Introduction:
Top-o-the day to you all. It is almost Spring in the Northern half
of the world and below the equator the nip of Fall is starting to be
felt. The transition between seasons has always been both
spectacular and a bit magical. It is very apropos that one of the
first days celebrated in many parts of the world is St. Patrick’s
Day when for a few moments many of us become a ‘wee bit’ Irish.
It will come as no surprise to most of you that Trolls are very much
aware of the ‘little people’ we call Leprechauns as they are all
magical and magic using creatures everywhere. What is not known is
that sometimes these creatures meet and when they do the fun usually
begins. Such is the case in our most recent story by Master
Trollologist, Martin Calderwood which is set in the early 1970s at a
small High School in the U.S.A. known as Tannersville High (the home
of the Fighting Trolls). I hope you will enjoy this St. Patrick’s
Day Troll Tale and if you happen to know anybody who is even a little
Irish send them this story and brighten their day. I am happy to
introduce “A ‘Wee’ Bit o Troll Luck.”
A ‘Wee’ Bit o Troll Luck
Even
as a High School Junior Benjamin Norse could barely keep his eyes
from wondering up to the clock as math and the early Spring afternoon
crept slowly toward its end.
“Twenty
minutes.” He
thought morosely as he turned and glanced out the window at the
bright blue sky flecked here and there with high fluffy clouds. For
several seconds Ben studied these downy white specks which lulled
seemingly immune to the gentle breeze that stirred around them. He
let his imagination make images out of these clouds most of which
gradually shifted to geometric shapes with a variety of x and y
variables that needed to be measured.
Below
the clouds, triangular shaped Spruce trees waved invitingly just
beyond the stream that cut across the school yards edge 200 yards
away. The trees, many of which were decades old, formed the edge
of a sprawling forest that came down and touched the small town of
Tannersville on it’s Eastern edge next to the school. Ben caught
his mind drifting into those trees estimating heights and internal
angles as another ‘eternal’ five minutes ticked off the classroom
clock.
Gradually
his eyes begin to close as his boredom grew.
“And
the answer to number twenty-two, Mr Norse?”
Ben
started and several of the class snickered at his being caught
daydreaming. He looked down at the paper which stared back at him
blank and fresh. Embarrassed, his mind focused briefly on the
problem on the blackboard, a quadratic equation solving for ‘x’
when ‘y’ equaled 1/4 x times three.
“Ummmm,”
he said as his mind raced. “‘x’ equals twenty-four.”
“Correct.
Keep your eyes on your book. Class will be over soon enough.”
Ben
grinned sheepishly and his eyes flashed around the room before
glancing once again up at the clock.
“Eleven
minutes.” He
sighed inwardly.
Three
more questions were answered and Ben’s mind was beginning to drift
back into the woods when the teacher gave the assignment adding,
“Did you get that Mr. Norse?”
Ben
looked perplexed.
The
teacher sighed. “Ask your partner in crime.” she paused nodding
at a nearby girl sitting in a wheel chair. “I am sure she will
give it to you.”
Ben
looked at the slender but attractive face which smiled back at him as
she adjusted her glasses. Behind her a freckle faced red head pulled
a face and grinned broadly as he held up two fingers which became one
then none as the fist made a dropping move.
As if
on cue the bell sounded and the students erupted into the hall in
hopes the rapid departure would somehow magically extend the weekend
before them. Even the teacher was quickly packing her books as if
she feared one of the students might come up with a question that
would delay her retreat from the hallowed halls of education.
She
need not have feared for within seconds the only three remaining
people in the room were a very unlikely trio to which she had
referred when she had chided Benjamin moments before.
“Goodnight
you three.” she said as she walked out the door.
The
three muttered a farewell but continued their slightly animated
discussion uninterrupted.
Of
the three only Ben turned toward her as she slipped out the door. He
was an honors student to whom math came easily. If he continued on
his current path he would easily be in the running for Valedictorian
for the Class of 1972. With him was his ever present shadow and best
friend, Peter O’Day who’s neat sandy red hair was a sharp
contrast to Ben’s long almost flyaway blond locks. The third
person was Karen Harrison who was also in the running for Class
Valedictorian. Her frail body, which was mostly confined to a
wheelchair held a brilliant and somewhat devious mind. The
competition between her and Ben had somehow drawn them together
rather than the opposite and they would often help each other in
their various assignments. Of course the real beneficiary of this
friendship was Peter who’s grades had soared immensely when he
started hanging around the two competitors during their sophomore
year. It was almost as if he’d been drawn to them when he’d
moved to the small town from Ireland. Coincidently, they had somehow
gravitated to him as well. It was if the pair somehow understood why
Peter’s father had decided to flee the violence still prevalent in
their native country while Peter struggled with the idea. Benjamin
had helped Peter to understand that it was his father’s deepest
hope that the small town values of Tannersville, USA would allow the
O’Day family to keep the traditions and hopes of his beloved
homeland alive.
For
his part, Peter, had contributed a mischievous streak that had
activated something dormant in the other two and though it was not
generally known, anything unusual or somewhat pranksterish could, in
all likelihood, be traced back to this ensemble. Naturally, no one
had ever proven a thing and if they were ever confronted the trio
modestly blamed the school Troll.
Gerta,
the Sack Troll was reputed to be a squat, ugly two foot tall troll
who haunted the school doing all kinds of mischief. Over the past
twenty-seven years since the school had been built she had been
blamed for every clanking pipe, unexpected malfunction and spilled
container in a locked room. Legend had it that Gerta once lived
under a bridge that crossed a stream which had meandered through the
land now occupied by the school. When the workers re-channeled the
stream’s course and demolished the old bridge the very upset Troll
was said to have moved into the school as soon as the cellar and
basement were finished. Cost overruns and damaged equipment were all
eventually blamed on the Troll by the contractor who was said to have
invented her to cover his own carelessness. It was also said that he
got the idea from Ben’s father Olaf, a sixteen year old ditch
digger at the time an idea Mr. Norse now tried to keep suppressed as
much as possible.
After
the school was dedicated, Gerta was quiet for several years until one
afternoon in the teachers lounge a toilet exploded saturating the
clothing and personage of a very unpopular vice principal. Since no
culprit was ever found, Gerta got the blame. Ben recalled hearing
the story from his Uncle John, the youngest in his father’s family,
who had been a senior at the time. Uncle John’s visual retelling
of the story had made Ben laugh so hard his sides ached much to the
disapproval of Ben’s more practical father.
No
one could remember where the Troll got her name or a gender but it
was suggested that someone heard her whispering her name in the dark
and empty halls after one particularly smelly prank had cleared the
school for the afternoon.
When
Ben was old enough to write, he started to collect the stories and
legends of incidents attributed to the feisty troll. This natural
curiosity was fueled, in part, by his uncle and aunt, who thought it
fun to help him understand the old county and it’s myths through
the efforts of ‘their Troll’. Neither one could explain how a
Norwegian Troll had found its way to America but they were sure that
it had. At age eleven Ben could not get enough of the idea and he
wrote stories and reports over the next few years for his classes.
Some of these efforts he sent to relatives still living in Norway.
Ben’s
second favorite story was of the one and only time Gerta had been
spotted by an adult. It happened just six years after the school had
been open. One of the science teachers had gone down to the cellar
store room under the gym to retrieve some of the grain stored there
for the various critters who often occupied the labs or animal
husbandry class. Just as he entered, he saw Gerta’s head coming
out of the largest grain sack. The man was so startled that he fell
backwards and dropped his kerosene lamp. The resultant fire
destroyed the gym and part of the cafeteria. When the new gym was
completed, it included a weight room and other things never dreamed
of by the original contractor. It even had showers and flushing
toilets! After that time most people referred to Gerta as the
‘Sack Troll’. A picture of her, done by a student in 1960, was
hung in the library above the check-out desk until 1970 when it was
replaced by a poster of Neil Armstrong on the moon. As for the
science teacher, he retired the next year and denied to his dying day
that he had really gone down to the cellar to retrieve a bottle of
fine whiskey he had stashed for ‘medicinal purposes’ as many
people speculated. He never did deny seeing the ‘Sack Troll’
whom he blamed for the fire.
Over the years
Ben’s interest waned but he still held a love for most things
involving Trolls and Trolldom. Now and then he would write a Troll
story but most of these he kept to himself and his family. Once in a
while he would turn one in for credit. One short story even won a
prize his Sophomore year for “Outstanding Mythological Story of the
Year”.
It
was only natural that, at his suggestion, Benjamin and his friends
chose to stick steadfastly to the ‘troll defense’ anytime they
caused anything unusual to happen. To their good luck or good
planning none of them ever received a minutes worth of detention for
any of their activities though Mr. Middleton, the vice principal,
always suspected Ben and Peter of everything. A new act of what he
termed vandalism, however, seemed to have made it his new life’s
work to prove the three were responsible.
The
repainting of the spiked club carried by the school mascot, a fierce
looking, red bearded Troll in Viking armor named ‘Rocky the Red’,
to look like a bouquet of flowers, bedecked with peace signs was the
‘final straw’. The fact that each ‘sign’ bore the
inscription “Make trolls, not war!” added to the flame. Mr.
Middleton was determined to demonstrate that Ben and his friends were
somehow responsible for it even if they did not do it themselves.
Anything else the vice-principal accomplished in the process would be
icing on the cake.
His
simple declarative during morning announcements that he would not let
the Mascot of the “Fighting Trolls of Tannersville High’ be
besmirched by a bunch of “unpatriotic, do nothing, disloyal,
oddball, long haired students” had raised virtually everyone’s
hackles and sent a chill of dread through the school’s 465
students. When he added that he would give homework passes to the
student or students who turned in the perpetrator(s) most every mouth
in the school clamped shut.
It
was this announcement that the three were discussing as the class
vanished to the weekend.
Peter,
who was a fine artist, grinned broadly after doing his impersonation
of the vice principal giving the announcement. “It tis really good
artwork don’t ya think?”
Karen
looked at him dubiously. “Are your surrrrre neither of you were
involved even on the suggestion level? Half the student body thinks
you did.”
Both
boys shook their heads. “Not me.” they said as one.
Ben
looked at his watch. “We had better hurry, your mother will be
here any minute.”
Karen
raised her eyebrows but instead of commenting further she gladly
accepted Ben’s help in hanging her backpack from the handles of her
chair. She then waited patiently and silently for her friends to
finish packing their briefcases before starting to talk as Ben pushed
the chair with Peter carrying both cases down the hall beside them.
In
her conversation she named the only other pair of possible suspects,
Tom Jarmain and Dana Maystrem, both of whom were known to be part of
a small group of students who put out a small underground newspaper
called “The Orc’s Voice” which openly protested the Vietnam War
and urged everyone to resist the draft. She concluded that they
could not discount Gerta either.
Both
boys agreed with a wink and a smile.
Finally
changing the subject she continued to talk nonstop. “You know, you
guys should get back packs instead of those heavy briefcases. They’d
be a whole lot easier to carry and your hands would be free to do
other things.”
“Like
talk?” joked Ben watching Karen’s hands gesture on their own
accord as she spoke.
“No,
like eating.” she replied as Ben stuffed a cookie into his mouth.
“But I think someday every student will carry a back pack and only
suits and a few hold out geeks like you two will have briefcases.”
“Yea,
but then every kid’ll have a bad back and teachers will think it’s
so easy they will assign more homework to fill ‘em up.” suggested
Peter. “No thank ye, I’ll stick with letting me arms stretch so
my knuckles can drag the floor.” He concluded by imitating an ape.
“You
won’t have far to go on the evolutionary scale.” said Karen with
a grin.
“Ouch!”
yelled Ben clutching his heart as he let go of the chair which rolled
forward several feet.
“I’ve
been shishkabobbed!” exclaimed Peter in feigned agony.
Karen
laughed as the two boys stood up still ‘staggering’. “Push
on slaves!” she said pointing forward. “I’d walk but my legs
are only good for about 10 or so minutes.” She paused and looked
at her unusually weak legs. For a moment she seemed to struggle with
her frustration and emotions the with a brief sigh brightened. “Push
on!”
They
traveled easily laughing and enjoying each other’s company. They
only paused in their chatter to catch their breath keeping the
conversation steady until they turned the corner toward the office
where Karen’s mom would be waiting, as usual, to pick her up.
Mrs.
Harrison was standing, as always, next to the eight-foot tall ‘life
size’ portrait of Rocky, which hung opposite the main office doors.
Rocky’s right hand was extended in a welcoming gesture while
pointing to a sign that read “Welcome to Tannersville High, Home of
the Fighting Trolls!” Today, his left hand clutched a beautiful
bouquet of Spring flowers. Interestingly the spike in the top of the
club had been over painted to resemble a thorny stem of a rose. On
the end of this stem was a single beautiful red rose. Ben noted that
each thorn resembled the original spike. Someone had taken a great
bit of planning to prepare this prank.
The
conversation faded until Karen greeted her mother who hugged her
gently as if her fragile daughter would break while the boys admired
the new addition to the painting.
Karen’s
mother, Judy, turned to the boys and for the first time noticed the
bouquet. “When did that happen?” she exclaimed looking dubiously
at her daughter’s friends.
Yesterday
or last night.” replied Karen then she quickly added “we had
nothing to do with it.”
Her
mother sighed in relief but still looked doubtfully at the two boys.
“Okay, I guess we’d better get going.”
“See
you later.” said Karen accepting her mother’s purse.
Ben
nodded. “I’ll call later.”
Karen
turned and smiled then glanced up at the portrait of Rocky. Suddenly
she gasped letting out a short squeak.
Ben
and Thomas turned “What?” the asked before her mother could
speak.
Karen
glanced at the picture wondering if it really had winked at her.
“Nothing,” she said finally. “I... I thought I saw a spider
crawling on the picture.”
Ben
winked at Thomas. “Okay, Miss Muffet, get off your tuffet and go
home. And don’t forget we still have a lot of planning to do so as
soon as I have finished my curds and whey I’ll give you a call.
Good night Mrs. Harrison.”
Peter
snickered as Karen shot a scowl at him.
The
two boys watched as Karen’s mom pushed their friend out of sight.
“Do
you think Gerta did this?” asked Ben half seriously.
“Either
her or a Leprechaun.” joked Peter. “My money is on the
Leprechaun. I don’t think trolls can paint.”
“Yea,
like one of your little people would travel all the way to
Tannersville to make a war protest?” grinned Ben. “Pages 321 and
322 1 through 26 except 20 for Math, right?”
Peter
nodded, unsurprised, then took on a mock solemnity to his face.
“Never underestimate the little people for it twould be to your
utter peril.” He laughed then added in is his best Irish brogue;
“Top o da evenin’ to ye, laddie.”
Ben
bowed sweepingly. “And to ye. Keep the wee people ‘appy and vee
Norvegeons vill keep da Trolls happy too. And vee shall all be
bless-ed.”
*****
“Am
I glad you called!” said Karen without so much as a ‘hello, how
are you.’ “I must be losing my mind!”
“And
I am fine, how are you doing. Oh just ducky, Yea, couldn’t be
better. Thanks for asking.” joked Ben.
“Well
I am not. I did not freak because of a stupid spider earlier.
Promise you won’t laugh? I thought I saw Rocky wink at me! I was
so freaked I couldn’t eat. Mom had to give me one of those yucky
shots and I lay in my bed and wondered what I had seen and I went
over and over and over it in my mind and I know what I think I saw
and if the picture winked then I am going nuts and who would believe
me if I told anyone and...”
“Slow
down.” exclaimed Ben interrupting her in a loud voice. “Take a
breath. If you keep talking that fast your tongue will fall out.
Now there is an easy explanation. It was probably just a watch flash
from the sun or a shadow. Your angle was not all that good and who
knows it could have even been a spider that crawled past the eye at
that moment.”
Karen
took a slow breath. “I thought of all that and even a few others
based on what kinds of medication I am taking. I still think Rocky
winked at me!”
There
were several seconds of silence on the other end of the phone but
Karen could tell that Ben was trying hard to compose himself so he
did not laugh. Finally after what seemed like an eternity Ben could
not hold back a fleeting snicker.
“You
don’t believe me!” she said trying to keep herself from
snickering too.
“No,
you may have thought you did. I guess if any person took what you do
they’d see a lot more than pictures winking.” he said trying to
sound as concerned as he felt.
“I
thought of that. I really did and I even thought I was going nuts
but I saw him wink! I haven’t told anyone until now and I only
told you because I thought you would not laugh.” she finally said
feeling a more frustrated than angry.
Ben
laughed, this time a little uncomfortably. “Okay, okay. Suppose
it is true. Why would a recently vandalized picture of a school
mascot choose to wink at you.”
“It
does sound kind of silly. Perhaps you are right and I did just
misinterpret what my eyes saw. After all, if I were a troll with so
many pretty girls to choose from I would not wink at a crip in
wheelchair.”
“That
is not what I meant!” Ben protested.
“I
know but it is a logical conclusion. Maybe I should have just
chalked it up to an unexplained illusion and said nothing. Still you
are sweet to listen. How are the dance plans going?”
“Great.”
exclaimed Ben grateful for the change of topic
They
talked for several minutes about an upcoming Stomp (dance) they were
helping to plan. Ben mentioned that some of the special-ed kids
wanted to go, especially Allen Salvatore and he was wondering if any
of Karen’s friends would be willing to dance with him. Karen was
doubtful but said she would ask without making it too obvious or hard
to say no. She also wondered if anyone would even ask her to dance
being a ‘crip and all’ who just happened to help plan the stomp.
Ben did not know how to answer because even to him the idea of
dancing with her had never occurred to him. Peter was taking a girl
named Madeline Nottnilf but Ben had yet to ask anybody thinking he
would just go stag and see what happened. He tried to say something
but before he could Karen returned to her primary concern.
“I
just hope Middleton doesn’t catch whoever repainted Rocky. I think
it’s kind of cute. I hate this stupid war anyway. I’d be
crushed if you or Peter were drafted and had to go to Nam.”
On
the other end of the line Ben smiled a bit uncomfortably. “If it
happens it happens. As for Middleton, he will find nothing, not if
Peter and I have anything to say about it. Besides this time we are
innocent.” There was a brief pause. “Hey I gotta go. Don’t
go winking at any strange pictures!”
Karen
smiled in spite of herself. “Grrrrrrrrrrrr.” she growled and
gently hung up the phone.
*****
Monday
morning Allen Salvatore came running up to Peter and Ben as they
entered the school. Allen was a big hulking boy who played lineman
for the school football team. His simple, nine year old mind, could
follow the most basic of plays and he enjoyed some notoriety because
he could break through most lines and make tackles more often than
others. Still he was also the brunt of several jokes and pretty much
ignored after the football season ended. Allen’s only help in
school was a few younger students assigned to help him maintain his
grades so he could play football. To him the upcoming dance meant a
chance to dance with a real girl, a dream he had even though most
girls were embarrassed to even be near him. Even his sister, whom he
loved dearly and who helped out a lot, avoided him in public
particularly since he started claiming that he had seen Gerta last
year and actually talked with her! Despite her public cold shoulder
Allen often boasted of her talents and skills telling everyone how
she had an ‘A’ average in school and how she was one of only two
sophomores to have ever made the Varsity Tennis Team.
Allen
had gravitated toward Ben after ‘forcing’ his mother to read
Ben’s troll story over and over shortly after it was published in
the school ‘English Lit’ magazine. Neither Ben nor Peter were
bothered by the attention and if fact they found it kind of fun to
share ‘their troll secrets’ with the overgrown child. Allen’s
mother was actually relieved that her son had at least two ‘normal’
friends and she went out of her way to have cookies or other treats
available anytime the boys had to bring Allen home after some
incident or the other occurred at school.
Knowing he was
probably being ignored by those around him Allen got behind the duo
and spoke somewhat quietly for him. “Hey guys, I gots to show ya
somethin’.” He said his big hands pushing each boy forward.
“Gerta showed me the other night. I forgot my gym bag an’ came
back an’ Gerta was standin’ right thar just around the corner
from the mural. She wiggled her finger at me and I followed an’
she showed me this.”
With
a childlike fanfare Allen opened the door of the broom closet and
reached through and pushed on the back wall which swung open. Inside
was a narrow hall about 15 feet long and six or seven feet wide that
could have been used to store partitions and perhaps the wheeled
blackboards once used in the school.
“Meet
me here after school an’ bring Karen.” he said without further
explanation before turning around blocking any further study of the
room by his friends.
Allen
quickly closed the door and headed for class. Peter and Ben watched
him until he rounded the corner, shrugged and walked to class.
During
the last half of the day when some of the ‘jocks’ heard of the
plans being made by Allen to go to the dance several had teased and
all but mocked him about his dream. To their frustration he seemed
somehow oblivious to their intentions until they started asking him
if he’d asked Gerta to be his date yet. When one of them called
him a Troll lover Allen had gotten flustered and in his efforts to
escape his tormentors accidently hit the popular basketball player
blackening his eye. Everyone present had sided with the injured
player saying Allen had started it.
As
punishment Allen received two weeks of detention and had to talk to
the counselor for the rest of the semester. When he was asked why by
Mr. Middleton, Allen asked for Ben and Peter before shutting his
mouth like a pouting child. The vice principal had reluctantly
called them to the office.
The
moment Peter entered the office Allen blurted out that he had seen a
little bearded man dancing at the edge of the nearby forest with a
rainbow shining around him. Allen glanced over at Peter certain that
at least this one of his two ‘best friends’ would believe him.
His pleading tear filled eyes suggested he wanted to talk to Peter
alone but he knew that this would be impossible. After some
hesitation Allen glanced nervously at the adult V.P. and pinched his
lips shut.
Mr.
Middleton looked skyward and turned to Peter who shrugged and looked
at the door. “Wait till Ben gets here.” he finally
said softly more to Allen than to the V.P.
When
Ben arrived moments later the lineman- sized child ran up and gave
him a hug and in a deep, slow bass voice told him the story of his
encounter with the little man with the bright red hair and fuzzy red
beard before he sat down on the desk.
When
Allen finally finished Peter looked at Ben and raised an eyebrow.
“So you saw a Leprechaun, did ye?”
Allen
nodded then looked at the counselor and boldly proclaimed “I saw a
Leprechaun.” It was apparent that all thoughts of the fight were
gone to Mr. Middleton’s exasperation. Finally he simply reiterated
the punishment and told Ben that he and Peter would have to stay and
see that Allen got home okay. He then left the room chuckling as
Allen began to talk excitedly to his friends.
The
story Allen spun was disjointed and fanciful but it came down to the
fact that when the jocks had started teasing him he had been thinking
about the rainbow and was trying to think of a way to tell them so
they would be his friends too. He had not wanted to get mad but when
they told him that he and Gerta should have babies and the ugly ones
would look like Allen he had gotten mad and hit their leader a brash
bully named Bart Carpenter.
To
counter Allen’s enthusiasm Peter suggested to him that if he wanted
Ben would write down the story so Allen could give it to his English
teacher. She could then share it with the class if she wanted.
Allen was sure that she would and he readily agreed to this thought.
He also agreed not to say anything else until the story was done so
that everyone would be surprised at the ending. When they left the
office at the end of sixth period Allen whispered a reminder to them
about their planned ‘meetin’. Both boys half-heartedly agreed to
come and to try to get Karen there too.
Neither
Peter nor Ben knew what to think of Allen, his story and his recent
behavior. On their way back to their class after dropping off their
charge they discussed the coincidence of just having discussed ‘the
wee little people’ last week. They agreed that the story was very
imaginative and neither thought Allen had overheard their
conversation though the big boy could appear almost magically when
least expected in spite of his size. They finally concluded that
there was nothing they could do until after school and returned to
class.
*****
As it
turned out Karen could not make it that evening as she had a doctor’s
appointment. Peter and Ben met Allen by the detention room door and
watched him look around to make sure that no one else was watching.
After several minutes they opened the closet door and walked in
looking around.
Enthusiastically
Allen shouldered his way past the boys and pushed through the
concealed door moving awkwardly until he stood in the middle of the
hidden room. With a flourish he moved a small stool that sat in one
corner over to the middle of the outer wall and climbed up. They
watched in amazement as he reached up and seemed to move something
aside. “It’s Rocky’s eye. I can look through and see the
hall!”
Both
boys crowded in and examined the evidence. The peephole was covered
by a small patch that when moved aside allowed them to peer into the
main hall. After several minutes of exploration they replaced the
cover.
“I
wonder if they have one of these near the girls locker room?”
questioned Peter softly.
“This
explains a lot.” muttered Ben as Peter looked at him curiously.
“Gerta
says she watches us sometimes when we are in school.”
Ben
looked at Peter and shook his head glancing at Allen who was moving
the stool back into position.
“You
been spying on us?” asked Peter.
Allen
looked abashed. “No. It was Gerta.” he insisted after a
moment’s pause.
For a
moment both Ben and Peter tried to press Allen for details about the
Troll and the Leprechaun but all Allen did was smile and giggle like
a child with a secret. Finally he simply restated that he HAD seen a
Leprechaun and that Gerta REALLY wanted to meet them.
Finally
Ben sighed in exasperation and clapped the big lad on his shoulder.
“Yea okay, Allen, it sounds kind of wild but we believe you. We
would love to meet the old Sack Troll so you tell Gerta to meet us
here tomorrow evening after Chess Club and we’ll know you’re not
joshing us. We’ll even try to get Karen to join us. Right now we
have to hurry, we have lab notes to go over.”
Peter
looked at his friend dubiously and mouthed the words “You’re
crazy.” as Ben exited the former storage area.
Allen
smiled and turned to follow. “Knew I could tell ya. Told her I
did. I tell her.”
“And
tell her to bring her Leprechaun friend.” added Peter non-mockingly
as he moved through the hidden door and hurried after his friend.
“See you later Big Guy.” he added over his shoulder. Both boys
knew that for all his problems Allen would have no problem getting
home on his own but they decided to give his mother a call just in
case.
Behind
them Allen beamed, waved and headed for the gym to lift weights.
Several
minutes later when the two boys were walking toward the main exit Ben
felt as if they were being watched. As they passed the mural of
Rocky Ben looked up at the eye which immediately winked at him. With
a gasp Ben raced back to the closet door and pushed through only to
find the hidden room empty. The stool, however, was positioned right
below the peephole.
*****
The
next day a local artist came and cleaned up Rocky’s picture and
restored it to all its ‘Traditional Glory”. No-one had come
forward with any new information and for a moment it looked as though
things would return to normal as the day passed without incident.
That evening when they met as planned Allen told Ben and Peter that
Gerta mysteriously let him know that she had plans and that they
needed to wait until next week to meet her.
Wednesday
morning before any other announcements were made Ben, Peter, Allen
and a handful of others who had been in detention of had remained
after school for a variety of reasons were called to the office by a
very angry sounding Vice Principal. When they arrived at the office
Ben immediately noticed that overnight someone had repainted the
repainted mural of Rocky. This time not only the club had been
altered. Rocky’s toenails were now painted bright green and he
wore a green ‘Peace Sign Flag’ on the pocket of his American Flag
stripped shirt. In addition the rocky ground around him had been
strewn with clovers many of which had four leafs.
As
expected nobody knew anything about the changes and those who had
seen it earlier had not reported it because they did not want to get
into trouble. One by one the students were let go until only Peter
and Ben remained. Middleton told them that he was absolutely
convinced that they were behind this and that if they did not confess
or find the real culprit the Stomp at the end of the week would be
canceled as would all outside activities until the perpetrator or
perpetrators were caught.
Ben
was incredulous as he stalked, muttering angrily about how unfair the
vice principal was to threaten the entire school for something one or
two people did. Peter, on the other hand, was silent as he walked
with his fists clinched tight by his side. Neither boy spoke as
they took their books from their locker and stalked toward their
first class which was just about over. When they had to pass the
office again they paused briefly to admire the artwork that had
gotten them into so much trouble. Without comment they started down
the hall. Rocky promptly winked as they turned to leave. They were
fifty feet away when what they had just seen sunk in. Both boys
froze in stride and looked at each other.
“You
didn’t..?.”
“See
the picture wink?”
“No.
Did you?”
“Not
this time I didn’t.”
“Neither
did I.. What do you mean, ‘this time’?”
Ben
shook his head. “Nothing. I’ll tell you later.”
*****
By
morning everyone knew that the Stomp scheduled for the next day would
be canceled if someone did not rat out the vandal who had defaced
Rocky or someone did not confess. Half the class was still certain
that Ben and/or Peter had been involved. A few suspected Karen as
being the brains behind the incident but no one had any proof about
anything or anyone so it was a big surprise when Allen came forward
and confessed to the entire incident telling everyone that while he
was supposed to be in detention the second time he had slipped out
and repainted the picture. He said he had stayed after school the
first time hiding in his hidden room until the school was empty.
When he showed Mr. Middleton the ‘secret door’ the proof was
enough to have the boy arrested for vandalism and taken to DT until
his mother came for him later that night. He was also given a months
worth of detention and forbidden from being on any other sports team
this year or next.
That
afternoon Mr. Middleton announced that the dance would go ahead as
scheduled and that the culprit and those who were supposed to watch
him would be properly punished. Everyone was relieved that the
episode was over and that the dance was back on except Ben and Peter
who were given a weeks worth of detention for not staying and
watching him as they had been assigned. They were also forbidden to
go to the dance they had helped plan and their parents had been
called and informed of the action.
That
afternoon the painting was once again restored and someone was
assigned to watch it for the next two days until after the stomp was
over. No one wanted to take the chance that someone might try to
protest what had happened. Mr. Middleton seemed to be in a very
jolly mood the rest of the day.
*****
It
took Ben most of the evening to convince his parents that neither he
nor Peter had anything to do with what they were accused. He was
forced to go over each and every detail several times and each time
he was careful to admit that perhaps he should have been watching
Allen closer. He was also careful to explain that he did not think
that Allen had the ability to plan out the prank much less be
stealthy enough to accomplish such a covert act. Ben told his
parents he could not understand why Allen would confess to something
he didn’t do. In turn they told him that he was grounded for the
weekend and that he was to stay away from people like Allen and
others that were ‘different’. Not wanting to argue Ben had
stomped up to his room where he dragged the phone inside and called
Karen. Her line was busy and so was Peter’s so he sat on his bed
and fumed for several minutes about his parent’s attitude and lack
of trust. He then decided on a course that if he were caught he
would loose that trust forever. With only a moments hesitation he
stuffed a pillow and some clothes under had blanket, turned out the
light and slipped out his window into the night.
*****
Peter
was surprised when Ben showed up at his door at 10 PM. He had fared
much better and had only received a brief reprimand from his dad.
His father had listened patiently to all the details including the
inclusion of the fact that Allen had claimed to have seen a
Leprechaun. It was his father that had suggested that perhaps
someone in the school had picked on Allen and leaned on him to
confess to the ‘crime’. Perhaps, the individual involved had
even threatened someone or something Allen cared for. Peter had not
wanted to believe that American High School Students were capable of
the same things that the Irish Republican Army was but was forced to
admit that there were certain members of the football team that could
have done just what his father had suggested. He had been trying to
figure out something to do with Karen when Ben had knocked on the
door.
As
they walked toward Karen’s place Peter wished fervently that they
really had a Leprechaun they could ask for help. The ‘wee people’
were tricky and often could be mean spirited but Peter knew that they
had a strong sense of justice and that if they took your side for
whatever reason strange things could happen. Like most fairy folk
Leprechauns had a fondness for those unable to fend for themselves
and Peter had concluded that if they had Gerta and the Leprechaun
they would be unstoppable. Together they dreamed up all kinds of
things they would want done to those responsible but in the end the
idea of having them painted the school colors before making them
streak around the school was the most humerus and least lethal
combination they could come up with. Both boys were laughing when
they arrived at Karen’s door.
To
their surprise Allen came running up just as Karen’s mother
answered the door. It was obvious that he had been crying so Mrs.
Harrison let him in and sent the trio up to Karen’s room where they
found her still doing her homework. Before they could say anything
Allen blurted out that he had run away and that he had gone to Ben’s
house first and found him gone. He then had gone to Peter’s house
and then hurried to Karen’s after he had been told that the boys
had just left. When Ben explained that he was out without permission
Karen realized at once that if Allen could find them his parents
could locate him as well. Without hesitation she called her mother
in to her room and asked if they could borrow her Father’s field
walkie talkies he had left behind for emergencies when he had left
for his second tour of Vietnam. Without a question her mother
retrieved the bulky units and escorted the boys to the back door
where they vanished into the night just as the phone rang.
*****
The
three boys headed to the park where Ben had once stood on the peak of
the climbing tower and recited Shakespeare at the top of his lungs to
a very amused Karen just as the clock tower nearby struck midnight.
The boys figured that Ben’s parents would think that this was the
first place they would go and so it would be the last place they
would search.
Finding the
darkest shade they sat down at one of the picnic tables and took
turns telling Karen their ideas and concerns. They concluded that
they had to set things right by the start of school the next day even
if it meant a life long grounding for Ben.
Their
first order of business was to confront Allen and find out why he had
confessed. The big lineman fought back tears of frustration and
anger telling them over and over again that he promised them that he
would not tell on them and that if he did they would hurt his sister.
With those suspicions confirmed tried to learn who it was but Allen
kept very quiet. Both boys tried every trick and even Karen tried to
persuade him but nothing could get him to name his tormentors. Peter
was beginning to get angry while Ben walked off with the walkie
talkie to talk to Karen.
“Ye
shant get far with the man child by gettin’ yer dander up laddie.”
came a soft voice from the dark.
“Who’s
there?” demanded Peter loud enough so that Ben turned around
nervously.
“Now
that be a fine howdy do. Here I be a breakin’ me own rules fer
talkin’ to a big folk and yer gets all uppity. Maybe I’ll jus’
go fine another place ta sleep, one that yer big voices won’t be
able ta find and disturb.”
Peter
was dumbstruck but Allen spoke up excitedly.
“No,
please don’ go Mr. Leprechaun. Come out of the shadows so they
can see ya!”
“Never
could resist the eyes of a child.” said the Leprechaun softly.
Into
the light stepped a red bearded man less than half a meter tall. He
was dressed in a green set of tights with a brown shawl wrapped
around his shoulder. His boots were garish with pointed toes and
lots of silver adornments and he was capped with a bright green
bowler type hat with a shamrock tucked neatly in the soft brown band.
He wore a black belt with what appeared to be a solid gold buckle.
Peter
began to rise knowing the good fortune that would befall them if he
caught the little man. Allen immediately shoved him back down.
Off to the left
Ben blurted out to Karen that he wished she was here to see this.
Almost instantly Karen was beside them in sitting position , wearing
her pajamas and holding her communication link. For a moment she
seemed to teeter precariously as her eyes flew wide in dismay. Ben
dropped the walkie talkie and dove to catch her but instead only hit
the ground as she floated gently down.
“Good
on ye lad.” said the Leprechaun. “I thinks I judged rightly.
Now come along with me.”
With
a snap of his fingers the four young people blinked as one and when
their eyes opened they were in a dark area on what felt like a cement
floor.
“Little
light in here.” said the wee man.
No
magic happened, the dim light bulb above them simply went on followed
by a soft scuttling sound that retreated into a dark corner.
“Come
on out lassie. We kanna have ye keepin’ our guests awaitin’”
For a
moment the shadows seemed to spin as a creature emerged from them.
As she shuffled awkwardly into the light everyone inhaled at once.
Her clothes were covered with what looked like a mossy greenish soot
and it appeared her deep brown hair had not been washed or combed in
ages. Her black beady eyes shown bright and Ben recognized the
slightly almond like shape to be like the one he had seen peeping out
from Rocky’s eye. She was carrying a heavy burlap bag that was
clutched in a large four fingered hand that reached almost to the
ground. Her other hand was being used to shade her eyes from the
light above.
“Gerta?!”
Peter, Ben and Karen gasped as one.
“I
tried to get them to meet you but.....” said Allen somewhat sadly
as his voice trailed off into happy silence.
The
Troll shook her heavy roundish head and looked at each of the others
in turn.
“Trust?”
she inquired glancing at the other myth in the room.
The
little man nodded and smiled. Gerta relaxed visibly.
As if
a spell had been broken all three new comers began to talk at once.
“Did
you paint the Troll?“How did you get here?”“Can you help
us?”“What’s your name?”“Why did you do it?”“Where did
you come from.”“Faith, ‘tis all true.”
The
words tumbled in a mass of confusion as they overlapped and overran
each other as the spilled from the mouths of the popeyed and
dumbfounded young people. Only Allen seemed to be taking all this in
stride his childlike faith never having been put to doubt by growing
older.
Finally
Allen spoke. “I want to go to the dance!”
“Then
that, laddie, will take a li’l work.”
“Work.”
agreed Gerta. “Now!”
Ben
finally found his voice. “And first we have to find out which of
the football players bullied you.”
Allen
looked surprised. “Not football. They friends. Tennis players,
Jill and Blain. Say they keep sis off team. Say they hit her, mash
her through racket like jello.”
Karen
giggled a little uncomfortably. “I should have known. Those two
can’t keep their hands and lips off each other. Any chance to be
out late together is a good excuse to go out and make out later. If
the dance had been canceled they loose their chance. Anymore
surprises?”
For a
moment all was silent.
“Then
let’s get to work.” said Peter. “ The first thing we have to
do is keep Ben from being grounded for life.......”
*****
As it
turned out the Leprechaun had
been responsible for the alterations to Rocky. He had left Ireland
because he was afraid and ashamed of the black cloud that was
covering the land as two ‘worlds’ clashed in the name of god and
country. He conceded that he’d stowed away with the O’Days and
had been enjoying his new found freedom since he arrived. He had
even managed to start adding to his pot of gold that he assured them
he kept well hidden.
After
a few months he began to grow bored and thus started to look for ways
to ‘stir up a bit o mischief’. One night a couple of months ago
he had been out watching a group of students whom he followed to the
school. Once inside he decided that this was the perfect place to
have some fun so he had moved in about two weeks ago.
He
reported he’d spent the first week just exploring and planning his
first big prank. He did not explain why he had not encountered Gerta
or any evidence of her presence. Perhaps, he suggested, it was
because he had a tendency to stay in the attic and rafters and she
hid in the basement and sub-structure of the school.
When
he had used magic to change the picture he had attracted Gerta’s
attention. The old Troll had done little the last few years because
she was bored and in these modern times nobody really believed in her
anyway so why bother. When she had seen the ‘art’ she had at
first been mad and had threatened the little man with everything she
could think of. The two had argued that first night only to end up
agreeing the next dawn that it would be a ‘wee bit o’ fun’ for
her to watch the humans react to the change. She had spent the
entire day trading places with the Leprechaun so they could watch the
reactions.
When
the pair had seen Ben and Peter walking with Karen, Gerta recalled
how her new friend, Allen, had talked about how nice they were to
him. Gerta explained that she had always made certain that someone
at the school knew that she was real and she remembered Ben’s
father as the one who had suggested to a friend that he wished Gerta
could make the toilet explode or something to punish a troublesome
vice principal. Gerta explained in broken English that she had
helped her human friend at the time, a girl named Nancy, to
accomplish the deed by showing her where to unscrew a hidden cap in
order to drop a cherry bomb into an overflow pipe just as their
victim sat down. Only one person ever suspected the small shy young
women of such an ‘nefarious’ act and that was John Norse, Ben’s
Uncle. It was he who suggested the ‘Gerta defense’ to his
fellow student taking up where his brother had left off years ago..
For her part Gerta was happy to take the blame particularly as she
watched the chaos she had created from her hidden vantage point
behind the newly created mural. Eventually John and Nancy had
married and they now live in Denver from which John continues to
reports regular sitings of Trolls deep inside the Rocky Mountains.
Ben was surprised that ‘the sack troll’ remembered the couple so
many years later.
*****
By 1
AM the four youth and two myths had a plan but the first step was
perhaps the trickiest. When Ben arrived home after two his parents
were livid and he had to endure the lecture of a lifetime. He tried
to explain his actions and why he had met Peter and Karen in the
park. He even argued that neither of his friends parents were having
the same kind of problem they were having but that did not go over
well. He finally yelled that if he had explained things by telling
them Peter had a problem or Karen was sick they would have believed
him. But, he continued, because he had included the truth that a
Leprechaun and a Troll had been involved they had not believed him
and thus had all but destroyed the trust he had worked so hard to
build.
It
was at that moment that there was a knock on the door. To everyone’s
shock and surprise the moment the door opened a little man dressed in
green walked in with a tip of his hat and sat on the couch. The next
morning as Ben left for school his parents were still staring at the
spot where the Leprechaun had sat smiling at them.
*****
Karen
looked up from the library book she was reading as Peter and Ben
walked in. She glanced at her watch are realized they only had
twenty-five minutes to get the task done or all their plans would be
for nothing. She had not seen the two tennis players but she knew
that they always came in together about this time. She worried that
this time they might choose a different route or that one would be
sick. Her mind raced through a million chances of failure as her
two friends moved up beside her.
“So
far, so good.” muttered Peter by way of greeting.
Karen
nodded and strained to see their quarry from her lower vantage point.
“There
they are.” whispered Ben. “And there’s Allen, right on cue.”
“Do
you think he will remember his lines? He can barely say the alphabet
without getting confused.” said Peter showing his nerves.
“That’s
why you are here.” reminded Ben. “After all our little green
friend did say that even though the one most hurt can use this curse
best someone else who is directly affected can say it.”
“Yea,
with a mixed bag of results.” concluded Peter. “I hope Allen can
do it.”
“He
will. Now get as close as you can just in case.” reassured Karen
unconvincingly as Peter moved off toward his pre-planned ‘post’.
“You have got it memorized?” she questioned nervously.
Peter
waved back at her as he moved through the mingling and moving
students.
On
the other side of the hall Allen moved up slowly. Ben could tell by
his wide eyed appearance that he was as scared as any child would be
approaching two adults who could get him grounded or worse.
Jjjill,
Bbblain.” he blurted out uncomfortably loud.
The
two tennis players turned an faced the hulking form approaching them.
If either felt any concern they did not show it.
“Well
if it isn’t the sneak artist. Come to repaint old Rocky again?”
smirked Blain with a wink.
“Yea
Allen. You can use my lipstick since your mommy took your finger
paints away.” added Jill as those around her laughed.
Allen
seemed to not hear them as he pressed forward. “The..the truth
twill serve as that is one way. Ttto the world ttellll all fer yer
price ta pay.” He then awkwardly handed each of them a shamrock
and stepped back.
Nearby
Peter looked skyward and said a silent prayer to Saint Patrick.
A few
yards away Ben and Karen looked at each other. Neither was certain
but for a moment it felt as if the air around them froze filling the
school with a foreboding silence.
Peter
spoke. “Hey, Blain, why’d ya set up Allen?”
“Because
he’s a big stupid oaf and the laughing stock of the school sports
programs. You should hear what the other schools say about him.
Getting him off the team was the best thing we ever did.” The
handsome athlete’s eyes seemed to bulge out of his head as he
clapped his hand over his mouth.
By
now most of the students around them had fallen silent except for a
wave of hushed whispers that rolled down the hall as Karen rolled up
to the scene.
“And
I suppose Jill, that you approved of all this so you and your
boyfriend could go to the dance?”
A
smug look crept across Jill’s face. “Well of course and all we
had to do was threaten to keep his precious little sister of the team
this Spring and he melted like the baby he is.”
“Did
you repaint Rocky then?” asked someone nearby.
“No.”
the both chorused.
“We
had nothing to do with that.” continued Jill her eyes looking about
wildly as Blain covered his eyes in embarrassment. “We just wanted
the dance to go forward. We are planning to tell our parents that we
are going to the dance and then instead we’re going to sneak off to
‘the flats’ to make out.”
By
now everyone was looking at the two students. Someone laughed while
another snorted her disapproval.
As if
he were in a stage production Mr. Middleton burst out of the office
area his face red with anger. Word had filtered to him that Blain
and Jill were confessing to forcing Allen to do something and he was
not at all happy with the prospect of having to change his mind.
Without preamble he escorted the two offenders into his office.
With
the show over and only five minutes until class the students
dispersed rapidly including Ben, Peter and Karen who hoped they had
heard the last of the problem. Ben was not sure but when he glimpsed
upward he thought he saw Rocky wink.
It
was rumored that after Blain and Jill were escorted into the office
they spilled their guts about setting up Allen and forcing him to
confess to a crime he had not committed. By second period Allen was
off detention as were Ben and Peter. During third period they were
called to the office again where both were given a harsh warning
about responsibility and follow through but since Allen had not done
the deed Middleton had no choice but to reverse his decision. He
had, however, had time to think about something else and he told the
boys that he believed that they were somehow responsible for the
entire disruptive series of events. He added that if they were not
directly involved they certainly knew who was and he vowed that he
would get to the bottom of it all even if for now they were off the
hook.
“Still,”
he had cackled gleefully, “we should cancel the dance until we find
the culprit who did do the vandalism.”
As he
hoped he noted both boys fidget uncomfortably. Pressing his
advantage he told the pair that he would give them a moment to think
about it and talk it over in private. If they ‘told the truth’
he added, he would let the dance go forward and only the guilty would
be punished. He then left the room pulling the door closed behind
him.
“What
do we do now?” asked Peter after several long moments of silence..
“They will never believe us if we tell the truth.”
Ben
shook his head. He was about to speak when there was a loud ‘Whomp”
that exploded out of the teacher’s lounge.
Forgetting
everything else the boys rushed out just as Mr. Middleton emerged
from the men’s room. He was soaked from head to toe with the
smelly back up from the toilet.
“Gerta.”
whispered one of the secretaries who had been there for years.
Middleton
glared at the boys knowing they had been in his office. “I don’t
know how you two...”
It
was then the Principal, Mr. Howard Johnson spoke. “Give it a rest
Harry. These two could no more have done that then me. Now go home,
get changed and take the rest of the day off. Heaven knows you have
earned it.
Scowling
the vice Principal nodded and walked dripping down the hall toward
the exit.
“Miss.
Whitcom?.” Said Principal Johnson scratching his sandy red hair.
“Would you call the custodian to come and clean up this mess,
starting with the hall. You boys had better get back to class. And
will someone open a window until they are finished?”
Ben
and Peter looked at each other in stunned silence then watched as Mr.
Johnson opened his door slightly and slipped into his room. Neither
boy was certain but both thought they saw a glimpse of green and gold
sitting on the edge of the Principal’s desk. Smiling they rushed
out of the office and headed to class. This time both of them winked
at Rocky who promptly winked back as they passed.
*****
Ben
arrived early at the school to inspect the final details for the
stomp. The theme the students had decided upon was “A Visit to the
Planet of Teenage Dreams”. The somewhat vague alien theme gave the
decoration committee the go ahead to hang large painted cardboard
stars and brightly decorated Styrofoam planets from the gym rafters.
In the midst of these orbs hung a Disco Ball that spun lazily
throwing small circles of light around the room like a stream of
swarming bees. One group among the planners had taken great pains to
cover the entire East wall with a paper-mache bedecked moonscape full
of all kinds of alien pictures each seemingly focused on the central
picture of an astronaut planting the school colors on the surface.
To no-one’s surprise the face of the hero was none other than Rocky
himself. The only unforeseen part of the mural was on the far end
of the mural a large rock rose high toward the ceiling. Hidden in
the rocks were a variety of ‘critters’ as planned but sitting
atop the great outcropping was the figure of a ‘little green man’
only the clothing was green and not the skin. The red hair and beard
seemed to glow in the black lights that hung over the picture. The
Leprechaun sat serenely, his legs crossed at mid leg. He was holding
the bowl of a long stemmed wooden pipe which disappeared into his
beard hiding his mouth from view. Cotton candy like smoke seemed to
curl out of it’s end giving the portrait a surreal appearance in
the alien landscape.
Ben
followed the being’s gaze and it seemed to fall directly on a
figure a bit more hidden than the others. Gerta’s visage was
peeking out of a crater with only her hair, eyes and nose visible.
Ben was certain she was smiling below the surface as she gazed out
over the dance floor which was, at that moment, being sprinkled with
sawdust to protect the surface.
Stifling
a yawn he shuffled over and checked out the punch making certain that
nothing illegal had been slipped in. He nodded to the chaperon who
was going to stand guard over the table and shook his head knowing
that there were likely two or three students who would still be
foolish enough to try to ruin the dance for everybody only to ruin
things for themselves for weeks to come. He hoped that this would
not be the case but he was not going to hold his breath.
Ben
watched as the students began to arrive at 7 pm. The slow trickle
grew steadily for several minutes until by 7:11 pm there were dozens
of couples milling around as the band began its final tune up. Peter
and his date, Madeline Notnilf arrived holding hands and moved
directly to where Ben was standing then after a brief greeting he
moved to the dance floor just as the first cord was struck on their
version of The Monkey’s “I’m a Believer”.
Ben
had chosen to come to the dance stag. He’d decided earlier that
day he really did not have time for a ‘steady’ girlfriend.
Besides, he thought, this might be a good opportunity to add to his
‘dating pool’. He had always made it a habit to avoid
commitment to a specific girl because he was scared of being hurt and
he really was busy. Still he did enjoy the occasional date and he
was rarely turned down so he figured this dance would be no
different. He began to survey the floor for a prospect or two.
“Hello
slave.” came a familiar voice behind him.
Ben
started a little. “Hello my lady.” he said recovering quickly.
“I didn’t hear you come up.”
“This
chair rolls nice and quite. Has Allen showed up yet?”
“Haven’t
seen him.” replied Ben. “Peter and Mad are over there.” He
added pointing.
Karen
nodded as the band moved into an arrangement of a popular tune played
originally by the group America.
“There’s
Allen and look who is with him.”
“And
look what he is wearing.” said Karen with a whistle.
Allen
wore a baby blue tuxedo with a maroon cummerbund. His long hair was
tied back with a matching maroon ribbon. Beside him stood a girl
named Penny Preston a sophomore girl who Karen knew had a slight
lisp. Penny, who was taking some remedial classes, was beaming
proudly as she held Allen’s hand. For his part Allen could not
have looked happier. He saw Ben and Karen and waved wildly before
leading his date onto the dance floor just as a slow Chicago melody
began to play.
“Girl’s
choice.” Announced the lead singer over the PA.
A few
couples drifted off the floor as others took their place.
“Care
to dance?” asked Karen quietly.
Ben
looked down at his friend and smiled. “Love to.” he said
sincerely.
With
a gallant gesture Ben wheeled the chair over to the corner below the
picture of the Leprechaun. Gently he moved the foot supports and
locked the wheels before taking her hand. With some effort she stood
up and gratefully draped her arms around Ben while he put his arms
around her waist to help provide support and to draw her close. He
wanted to provide her with as much support as possible hoping that it
would help prevent her legs from tiring so fast and cramping as they
would when she tried to move around too much at home. As he took his
first hesitant steps he recalled how he had seen her legs go into
spasms after she pushed herself too hard one evening a couple of
weeks ago.
The
simple bear hug dance step allowed the two to talk and laugh. The
particularly focused on the events of the last few days especially
what had happened to Mr. Middleton. Ben reported he’d learned
earlier that there was nothing to indicate why the toilet had
exploded soaking the vice-principal with waste. There was no way
anyone could have placed a black cat or cherry bomb in the pipes
because the new system did not have such access. Besides no one
could have known he was going in the stall at that particular moment.
During the investigation one of the students suggested Gerta was
responsible and everyone had laughed. No one was sure if he would be
back or not. Karen laughed musically as Ben mentioned that he would
not be disappointed at all if the ‘old man’ never darkened their
path again.
They
continued to dance to a gentle rock number done originally by the
Carpenters as they discussed an upcoming science project. When the
band started a number by Bread, Ben started to walk Karen back toward
her chair.
They
were a few feet away when she stopped. ”Let’s dance this one
too.” she insisted moving in front of him again.
They
danced that one and the next one and the next one. Slow and fast
they danced. Karen seemed to gain strength as the evening past.
Each time Ben suggested she take it easy Karen would simply state
that she was doing fine. Finally he just drew her close and let her
set the pace while around them the magic of the evening filled the
room.
Finally
Peter noticed the couple dancing near the wheel chair and with a few
simple moves he and Madeline were dancing beside them.
“What’s
up?” he asked as the music faded between songs.
“We’re
just dancing.” replied Ben gently giving Karen a squeeze.
Peter
looked at them curiously but before he could speak the bands guitar
player hit a sour cord and suddenly the gym fell silent as a ripple
of whispers that crossed the room and vanished into the walls.
Astonished and disbelieving eyes turned toward the platform like
stage where a lone figure could be seen moving up the two steps from
the equipment storage room. The image they saw did not correlate
with any common form impressed on any of their minds. Gasps and
mutters of disbelief began to erupt as a squat, large nose figure
with short legs and long arms shuffled across to center stage. Her
hair resembled an Afro haircut gone very wrong and her eyes seemed to
sparkle even in the dim light catching the flickers of the disco ball
that spun slowly from the center of the rafters.
“Dance!”
she said loudly in a raspy high voice. “Dance now!”
She
turned and faced the band with a broad grin revealing a mouth full of
oddly spaced teeth. With a flourish she raised her arms and began to
wave them as if she were a mad conductor or trying to fly.
Ben
immediately looked at Karen who smiled and nodded. Taking her hand
the two walked deliberately to the middle of the gym where they took
up a fancy dancing pose. Peter was only a few steps behind them as a
new wave of astonished whispers rippled across the floor.
At
that moment the band leader seemed to wake from a trance and as
Gerta’s arms came down for a third time he struck up the opening
guitar rift from a song by the Rolling Stones. Gerta jumped with
pleasure and began to shake and stomp as on the floor the two couples
began their dance.
Slowly
other couples began to dance and soon the gym was filled with music
and noise as the spell of surprise was broken. Around the sides of
the room adults stood mouths agape as the troll jerked, did
handstands and clapped wildly at the musical scene. The students
were soon back into the dance as if having a Troll alternately
conducting the band and dancing wildly on stage was a normal everyday
occurrence.
Three
or four songs passed. Peter and Ben were each holding their partners
close during a slow song when Karen froze in mid step.
“Did
you hear that?” she asked tugging at Peter to get his attention
too.
“Hear
what?” asked Ben loud enough for all four to pick up.
A
brief lilting and merry chortle seemed to fill the air around them.
“That?”
She said softly.
The
four looked as one at the paper rock that seemed to overlook the gym.
The high point was empty.
Outside
in the hallway the portrait of Rocky the Troll sparkled briefly. When
the flash was gone Rocky stood steadfastly as usual only he was
wearing an Irish Green sports suit including a wide brimmed black
banded green hat with a bright green shamrock tucked inside.
Emblazoned on the band in silver toned letters were the words “I
Love Leprechauns!”
His
spiked club was once again changed only this time it was a bouquet of
a dozen green roses. Draped down the stems and onto the arm was a
soft green banner upon which was printed in bright almost glowing
letters the simple message, “Believe!”
At
that moment had anybody been in the hall they would have heard the
bubbling chortle of self-appreciation that only a happy mythical
creature can make. Laughter, that if you truly listen even today,
you can still hear echoing in the quiet corners of Tannersville
High.
Final
thoughts: Trolls in America? Now there is a little food for thought.
My Great, great, great, great, great Grandfather Bernt spoke of a
tunnel from Norway to America that was started back in his day. I
wonder if it is still being used. I will have to ask Old Maas. In
the meantime all the best and I will leave you with this Irish
Blessing:
May
the road rise to meet you
may
the wind be always at your back
May
the sun shine warm upon your face
the
wind fall soft upon your fields.
And
if on life’s path a Troll you meet,
Then
God hath made your life more sweat!
“Grandpa
O’Martin”
