Chapter 1

Sean stood in his bedroom looking at the pitiful amount of gold in his hand. It was really kind of embarrassing how little gold there was. All he had was the gold from a gold tooth, a couple links from a gold chain, and part of a gold earring. Based on his experience from the previous year, he figured that this magic gift was going to be pretty weak. He wondered if maybe he could postpone this for a year.

"It's not very much gold," Sean said.

Looking at what he was holding, Suzie said, "You're right. I bet you have about ten dollars worth of gold there."

"If that much," Sean said.

Suzie said, "Are you sure that I can't give you some gold?"

"The dwarves told me that the rules said I have to get the gold using magic," Sean said.

"Are you ready to face the dwarves?" Suzie asked.

"Not really. I can't put it off for much longer. It's almost noon," Sean said looking over at the clock.

Suzie asked, "So how long do you think it will take?"

"Last year it only took about five minutes. I doubt it will take that long," Sean answered.

"Really?"

Sean said, "Come to think of it, it might take a little longer. It could take thirty minutes for the dwarves to stop laughing at the pitiful amount of gold that I have."

"I'll wait for you to return," Suzie said.

"I'll be back soon," Sean said leaving his bedroom.

He walked through the kitchen on his way to the backdoor. His mother looked over at him and said, "Don't go anywhere. I'm making soup for lunch."

"I've got to meet with the dwarves," Sean said.

"Today is the day?"

"Yes."

"I think I might have forgotten about that."

"I'm sure you did," Sean said.

"Didn't you give them some silver last year?" his mother asked.

Sean answered, "Yes."

"What are you giving them this year?" his mother asked.

"Gold," Sean answered.

"You're supposed to take some gold to them?" his mother asked suddenly interested.

Sean answered, "That's right."

She said, "Let me see how much gold you have."

Sean held out the little bit of gold that he had managed to collect. It was cupped in the palm of his hand. A crazed look of avarice came over her face upon seeing the little nugget. When she reached for it, he closed his hand.

"You can't have that."

"Sorry, I couldn't resist," his mother said. "Can I see it again?"

"No," Sean said.

"Pretty please with a cherry on top," his mother said while holding her hands like she was praying and batting her eyelashes at him.

Sean took a step back and opened his hand. He had to close his hand when his mother lunged for the gold.

She growled, "I gotta have that gold."

"I need to go," Sean said.

"It'll cost you a piece of gold to get past me," his mother said.

Sean pointed towards the front door and said, "There's a leprechaun over there."

"Where?" his mother said looking around wildly.

Sean ran out the door while she was distracted. He could hear her shouting, "You tricked me!"

Happy to have escaped from the house with his little bit of gold intact, Sean started walking down the path to where he had met Chom, Pip, and Clea the previous year. It was a beautiful morning and the weather was pleasant unlike the previous day that had been hot. He was wondering what kind of magic gift he would get when he ran into Liam on the way.

"Hello, Liam."

"Hello, Sean."

"I'd stay and chat for a bit, but I've got a meeting with some dwarves," Sean said.

Liam acted like he was reminded of something. He said, "I just remembered that today is the day you trade some gold for a magic gift."

"That's right," Sean said.

Liam said, "Let me see your gold."

Sean was about to show the Leprechaun his little bit of gold, but reconsidered the idea in light of his mother's behavior. The only one more fixated on gold than his mother was Liam. According to the elves, the leprechauns had grabbed every bit of unowned gold within a hundred miles.

Suspicious of Liam's motives, Sean asked, "You're not going to try to take it from me, are you?"

"I'd rather not answer that question," Liam said looking away.

Sean said, "That's what I thought."

"I could help you carry your gold," Liam said trying to sound helpful.

"Where would you carry it to?" Sean asked.

"I'd store it in a safe place," Liam said.

"Let me guess ... that safe place would be with the rest of your gold."

Liam looked thoughtful for a moment and then said, "What a splendid idea."

Sean said, "I appreciate the offer, but I'd rather not. I better get going. I don't want to be late."

Liam stamped his foot and said, "I really thought that would work."

It didn't take Sean long to reach the place where he was supposed to meet the dwarves. He knew it was the correct place because Chom, Pip, and Clea were sitting around waiting for him.

"Hello," Sean said.

Chom got up and said, "Are you ready to exchange some gold for another gift of magic?"

"Yes, I am," Sean said.

Holding out his hand, Pip said, "Let's see your gold."

Sean opened his hand and showed his gold to the dwarf. Pip and Chom raised up on their toes to look at the nugget. They burst out laughing.

Barely able to talk because he was laughing too hard, Chom asked, "You call that a lot of gold?"

Clea came over to Sean and looked at the gold in his hand. She started laughing as well. Sean stood there holding out the pitiful amount of gold thinking that maybe he was optimistic in predicting that it would take only a half an hour for them to stop laughing.

Much to Sean's surprise, the dwarves managed to contain their laughter after about five minutes. Pip held out his hand and said, "Give me the gold."

Sean handed the gold over to Pip. The dwarf closed his hand around the gold. All of the impurities flowed out between his fingers and dripped to the ground. Pip opened his hand and looked at the small amount of gold that remained.

"That isn't much gold," Pip said.

"Hey, I was in competition with the leprechauns in finding gold," Sean said defensively.

Chom said, "I guess we don't have to ask who won that competition."

Pip asked, "We don't?"

"Think about it," Clea said rolling her eyes.

"Oh ... yeah," Pip said.

Pip handed the little bit of gold back to Sean.

"It's not enough?" Sean asked.

Pip said, "You need to break off a little piece of it."

"How little?" Sean asked.

"Considering the small amount of gold that you have, you had better make it as little as possible," Chom said.

Sean searched through the many pockets of his pants until he found a magnifying glass. He held up the magnifying glass and looked at the gold nugget. He used his magic to cause a very thin strand of gold wire to rise up from the nugget. He looked at the very end and broke off the smallest slice of the gold wire that he could see through the magnifying glass.

He asked, "How's that?"

"How's what?"

"That little bit that I removed."

"What little bit?" Pip asked looking in Sean's palm. "I don't see anything."

"That little bit right there," Sean said holding the magnifying glass over the gold.

"That?" Pip asked.

"Yes."

Pip said, "It's not very big."

Chom said, "Let me see."

Sean held out his hand for Chom to look at the piece of gold he had broken off the nugget. Chom put his eye almost in Sean's palm looking for the piece of gold.

Chom said, "We might have a problem."

"What kind of problem?" Clea asked.

"We might have a big problem with it being so small," Pip said.