Billy Troll’s Lucky Day

“Good morning,” Billy said to a man that was walking up the street, with a shopping bag under his arm.

“Well, good morning to you,” said the man. “It is a fine day, isn’t it?”

“Yes,” said Billy, noticing something strange, almost mystical about the man. “Are you new around here?”

“I just moved into the house up the street,” said the man. “You know, the old place on top of the hill.”

“That old place!” exclaimed Billy. “I’ve heard that there is supposed to be ghosts living there!”

“Not ghosts, leprechauns,” said the man.

“Leprechauns!” exclaimed Billy.

“Yes, leprechauns,” said the man.

“Wait a minute,” said Billy, noticing that the man was dressed in a green suit, with a bright green hat. “You are a leprechaun, aren’t you?”

“Yes, I am,” said the man. “My name is Eddie. It is a pleasure to meet you, Billy.”

“How did you know who I was?” asked Billy, surprised.

“Your picture is plastered on every newspaper in this town,” said Eddie. “You’re the country singer, aren’t you?”

“Yes I am,” said Billy.

“Today is your lucky day,” said Eddie.

“How did I know that you were going to say that?” asked Billy, laughing.

“How dare you laugh at me?” shouted Eddie, angrily.

“I’m sorry,” said Billy.

“So,” said Eddie. “Something tells me that you really don’t think that I am a leprechaun.”

“Well,” said Billy. “I only believe in leprechauns on St. Patrick’s Day and I know that St. Patrick’s Day isn’t until another week.”

“You’re wrong,” said Eddie. “Today is St. Patrick’s Day!”

“It had better not be,” said Billy. “If it is, I’ve got a concert tonight?”

“Well, believe me, it is St. Patrick’s Day,” said Eddie. “I’ve got a surprise for you, Billy.”

“What kind of surprise?” asked Billy.

“Since this is St. Patrick’s Day,” said Eddie, “and, since I really am a leprechaun, you are hereby given good-luck for the rest of the day!”

“That would be nice,” said Billy. “That kind of stuff is only superstitious, though. I don’t believe in superstition.”

“Well, you’d better start,” said Eddie. “However, in exchange for your gift, you have to be totally convinced that I exist by the end of this day.”

“Fat chance of that,” said Billy.

“I’ll see you at midnight, tonight,” said Eddie.

Eddie vanished into the thin air.

“Imagine that,” said Billy. “I’ve got good luck for the rest of the day.”

Billy was outside, tending to his garden, when he heard the phone ring inside the house. He went in and answered it.

“Hello, Billy,” said a voice on the other end of the phone. “This is Kimberly from Cable Television – Troll Town. I’d like to know if we could have an exclusive interview with you, before the concert tonight.”

“An exclusive!” exclaimed Billy, excitedly. “This is wonderful. I’ve been wanting to be on your show for a long time now.”

“This must be your lucky day,” said Kim.

“I wouldn’t go that far,” said Billy.

When Billy finished his telephone conversation, he went outside and sat down on the porch. Just then, an expensive sports car pulled into his driveway.

“Billy Troll,” said the driver, getting out of the car.

“That’s me,” said Billy.

“I’m Todd Harold,” the man said. “This is your new car!”

“My new car!” exclaimed Billy. “This is wonderful, but it’s not mine. I didn’t order it!”

“No,” said Todd. “But you sure did win it!”

“Win it?” asked Billy.

“Yes, you entered your name in a draw last week at the grocery store,” said Todd.

“Oh, now I remember,” said Billy.

“This must be your lucky day,” said Todd.

After Todd left Billy standing in the driveway, holding the set of keys to the sports car, Billy thought over everything that had happened so far, since he had met Eddie.

“No,” said Billy. “It can’t be, it has to be a coincidence.”

All that day, Billy continued to have good luck. That night, while he was performing, he had the biggest stroke of luck of all. A beam above his head fell. Billy saw the beam coming. He started running away from it when he noticed a six year old girl, right in the way of the beam. Billy, quickly ran back and grabbed the little girl. He not only saved his own life, he saved the life of a little girl.

“Oh thank-you,” said the girl’s mother, hugging her child closely. “You just saved Jessie’s life. This must be our lucky day!”

“Yes, it is,” said Billy, relieved. “Yes it is!”

As Billy was leaving the concert hall, he noticed Eddie standing in the parking lot. Eddie winked at him and then disappeared into thin air. After that day, Billy never once doubted the existence of leprechauns.