New Thought

“Hello.”

The word pulled me from my dark thoughts. I suspect that I jumped a bit as well. It felt like I moved anyway. You pause in your walk to catch your breath and somehow that attracts the attention of a little red headed girl. She’s maybe five or six years old; I was never very good at guessing ages. She’s somewhere in that age bracket anyway. “Hi.”

“Whatcha doin’?”

“Thinking.”

“What about?”

I had no interest in answering that question so I asked one of my own. “Shouldn’t you be in school today?”

Her cute freckled face furrowed in confusion. “It’s the week-end. There’s not school today.”

“Oh.” I have had no concept of time at the moment. Lack of sleep and whiskey is good for causing that. “Well, you really shouldn’t be talking to strangers.”

“Yer not a stranger. Yer Ms. Linda’s nephew.”

“Well, I’m strange anyway. You’d know that if you knew me. What are you up to today?”

“I’m looking for the little people.”

“Leprechauns? With a pot of gold?”

“They give out wishes too. My mum sez so.”

My head swam and this time it wasn’t because of the booze. This hadn’t even occurred to me. Why had this not occurred to me before! “They do? Really?”

I may have said this a little more loudly than I expected. The little girl didn’t flinch but not long after I spoke, her mum was hustling down the walk towards us. “I’m sorry but you leave her al… Oh, Mr. Thompson, it’s you.”

“Is it true that the little people give out wishes?” I was focused.

I didn’t even care that mum gave me an odd look. I’m so used to that. “Aye. That’s what my mum said and her mum before her. She said my granddad caught one and made him come across with three wishes. They are a crafty lot so granddad almost lost more than gained from the experience.”

“Still, it’s a chance. I have to take that chance.” The smile was unexpected. It scared me a little bit but I hope not her. “Thank you Mrs. McKenna. Thank you so much.”

“Anytime Mr. Thompson.” I started to stride away, purpose in my step for the first time in weeks but I couldn’t walk fast enough to miss her speak to her daughter. “Come on Sarah. Why don’t you search in the back yard for awhile.”

Please focus on the hope, not the little red headed girl. Focus on the hope. Why would the world taunt me so? Nevermind that now, we’ll do what we do best. Read up on the little people, find one, and fix it. We can fix it. We can do this!