Short Story

Short Story

Once in a small cottage deep in a thickly overgrown forest there was a

young boy who lived with his mother, his father and his elder sisters,

two of the most beautiful girls in the whole of Ireland. This forest

was different to the many others that form a blanket over this

enchanted land. The young boy often quarrelled with his sisters and

felt that their talents overshadowed him. The two beautiful girls were

not only very fair of face but also always endeavoured to do well in

their studies and were a great help to the mother around the cottage.

One day, a day which seemed unusual to the young boy from almost the

moment he woke in the morning, something happened which changed the

life of the boy and the life of every Irishman here after. The day had

begun with the young boy hearing his mother calling his name in a

rather frantic tone. "Luke", "Luke", she called. The young boy feeling

the sense of importance rushed down stairs to be meet by his father,

mother and grandfather. His mother told him that neither of the girls

had been seen since bedtime the previous night and asked him did he

know where they might be or why they may have wandered off.

The evening before this influential morning his sisters had decided to

take a walk into the forest that surrounded the cottage. Luke did not

wish to not be included in their adventure and so tagged along but

always keeping a few paces behind so as not to be seen by the girls

and to be told to return to the cottage. He had over heard the girls

talking about small creatures that lived in solitude i...

... middle of paper ...

... into a banshee

that he must suffer the penance of a horrific death and a eternal

spell of bad luck upon any Irishman who hereafter dared to disturb a

hidden fairy.

It wasn't until preparing for the funeral of Luke that the Parents

remembered his delirious rant but still dismissed it as the senseless

ramblings of a dying child. However it is said that at the funeral of

Luke O'Riley that above the wails of his parents and other mourners

could be heard the distinct high-pitched cries of several Banshees. It

is also said that Two tiny creatures identical to his sisters could be

seen wandering the dark hills around the cottage that was once their

home crying in bereavement of their brother which they had taken for

granted and would eternally join the other Banshees wailing at the

funerals of every Irishman hereafter.