The Little Girl Who Walked in the Forest and Spied a Gnome Home

by Raphaella

Once upon a time there was a girl who liked to walk in the forest. One day she came upon a large tree with a little door in it. Looking closer she saw that it also had a window.

She decided to knock.
Knock, knock knock, Knock, knock, knock, upon that door.
Eventually a little gnome opened the door.

"What a surprise," said the girl. "Are you a gnome?"

"Yes I am," said the gnome.

"Well how did you come to be here in the forest?" asked the girl.

"I came by way of kangaroo all the way from Australia. My mother is a leprechaun from Leprechaun Country and my father is a gnome. At least I think that is right. I forget who is who and what is what. Could be my father is a leprechaun and my mother is a gnome. You see, it is so easy to get these things confused."

"Well that isn't right," sighed the girl. "A little gnome should know these things. Certainly you should be able to tell leprechauns from gnomes. Especially since you are one! Let me help you. We will go find your parents and sort this out."

So the little wee gnome led the girl upstairs into his house. It was a magical house full of lovely, tiny things.

Upstairs in a large room sat his parents working. The little gnome's mother was sitting at her sewing table working on the most delicate green coat, which was covered in all sorts of fancy stitches. Next to her she had a pair of embroidered blue jeans, which she had just finished.

Across the room the gnome's father had sat at a workbench carving a man made of crystal, which he had found in his mine.

"Hello," said the girl.

"Hello," said the parents.

"I have been invited to help your son tell the difference between a leprechaun and a gnome. He says he doesn't know which is which and what is what."

The gnome's parents laughed.

His mother said, "Why, I am a leprechaun."

"Do you swear?"

"Yes, I swear."

"And I am a gnome," said the father.

"Do you swear?" asked the girl.

"Yes, I swear."

"Well then it is settled," said the girl turning to the wee gnome. "Your mother is a leprechaun and your father is a gnome. Should you ever forget you only have to ask, but you have it on their honor what is what and who is who."

The End