Read by Michael Flamel

OOnce upon an October day in the picturesque village of Cloverfield, Kara Kelly found herself on a journey filled with enchantment and kindness. It was a radiant Saturday morning, the kind where the air was crisp, and the sky was a flawless shade of blue. Kara was returning home from the bustling village market, where she had sold all of her recently harvested vegetables.

As she trundled along the winding country road, she couldn’t help but feel a sense of contentment. The world around her was painted in the warm colors of autumn., but, as her thoughts turned to the much-anticipated harvest dance later that evening her smile turned into a frown, because she would not be attending.

Off to the west, atop a gentle hill crowned with a majestic oak tree, Kara noticed her family’s faithful sheepdog, Sam, barking with unrivaled enthusiasm. The sheep, as always, appeared unfazed, contentedly grazing in the dappled sunlight. Curiosity piqued, Kara halted her cart, climbed over the fence, and made her way to the top of the hill to investigate the source of Sam’s frenzied excitement.

There, perched about ten feet up in the tree on a low branch, was a leprechaun. The creature, no taller than three feet, looked remarkably composed, as if tree-perching was a common pastime. Kara smiled, her initial surprise giving way to curiosity, and she dismissed Sam, pointing him back toward his flock.

With a nimble leap, the leprechaun descended from his arboreal perch and landed gracefully on the ground. He looked at Kara with his twinkling eyes and asked, “What seems to be the matter, lass?” His voice held a musical quality, and it put Kara at ease.

Kara sighed, her expression somewhat sad, and began to explain her predicament. “My mother broke her leg in the garden last week,” she said, “and now she won’t be able to attend the harvest dance tonight. If she can’t go, my father won’t either, and I had been so looking forward to the dance, especially to see a young man named Ryan. I hoped to have at least one dance with him.”

The leprechaun listened attentively, his small face showing understanding. Then, with a twinkle in his eye, he offered to help Kara. She agreed, and together they climbed aboard her donkey cart, heading back to her family’s farmhouse.

Upon their arrival, the leprechaun suggested Kara go inside to check on her mother. To her astonishment, Kara found her mother’s leg was not just better; it was completely healed. She couldn’t believe her eyes and rushed back outside to share the miraculous news with her newfound friend.

The leprechaun then led Kara to the barn, where she found brand new dresses for herself and her mother, as well as a sharp new suit for her father, hanging neatly on the wall. As they exited the barn, a magical transformation had taken place—the humble donkey cart had been replaced by a grand pumpkin-shaped carriage, drawn by a tall black stallion. Kara gasped in amazement.

“I believe you and your family will be going to the harvest dance in style,” the leprechaun said with a mischievous grin, and in the blink of an eye, he disappeared into thin air.

Kara and her family indeed attended the harvest dance that evening, arriving in their newfound elegance. Kara danced not just once with Ryan but seven times, her heart filled with joy and gratitude.

Years passed, and Kara and Ryan built a life together, raising their own family, including a daughter named Mary. Kara and Ryan cherished their time together and would often recount the tale of the leprechaun and the harvest dance to their children, filling their home with stories of magic, kindness, and the enchanting spirit of autumn. It was a story that would be passed down through generations, a reminder of the power of a little kindness and the magic that could be found when you least expected it. ❖