn't quite got it.

The little man looked at me from under his bushy eyebrows.

"Yes?" he said, "Have you never heard of leprechauns? Do you not go to school?"

"But I thought leprechauns were just made up!"

"Do I look like a flight of fancy?" demanded Shamus, "Here, put your face a bit closer."

I moved nearer and he pinched my nose. Hard! I jumped back, with my hands on my face. Reginald was laughing.

"And I suppose you'll be wanting three wishes as well?" said Shamus.

"I don't know," I said, nursing my nose.

"I'll have to grant them, that I will" said the leprechaun, "Since I've gone and pulled your nose, but I'll give you the same warning!"

"I want my three wishes!" said Reginald, "I want them now!"

"Have you not got any manners?" said Shamus, "What's the hurry I'd like to know. I haven't even got out of this rabbit-hole of a room and you're already demanding things of me! Hold your horses!"