I am Finn McCool, the Magic Leprechaun Cat, and I am willing to bet you a four leafed clover that you not be knowing that Halloween originated in my homeland of Ireland. Each year, on the last say of October, the Celts celebrated the festival of Shamhna, or Halloween. It is the time of year when the light of summer ends and the dark winter season begins. One of the beliefs the Celts had was that on the last day of October the border between earth and the underworld became thin, allowing the dead to wander the earth. Thus they felt the need to dress in scary costumes in hopes of warding off the evil spirits. Not all spirits that wander the earth on Shamhna are evil as you will see in this story Masquerade, featuring my great, great, great Uncle Seamus Mac Cool, the Magic Leprechaun Cat.

* * *

Kevin Kirkpatrick limped his way up the lane to the farmhouse he called home. Halfway down the lane, his lame leg gave way pitching him to the ground. Hearing voices approaching, he hurried to right himself, but before he could muster the strength to stand his stepbrothers Liam and Peter came around the corner running and laughing.

“Oh,” said Liam, “now look what we have here. If it isn’t our dear stepbrother, Kevin, flat on his face again.”

“He is a clumsy one, is he not, Liam?” Peter said.

“He is indeed,” Liam replied. “Up with you, man, there are chores to be done.”

Without offering to help Kevin, the two ran off laughing as they went.

Fate had dealt Kevin a bit of a raw deal. His mother had died while giving birth to him. A lack of oxygen to his brain at birth had caused Kevin to be born with certain abnormalities; among them was the inability to balance himself correctly resulting in his falling, one such fall resulting in a broken hip, which accounted for his lameness.

Though his physical capabilities were limited, Kevin had a sharp mind and a good heart, especially to others that were looked down on, as he was, intervening at risk to himself when bullies would try to intimidate them and where animals at risk were concerned.

Kevin struggled to right himself. As he rose from the ground, a blast of cold October wind caused him to pull his wool coat tight around him. Soon it would be Shamhna, the Celtic festival that celebrated the end of the months of light, summer, and the beginning of the dark days of winter. It was a time, he had been told, when the line between earth and the spirit world became very thin and spirits walked the earth once more. Evil spirits, which were the reason people dressed in costumes to disguise themselves hoping to chase the evil spirits away. Like all Irishmen, Kevin had a healthy respect for the spirit world and its inhabitants. Though he had never seen them, rumor was the woods around his farm at the edge of the Hill of Tara were full of spirits.

He laughed a bit at this thought and checked around him for any wee folk that might be having a laugh on him. There were none that he could see, so he made his way slowly to the farmhouse, stopping to stroke the nose of Petal, their cow, who always waited for his arrival home.

“Quit your dallying, lad,” his father, Arthur, shouted from the barn door. “Chores need doing.

‘Yes, father, “Kevin replied, “I’ll be out as soon as I put up my books.”

Kevin’s father had remarried soon after his mother’s death. The object of which was not love, but to have someone to take care of his abnormal child. Knowing this was the case, there was no love lost between Kevin and his stepmother, Margaret, who found Kevin’s disabilities shameful, saying they were a curse upon him.

From his earliest years, Kevin suffered her indifference and cruelty. His father, lost in his own world fueled by a love of the drink, paid him little mind and offered no relief from Kevin’s sad, lonely life. While his stepbrothers were treated as princes, Kevin was treated as their servant.

Soon he would graduate. A brilliant student he hoped to become a teacher some day. But, that would require a higher education that he would not be entitled to under the circumstances.

As Kevin entered the house he heard his stepmother and stepbrothers talking excitedly.

“’Tis exciting, indeed it is,” Margaret said, holding a parchment invitation in her hand. “The king has invited all the young, eligible men of the county to a Halloween Costume Ball held in honor of his daughter, Catherine, who is home from school. It is hoped she will find someone to marry among the eligible bachelors.

“Of course, we know it will be one of you she chooses…” and they all laughed in glee at the prospect of one of them becoming Prince of the Realm.

Kevin sighed, placed his books on his night table and went out the back door to the stable. Given his inability to walk normally, it was for sure a dance was not in his future, nor was being a prince of anything but the stable yard.

“About time you showed up,” his father said. “Two of the sheep got out and I need you to be finding them. Be quick about it.”

Kevin headed into the woods bordering the farm. He called to the sheep, which he had raised from lambs and who knew his voice.

As he approached the stream, he heard a scream and something thrashing in the water. He hurried as best he could to the edge of the water. There stood a horse and from the water came shouts of help from what appeared to be a young woman.

Though he was clumsy on land, Kevin could swim effortlessly. He quickly removed his shoes and heavy jacket, dove into the icy waters and swam to the young women, who was about to pass out and drown. Quickly, he got her to shore, where he wrapped her in his coat.

For just a moment he caught a glimpse of her beautiful face.

Suddenly, out of the woods, the king’s soldiers appeared mounted on their horses.

“What is this?” said the soldier in charge, as he dismounted from his horse and ran to the young girl’s side.

“I am not sure,” Kevin replied. “I heard her cry for help and found her in the stream. Since you are here to care for her, I must go.”

Before, they could say more, Kevin put on his shoes and started to leave.

“Who are you?” the soldier asked as Kevin retreated into the woods.

“I am nobody.” was Kevin’s reply and he was gone.

In spite of the cold, but afraid to go home without the sheep, Kevin searched on calling as he went. He found them a short way up the hill and herded them into their shelter, then finished his chores and snuck into the house, not wanting to have to answer for his wet clothes or his missing coat.

The next couple of weeks the only talk in the house was of the Halloween Ball.

For Kevin nothing changed. Word had gotten round that Princess Catherine had been thrown from her horse trying to cross the stream and been rescued by a young man that no one seemed to know.

So, now, at least, he knew the beautiful girl’s name.

Soon, Shamhna was upon them. Kevin stepbrothers, dressed in the finest attire their father could purchase for them, set off for the castle and the Halloween Ball., their mother at their side.

For Kevin, it would be another evening doing chores and then early to bed.

As he finished his chores, he heard a strange melodious sound coming from the woods. It was already dark, so he took a torch and lit it. Cautiously, he entered the woods.

Once inside the woods, the darkness closed in on him, but the sound persisted, now coming from the direction of the stream. Soon, he was at the spot where he had rescued the princess.

There, sitting on the bank, was a golden, ginger cat playing a flute. He was dressed in a green suit much like the locals described leprechauns as wearing with a hat to match.

“Ah, good sir,” he heard the cat say as he stood at the edge of the woods. “I see you like my music and have come to hear me play my song.”

When Kevin did not come forward, the cat said, “Is it not Shamhna that we celebrate this fine eve?”

When Kevin again did not respond, the cat said with a laugh, “Cat got your tongue, lad?

“Not to worry,” the cat continued. “I am not an evil sprit roaming the night. I am Seamus Mac Cool, Magic Leprechaun Cat, at your service, fine sir.” And the cat rose and bowed to the young man.

“What is it you want, Sir Seamus?” Kevin asked.

“I want for nothing,” Seamus replied. “Tonight is the night for guising (trick or treating). There is someone waiting to give you your guise. Please follow me.”

The cat moved off, but Kevin did not follow, for suddenly there were strange sounds coming from the direction the cat was headed…scary sounds.

“Do not be afraid, though evil spirits lurk, my magic will protect you…come, follow me.

“If you had one wish, my lad, what would it be?” the cat asked as they walked.

Silence followed.

Then, Kevin replied, “If I had one wish…I would like to know my mother.”

“You would not wish to be cured, or rich, or famous?” the cat asked.

“No, they mean nothing. It is to my mother I owe my life. She gave hers for me. It is she that means everything to me.” Kevin said, curious why the cat would ask.

Soon they came upon a clearing. It was lit by the moon, the heavens full of stars. A shimmering pond sat in its midst. The night air was filled with a flowery fragrance and tiny lights flittered though the air. From out of the woods emerged a white horse. It wore the most beautiful gold saddle and bridle. On its back sat a beautiful woman. Her hair was long and golden like the sun, her skin fair. Her eyes were blue as the summer sky. She wore a gossamer gown and was bathed in light.

“Go to the lady, Kevin, for she is an angel and your mother.”

Kevin voice was filled with anger. “It cannot be! You are fooling me, for she is dead.”

“Tonight, Kevin, the line between earth and heaven is thin. Spirits, not just evil ones, but heavenly ones also, may cross,” said the cat. “I am not in the business of fooling those for whom I am charged with their care. For too long I have watched you live in silent agony, never complaining. But, Fate has seen fit to change your lot in life and it is your mother’s spirit that shall bring it about…go to her, Kevin.

“Come, Kevin, though I am no longer with you in life, I am forever with you in spirit.” the beautiful woman said as she came to him and embraced him. Her love for him flowed through him and he felt something he had never felt in his life…whole again.

When she stepped away he was changed forever. The once awkward body was strong, his legs no longer weak beneath him, his dress that of a prince.

“Tonight, Kevin, you will ride this fine horse to the king’s castle” she said with love in her voice. “You will win the heart of the princess and you will become the kind, benevolent ruler of this land for that is your destiny”.

Kevin mounted the horse and was carried swiftly to the castle’s gate.

“Who is this approaching the castle,” said the guard.

“I do not know, “

But, without hesitation, they let him enter.

There was silence in the ballroom as Kevin made his entrance. The dancing had not yet begun.

Kevin crossed the ballroom floor unimpeded. He stopped before the throne where the king, queen and Catherine sat. At Catherine’s feet sat Seamus Mac Cool, the Magic Leprechaun Cat. He gave Kevin an encouraging smile.

Bowing to the king, Kevin said, “May I have the honor of the first dance with your lovely daughter?”

“And, who might you be, young sir,” the king asked, “that you may be so bold as to ask to dance with my daughter?”

“I am Kevin Kirkpatrick, your majesty, a simple farm boy masquerading as a prince”.

In the king’s heart a voice spoke and the king said, “Then, it is my honor, Sir Kevin, that you should have the first dance with my beloved daughter, Catherine.”

Catherine smiled. Before she rose, she reached to the table next to her throne. From off it she took a worn, woolen coat.

Standing she beckoned him to come to her. Handing him the coat, she said. “I believe this is yours, brave sir. I am forever in your debt for saving my life. For a moment, that day, my eyes opened and I saw your handsome face. I have loved you from that very moment, my prince.

© Finn McCool, the Magic Leprechaun Cat. All rights reserved.
First published by www.floydthedog.com

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