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Tam O'Sham Part 2 - My Bestest Friend |
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Tam O'Sham lives a pretty uneventful life, like most of the Leprechauns in his village do. The Leprechauns are peaceful beings, living in harmony with the forests and the streams. There are dangers to be aware of though, and other creatures both near and far that are sometimes jealous of the Leprechauns. There has been peace for many, many Staughs and Tam spends his gleedoms studying, dreaming, and wondering which special gift he will develop.
Although most special Leprechauns develop their gift by their 120th celebration, Tam has yet to show even the slightest sign, of what his gift will be. This worries Tam a lot, and he can hear the whispers of other Leprechauns his age as he passes by. His Mam and Pap gave him a "Worry Stone" to rub and told him not to worry about it, that he will know his gift when the time is right for him. This gives him some comfort, but lately, Tam wonders if he will ever know. Even his Mam and Pap seem tense and avoid the subject when he tries to ask them about it.
Tam's closest and dearest friend is not a special Leprechaun like him, but that doesn't matter to Tam. Sometimes, special Leprechauns will avoid the regular wee folks, and feel their efforts can be better used elsewhere. Tam's parents have warned him, that some of the others may try to use him, to make their lives just a little better. Some will even pretend to be his friend but are not really interested in him, just his special gift. Tam and Drewey first become friends over 20 Staughs ago.
It was Tam's day to celebrate his birth, and it was a very happy celebration. The Village Square was decorated with ribbons of every colour strung around the trees surrounding the square. Huge bows were placed on every tree aswell. The whole square looked as if rainbows had been created just for Tam. Many Leprechauns had asked for the honour, of helping to prepare the feast. Several worked for two whole gleedoms, just to prepare the vast amount of food that was needed. It was a feast unlike any other this village had seen.
Even an old Troll from the mountain, north of the village, had come to visit and pay his respect. This was a very unusual practice. The Trolls are creatures that visit only with other trolls, and they do not normally like music and dance. The Troll's appearance at the village drew much attention, and small groups gathered to discuss the possible reasons for this visit. It was during this time of happiness, that Tam first met, and quickly grew to like and admire Drewey McLeary.
Tam and Drewey now go every day after study, to The Rainbow Stream. Here they talk and dream, and they listen with wonderment to the melodies of Shay McKay. It is almost hypnotizing. They have their very own favorite place at the rainbow river. A giant mushroom unlike any other, that had over time, become their very own place. It was at this very place, while they were listening to the sounds of music floating through the air from the celebration, that changed Tam's life forever.
On this gleedom, Tam was lying under the shade of the giant mushrooms, listening to Shay McKay as she made beautiful music, just for him. Drewey had walked along the trail that lead from the village, trying to find the source of the enchanting melodies, when he spotted Tam and Shay. "Do ye mind if I listen in?", he asked as he settled himself on the grass beside Tam. "I'm Drewey McLeary", he introduced himself and turned his attention to Shay. After a few more tunes, Shay returned to the celebration in the square, and only Tam and Drewey remained at the stream.
They were lying under the shade of a giant mushroom when Drewey told Tam his story. Drewey's guardians were awarded his care, when he was just newly born, and he's lived with them ever since. Erin and Sean McBride, are the nicest couple in the village and Tam had often heard his parents speak of them. Drewey quickly changed the subject of their talk though, when Tam asked about his parents. They began discussing how strange it was, that an old Troll would come to this celebration. They knew that they should return to the village square, as the feast would soon begin, but wanted just another few moments to themselves.
When they first heard the strange sound coming from a patch of thistle bushes behind them, they had no idea what to think. As the sound grew louder, they knew it was not a Leprechaun making that sound. They were so afraid, they couldn't move a muscle. Their whole bodies frozen with fear. "Drewey what is that?", whispered Tam. Drewey shrugged his shoulders as he replied to Tam's question. "I've no idea and I don't think I want to either." The sound had stopped and quiet came once more to the forest. "Come to think of it, the forest seems awfully quiet", whispered Tam. "Why are the birds no singing?"
They both listened intently for any further sound but all was silent. After many moments that seemed like many Gleedoms, Drewey decided that he, being older then Tam by 17 staughs, should be the braver of the two. He wasn't very brave at all though, but couldn't let Tam see that he too, was afraid. He slowly peeked around the mushroom to see what was making that strange noise. He couldn't see anything except thistle bushes and grass. Tam wasn't so sure he really wanted to know what was there, but decided to sneek a peek aswell.
Just when they thought that whatever it was must have run away, from out of the thistle bushes came that very strange sound again. Only this time it filled the air so quickly that both Tam and Drewey nearly jumped out of their tiny, pointed shoes. It was almost like the shriek of an injured animal but was much, much louder. Too afraid to move, the two friends huddled close together behind the stem of the giant mushroom, hoping whatever that horrible thing was, it wouldn't see them.
After many more moments passed, and no further sound or movement came from behind them, they decided to try another peek. Nothing! Drewey decided they were being silly. Afraid simply because they didn't know what was there. How silly. He was up on his feet now and brushing the moss off his pants. He slowly started to walk toward the thistle bushes as Tam held his breath and watched nervously from behind the safety of the giant mushroom. Or at least he hoped it would be safe there. As Drewey approached the bushes, he was straining to make out any unusual shape or colour among the thistles and found nothing.
"I've got to be closer", Drewey thought to himself as he tried to see through the thistle bushes. He had the most painful memory come rushing back into his mind at that point. He had once fallen on a thistle bush not that long ago, while out playing with his other friends. He can still remember how the thorns felt as they stuck in his skin everywhere. It had taken all gleedom, for the medical Leprechaun to pull them all out. When they were finally all removed from his skin, he had been taken to a very strange looking bathtub which contained a mixture of mushroom fungus and rhubarb stems. He didn't like the smell coming from that awful looking stuff. He vowed never to go near a thistle bush again as he plugged his nose and climbed in the bathtub.
"Drewey, what do ye see?" called Tam from behind the stem of the giant mushroom. "Nothing at all Tam. Whatever was here must have run off", replied Drewey. Now if only he believed that himself, they'd be all set. Maybe that sound they heard was someone else had falling in the thistle bushes like he had when he was a wee bit younger. Drewey thought about the possible reasons why anyone would be that close to a thistle bush when another thought occured to him. Whatever made that sound, was not a Leprechaun. Drewey was certain of that but wasn't certain of anything else at this point. Maybe whoever, or whatever, had fallen into that bush, wasn't there by accident.
The two friends agreed that it was time to return to the square. "Drewey, yer me bestest friend ever", said Tam thinking about how brave Drewey must be to go that close to the thistle, and whatever was on the other side. "Ye'll be with me always, and to prove it, ye and yer guardians shall sit at the front table with me at the celebration," decided Tam. Drewey was truly honoured. It is not every day that a commoner like him, is accepted by a special Leprechaun and allowed to be seated at a front table. "I shall be yer friend for along as ye'd like me to be", Drewey replied and bowed gracefully to Tam to show his thanks.
Together they walked slowly back towards the village. There was no need for talking now, just a comfortable silence. They both knew, they would be friends forever. Tam thought about what a wonderful gleedom this is turning out to be. A new best friend that is so brave, the celebration waiting for him upon his return, and another two gold coins to add to his crock. "What could be better then this?" Tam asked himself. Drewey however, had other things in mind. "Tam's just a wee lad, he canna imagine the dangers he'll be facing. I shall have a keep a keen eye upon him to see no harm comes his way", decides Drewey.
Just who had been behind that thistle bush and why were they after Tam? Drewey decided that, if it took him forever and a Gleedom, he was going to find out.
 greenshamrock · Sat Oct 15, 2005 @ 11:41pm · 0 Comments |
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