Keegan O'Willyum's St. Patrick's Day

Keegan O'Willyum climbed into bed, pulled his covers up to his chin and reached over to his night stand for his four leaf clover. When his mom came in for story-time, Keegan O'Willyum told her that this St. Patrick's Day was his best day - ever.

"Why is that?" asked Riley, his mom. Keegan O'Willyum looked at her and smiled, "I made all my shots at the game tonight, got all my spelling words correct today and I found this four leaf clover. But best of all, Jenny sat beside me at the St. Patrick's Day party."

When Riley checked Keegan O'Willyum before she settled in for the night, Keegan O'Willyum was still clutching the bedraggled four leaf clover in his hand. He was sleeping with a slight smile on his face. His mom didn't realize Keegan O'Willyum was dreaming he was faraway in the "old country," as his great grandmother, Colleen called it.

His great grannie, Colleen, had lived with their family when Keegan was little. Even though she was nearly 100 years old, Grannie Colleen would hold him and tell him stories of her home country - the green isle of Ireland.

Grannie Colleen always wore a beautiful sparkling green emerald ring. It was surrounded by big diamonds. She said it was given to her by her mother when she was married. Keegan O'Willyum would place his little hand over hers, just on top of that magical sparkling ring. His mom had the ring now but she didn't wear it much. He knew his sister, Megan, would get the ring on her wedding day.

Keegan O'Willyum would climb up on Grannie's lap and she would tell him the most wonderful stories. Right now he could see her smiling at him. "Get my cane, Keegan O'Willyum, we're going for a walk up the hill." Oh how he loved his Grannie Colleen.

Slowly the young and the old proceeded up the hill. When they finally reached the very top, they stopped. Grannie needed to catch her breath and rest a spell. "We'll sit down on these stones and have a sip," she said. Grannie Colleen's chin was soon resting on her chest and she was softly snoring. Keegan turned his head toward the trees and followed the line of sunlight far into the woods. To his amazement, he saw a whole family of wee little people. They were busy setting up camp and looking closely in the the tall grass.

Keegan O'Willyum was scared, but he was also very curious. "Hello," he said, as he walked toward the woods. In higher pitched voices than his ears were used to hearing, the wee people answered back. "Who are ye?" they asked. The wee family walked toward Keegan and everyone was introduced. "What are ye doing out here this fine day? Looks like your grannie is taking a good rest."

"Yes, me Grannie wanted me to come along to our secret place. We haven't been here for awhile, Keegan O'Willyum answered. I think it's because it's her special day. The day of St. Patrick," he said to the wee little family. "Me Grannie has a special eye to spy the little four leaf clovers she loves so dearly. But now she can't bend down to pick them so I help her. We put them in this little cloth bag," he said. "Grannie says we always need some spares for good luck."

"Ye are right and so's your Grannie," the wee man chuckled.

"Come over between these five trees that are growing in a big circle," he motioned. "Close your eyes and dance around each tree and clap your hands together three times. Walk towards the center of the circle and open your eyes."

Even though Keegan O'Willyum didn't have the foggiest idea why he should do that, he followed the wee little man's instructions. After clapping three times around the fifth tree he walked slowly to the center of the circle and opened his eyes.

Imagine his surprise to look down to see a pot of sparkling golden coins. The small pot was sitting beside a golden four leaf clover.

"Me friend," the wee man said, "I know ye Grannie has no money and was very worried. The pot of gold is for ye Grannie," he continued. "Also, listen to my words, you must take the little golden four leaf clover home and plant it beside your house. It will multiply and give your family continued wealth so long as you never pick this actual four leaf clover."

"Do it my lad and go tell your Grannie."

Keegan O'Willyum walked out of the great forest and saw Grannie's green eyes were looking for him. "Oh Grannie Colleen, give me the little bag. I must go collect a gift," he said hurriedly.

After the lad had carefully tucked the golden four leaf clover into the bag, he hugged each of the wee people who'd been so kind to him. "This will help me Da, he hasn't had work for some time now. He's also been helping Grannie care for me ma, Riley. Me ma, she's been very sick."

"Here's an extra green four leaf clover to give to your Gran," the wee man said as he stretched out his arm just as Keegan turned to leave.

Grannie tightly gripped the green clover as the two plodded slowly down the hill towards home. Keegan O'Willyum carefully carried the pot of gold and the golden clover wrapped inside the cloth bag. He told Grannie Colleen the entire story along the way.

Grannie only smiled. "Thank ye for coming with me today, me lad, " she said. I don't know if me legs will ever carry me up this hill ever again."

Keegan handed the pot of golden coins to Grannie as they walked into the house. Grannie immediately gave them to Da. "Because the kindly wee family saw us in the woods today, ye will be blessed with health and wealth forever," she said to Da in her Irish brogue.

Da brought out Grannie's old chair yet that evening of St. Patrick's Day. She watched while Keegan O'Willyum and his Da planted the golden four leaf clover. They put a big fence around the clover to keep it safe. They reminded each other that they were NEVER to pick this special clover. It would multiply, they knew for sure.

Riley didn't know why that little smile was on her son's face. But she knew why the smile was on her face in return.

Tomorrow she'd tell the lad that her doctor said she would soon be well. She would have a complete recovery. This day would always be remembered as a great St. Patrick's day for the O'Willyum family.