Maragold in Fifth

By Bill Sheehan

When Maragold and her friends find themselves in the same fifth grade classroom, with an overbearing teacher, the fun begins!

With the help of Bert, Maragold's invisible leprechaun, you're entertained by Matt outsmarting the school bully, a talent show where jealousy could ruin Maragold's magic act, and oral reports that are as comical as they are interesting.

Eric returns with his outrageous antics and jokes that will bring tears to your eyes-one way or another.

And you'll read about Cheryl's new talent as she joins a poetry program and writes a daring-and funny-poem about her stern teacher.

The "ultimate prank" occurs in math class and is followed by the "ultimate surprise" when the teacher gives the final report cards to her students.

• Language: English
• Publisher: iUniverse
• Release date: Jul 25, 2005
• ISBN: 9780595805648

Bill Sheehan

A filmmaker since 1978 when he joined the crew of Michael Landon in Hollywood, Bill Sheehan has worked as a camera assistant, camera operator, and cinematographer on TV series, movies of the week, music videos, and feature films. He has also worked as a theatrical lighting designer, a pyrotechnic designer, and a production manager; and in local television, he has served as a commercial production manager, avid editor, and a promotions director. At the university level, he has served as a production manager, a filmmaker, and an audio/visual director for the Ohio State University, UCLA, Columbia University, and Harvard University. He wrote his first teleplay in 1981 for Father Murphy, a TV series, and published his first book in 2005, The Tale of Sonny Barlow. Currently he is writing young adult historical fiction and screenplays. Bill lives in New York City.

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Copyright © 2005 by William A. Sheehan

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording,taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the publisher except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

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ISBN-13: 978-0-595-36120-5 (pbk)

ISBN-13: 978-0-595-80564-8 (ebk)

ISBN-10: 0-595-36120-X (pbk)

ISBN-10: 0-595-80564-7 (ebk)

Contents

Chapter 1:   Super Summer

Chapter 2:   Back To America

Chapter 3:   New Teacher

Chapter 4:   The Poem

Chapter 5:   Big Bully

Chapter 6:   Invisible Defender

Chapter 7:   Fly Boy

Chapter 8:   Revenge Of The Nerds

Chapter 9:   Christmas Vacation

Chapter 10:   The Talent Show

Chapter 11:   Dawn

Chapter 12:   Showtime

Chapter 13:   A Charming Month

Chapter 14:   April Fool

Chapter 15:   Social Studies Class

Chapter 16:   New Assignment

Chapter 17:   Oral Reports

Chapter 18:   The Rumor

Chapter 19:   Math Class

Chapter 20: Shocking News

Chapter 21:   Report Cards

Afterword

This book is dedicated to my loving wife and best friend, Sandra Grace Sheehan. Her advice and assistance with editing was invaluable and significantly added to this book’s overall quality and readability.

……………………………….I L Y B B C……………………………….

Chapter 1

SUPER SUMMER

Top-O’-The-Morning to you. I hope your summer vacation was as good as mine was. Remember me? I’m Bert, Mara Shane’s magical leprechaun. During the summer vacation I went to Ireland to visit my dear mom, dad, brothers, sisters, other relatives, and friends. We had a wonderful time. There were parties, picnics and too much to eat; but it was a grand celebration, until my dad asked me when I would be coming back to work at the Shamrock Magic Supplies factory. He informed me that my old job of preparing the magical emerald wands had been saved and was waiting for me. As a matter of fact, the factory boss leprechaun, who was also the owner, wanted me to return to work as soon as possible. He said that the magical emerald wands that they were making, since I left last year, weren’t as good as they were when I was in charge of making them. Apparently my replacement, and all of his replacements, couldn’t get the chemical formulas correct. One was the standard formula used for the final, pale-green, glass-like coating of the wands. Then there was also, and perhaps most importantly, my own perfected formula for the tips of the magic wands, where the magic power of the wand came out, either like a narrow laser beam or, if desired, in a spread-out pattern to cover larger areas. The tips of each wand were a darker green color than the rest of the wand, and had sparkling gold flakes—real gold that was highly valued by leprechauns. It was these pure gold flakes, plus my secret chemical formulas, mixed in the correct proportion with the wand’s coating formula that made the wands so powerful.

Most of the chemical measurements, and the mixing of liquids and powders, were extremely delicate procedures. They had to be absolutely precise; not one-thousandth of a drop more or less would provide the maximum power. Even the mixing jars and glass stirring rods had to be sterilized and thoroughly dried before mixing the chemicals, or the liquid formula might become accidentally diluted and lose much of its power.

Also, as with any standard recipe that’s in the hands of an excellent cook, that recipe gets ingredients added to it and deleted from it by the cook. That recipe becomes more exact, more demanding and more complicated, but the food becomes more and more tasty. That’s also what happened to my magic wand formulas. I learned, like a master chef, how to greatly improve the standard recipe by adding and deleting certain ingredients from it.

From what my teachers have told me, I have a natural and gifted ability in math and science. Scientific formulas and math equations just appear in my mind when I’m thinking of solutions to science and math related problems. I don’t brag about it, or claim credit for those skills any more than I would brag about, or claim credit for, the color of my eyes. I didn’t have to work hard to learn those skills; I was just born with them. But being born with those skills, or working hard to learn them, is not as important as how those skills are used. I wanted to use those skills to help my friends and family, to make my community a better place, to add more happiness to the world and, maybe, even make the world a better place.

I hope that doesn’t sound like I’m bragging. It certainly isn’t intended that way. I have no right to brag since I was born with those skills. The only people who have the right to brag are the people who have worked hard to gain their great skill. Even then, however, I don’t think that a happy, satisfied person needs to brag. It usually looks ridiculous, sounds insincere, and often has a hurtful affect—I’m so much better than you are—on friends and family. No, I wouldn’t brag even if I did earn my great skills. Dear reader, I believe it’s best to let your effort, dedication, and the quality of your work show what kind of person you are.

I told my mom and dad that I was only back to the beautiful Emerald Isle—that’s green Ireland—for the summer and that I would be returning to America at the end of August. Everyone was sad to hear that I wasn’t home to stay, but they all envied me when I told them all about my wonderful friend, Maragold, and all the exciting activities, as well as the humorous jokes and situations that we had experienced both in and out of school.

Everyone seemed to understand my need to return to America except my mom and dad, and my magic wand factory boss. Mom and Dad said that I was too far away from them and they missed me a lot. My magic factory boss wanted me to return to the factory so he could, once again, produce those highest-quality, powerful, magic wands that I had been making for him. He also indicated that there were a lot of other workers at the factory whose jobs depended on me and my formulas to help sell the wands. He said if the wands became less attractive to magicians, then sales would decrease. If sales decreased too much, then they would have to decrease the number of wands made. Decreasing the number of wands made in the factory meant that not as many workers would be needed, and then some leprechauns would lose their jobs. I worried about that. I didn’t want anyone to lose their job at the factory because then their family would suffer.

Leprechauns can become grumpy, very quickly; kind of like one of Snow White’s dwarfs—but dwarfs are imaginary and leprechauns are real. Bosses have a lot of concerns, worries and stress to deal with, so the factory boss was quite often a grumpy guy. He became extra grumpy when he heard about my desire to return to America. Luckily his grumpiness dissolved when I offered to come to the factory to write, demonstrate, and explain, in detail, just how I was able to make such high quality magic wands in the factory laboratory. A week later, after I had visited all my family and friends, and had a chance to rest, I kept my promise by spending an entire week at the factory writing the exact formulas and equations, then showing my magic factory boss, and my replacement, exactly how to prepare, measure, and mix my secret formulas—I had them all memorized—of magic powders and liquids, how to apply them to the correct thickness on each wand, how to prepare the gold flakes, and what magical leprechaun words to say in order to complete the process. After I taught them my secret processes, they and the other workers were overflowing with appreciation, especially the boss who had a big party for me and all of his employees. It felt good to see his grumpiness change to gratitude, but my real reward was seeing and feeling the happiness in all my factory friends.

I didn’t realize just how important my secret formulas were to the continued survival of the Shamrock Magic Factory until my job was nearly completed. It was my last day at the factory and I had just finished training my replacement. He left for home with all the other workers, but I needed to stay in the laboratory to check every detail of all the formulas and equations. I didn’t want anything to go wrong when someone else used them. I also needed to put my personal belongings into a bag so I could take them to America with me. When I was done with those jobs I turned off the lights and started for the laboratory door. I stopped suddenly when I saw a mysterious, pale-green glow hovering on top of the doorknob. The green light started to sparkle and quiver, then expand and contract. Slowly, a leprechaun shape took form. I could see that this leprechaun was wearing the traditional green clothing, which I had recently decided to do myself, instead of wearing my tuxedo outfit. The gold braids on the sleeves indicated that he was the supreme Elder leprechaun. The Elders were the old and wise kings in the leprechaun nation. As I stood there, staring at him, I could see that his hair and beard were a reddish orange color, like a pumpkin, but slightly darker. His beard was the longest that I’d ever seen. It looked like long, fine strands of orange rind peelings that were wrapped around his waist so his beard would not drag on the ground. His cheeks were plump, his nose unusually round and his green eyes shone brightly in the darkness, like the night time headlights of a far-away car. I had only seen this powerful Elder King of all leprechauns once before, and that was only in a picture. He was the primary king of our nation and, in importance, influence and power, he ranked higher than all the other secondary kings. In human terms, he would be equal to the President of the United States of America. I had heard and read that my Elder King preferred to live alone in order to peacefully think about how to advise and guide the leprechaun nation. It is said that his castle is made of the purest, glittering gold, sprinkled with magnificent emeralds, and that he is a great ruler whose magical powers are unequaled in the leprechaun nation.

I didn’t know what to say, or what to do. Why was he here? I was very nervous and somewhat fearful that I had done something terribly wrong. I watched him as he stroked his beard from his chin to his waist. He stared at me, but he did it with kind eyes and a pleasant smile. He was examining me, analyzing me; more mentally than physically. But now I felt warm, comfortable and relaxed, in spite of, or perhaps because of, his examination of me.

I continued to stare at him, as I was thinking, Is this really the Elder King of all the leprechauns, or am I just imagining this event?

His words surprised me with their gentleness and soft tone, yet they seemed so powerful and commanding as they flowed from his mouth. Yes, lad. I am Sir Patrick O’Keefe, your Elder King.

I still could not take my eyes off him. I wondered how old he was and if his magic was as strong as I had heard and read about, and did he really live in a castle of the purest gold that was trimmed with emeralds? My mind raced with questions that I wanted to ask, but I remained silent due to my respect for him.

A very broad smile with perfect white teeth spread across his face as he searched my eyes and said, Well, lad, let’s just say that I have been around for a very long time, indeed. Yes, lad, my magic powers are unequaled and, yes again, I do live in a pure gold castle that’s dotted with emeralds. It is shamefully rich, but it is expected of me. I am much more comfortable at my simple silver cabin on the shore of Elderado Lake, the lake of the kings.

Suddenly I felt shocked because I realized that I had not said a single word to him since he had appeared. I had only thought those questions. I thought, He must be able to…

Read thoughts? he said, as he finished my sentence. Yes, I can read your thoughts, lad. But I didn’t come here to brag about my special powers. You and I both have the same low opinion of bragging. So, why am I here? I came to offer you a gift for your excellent work and generosity.

I wasn’t sure what excellent work and generosity he meant, but I felt that this was not a good time to interrupt him. He could read my thoughts, anyway. Would my thoughts interrupt him? I simply did not know what to think.

Thank you for not interrupting me, he said. I’m talking about your excellent work in America and your generosity at the factory. You are a very bright and brave lad to leave the safety and security of Ireland. But more importantly, to me, is the fact that you have chosen to use your young powers to protect, guide and be a loyal friend to the lass named, Mara. I have seen you do an excellent job, although you never realized that I have been occasionally watching you. I’m proud of your behavior with Mara and her family. I’m even more proud of you for sharing your valuable secret formulas and equations with the magic factory owner, who, by the way, is related to me. We both thought that maybe you would be greedy and ask for something great in exchange for your secrets. I’m aware that in just a few years you discovered and developed them yourself. I know that it took a lot of hard work and thousands of hours of your valuable time. But then, without any greediness, you shared your secrets for the good of your friends and their families. We kings are very proud of you for that. You have our respect and admiration. Had you been greedy, you could have gained much wealth, but you would have lost our admiration and respect.

I was speechless, but I thought, I have no further use for the formulas. The factory boss and workers need them much more than I do. I love being with Maragold in America, and I don’t want the factory workers to suffer in any way because of me.

Yes, I can see that you are not greedy. You have never even mentioned the hours, days, months, and years that it took you to discover and refine those complex chemical formulas and equations that are even difficult for me to understand. It’s easy to see that you care for the welfare of the factory and its workers, and for all these reasons I have come here, tonight, to grant you one wish that will add to your magical power to become invisible. What will it be, lad? What will you wish for? Tell me and I shall grant it.

I guess I should have been confused by all the possible choices that I could have wished for, but as I stared into Elder O’Keefe’s eyes I knew that I wanted, in some way, to be like him. I wanted to be able to read the thoughts of other people. At present, I could only read Maragold’s public thoughts and not her private thoughts which she could block from me.

Elder O’Keefe’s eyes twinkled brightly and his smile spread slowly like thick syrup as he read my thoughts, then said, "Your wish is granted, under these conditions: (1) You will be able to read humans’ thoughts as well as leprechauns’ thoughts only if you can see that person or leprechaun; if they are out of your sight, then their thoughts will also be out of your mind: Out of sight, out of mind. There are only two exceptions to that rule: (a) You will be able to read both the public and private thoughts of Mara Shane even when she is out of your sight, but only if she grants you permission. Humans place an extremely high value on their private thoughts and actions, so you will only be able to read Mara’s thoughts, especially her private thoughts, if you discuss this with her and then she gives you her permission. But she will still be able to block her private thoughts from you whenever she wishes to do so. You must not invade her privacy without her permission. (b) You will be granted the power to send and receive mental messages to and from me in spite of the great distances that separate us. This power should only be used if you feel that you have an emergency situation. It isn’t to be used for routine communication. I can read the thoughts of leprechauns that I can’t see, and who may be thousands of miles away—like mental e-mail using radio waves. You just need to think my name, then think of Ireland, then think the mental message you want to send to me. I will receive it and be in touch with you as soon as possible. (2) You will have the power to turn off your thought reading powers. You only need to make a standard wish—no magic words are necessary—to temporarily stop your own power to read someone’s thoughts. You may restore that power by simply saying, or thinking, that you wish to do so. (3) These new powers shall be temporary. You will have to return to Ireland at least once a year to renew the power of thought-reading with me. Do you understand and accept these conditions?"

Yes, I replied, as I stood there feeling stunned. I knew that I had received a great and extremely rare gift from Elder O’Keefe.

I couldn’t help wondering, Am I really worthy of these grand gifts? Elder O’Keefe smiled kindly at me after reading my thought, then simply waved his open right hand in a circular motion in front of my eyes. Then, to my amazement and disappointment, he slowly faded from my view.

When he was gone from my sight I heard his distinctive voice say, "Protect and guide her to the best of your ability and powers, lad. You are my Chosen One, even though you are very young, innocent and know not your own future powers."

I just stood there, immobile, and stared at the doorknob as I asked myself if my job in America was really so important that I deserved this kind of special attention from an Elder, or was it that, maybe, Elder O’Keefe made a mistake and sought the wrong person. But he couldn’t have made that kind of mistake, could he? And what did he mean when he said that I was his Chosen One, and that I didn’t know my own future powers? Chosen for what? What powers?

I felt so shocked and confused that I was light-headed and slightly dizzy; but in my head a message echoed: It’s no mistake, lad. It’s no mistake, lad. It’s no mistake…. Then the pleasant, but puzzling echo tapered off into peaceful silence.

Two days later I was prepared to leave Ireland. I promised my family and friends that I would return next summer. Dad shook my hand, and hugged me, then gave me a proud smile. Mom was tearful. She kissed me, then hugged me and wouldn’t let go for a long while. I felt her sadness and her love in that long embrace. When she loosened her grip, I kissed her. She grabbed my hands and held them. Her hands were as warm as my feelings for her and Dad. She looked into my eyes and I could see her love and concern for me. Then she released my hands. Mom and dad stood together and smiled at me. Before I walked away, my last glance at them revealed teardrops cascading down their cheeks. They were tears of sadness, but of joy and happiness, too. I knew I was loved tremendously. It was difficult to walk away, but I did. Then I wiped the tears from my own cheeks.

Chapter 2

BACK TO AMERICA

I returned to America during the third week of August. My trip was much better this time. Since I didn’t have the power to fly great distances, I simply went to the Cork, Ireland airport and got aboard an airplane going to New York City. Being very small and able to make myself invisible to humans are great advantages for me. Now I can travel and be comfortable, too. I certainly wasn’t very comfortable when I first came to America, by mail, in a small box with a magic wand in it. That was a very uncomfortable trip for me.

At New York City I got onto another plane to Rochester, New York. Mara-gold’s family lives in the small town of Calford, which