“No! Please grandma, I don't want to sleep,” said Oliver.
“You never get sleepy when I tell stories about your grandpa,” said Marin, running her hand through Oliver’s head.
It was true: Oliver loved hearing about the incredible feats his grandfather had accomplished. Raul was a great adventurer and people said that he had gone to all parts of the world.
“How come he got to travel and daddy has to be a shoemaker? Daddy said that a great Leprechaun serves to make beautiful pairs of shoes. Is that true?”
“Your grandfather always admired Leprechauns, and he wouldn't have gone so far without shoes so comfortable.”
“You mean that to travel, we need better shoes?” Oliver asked, doubtfully.
Marin smiled tenderly and looked at her chest, where she wore a coin as a pendant.
“We all have our role in this world” - said Marin – “You are a leprechaun's son, but you do not need to follow the path of your parents.”
“Do you promise? Can I travel like Raul did?”
“You can do whatever you wish, my dear. This is a conversation you will have with your father tomorrow, and that's why I'm telling you today. Are you keeping this secret?” The Little Leprechaun nodded. “Every individual of our species receives a magic coin on the third anniversary... the greatest treasure of all.”
“The greatest treasure I could have would be to see my mommy again,” said Oliver, turning his face away to hide a possible tear.
“We've talked about that, baby; your mother is resting...”
“Sorry, sometimes I miss her.” Then a thought occurred to him: “Can I buy everything I want with this money?” Oliver asked, full of will.
“Don't be silly, Olly. It has a much deeper value than that: the coin keeps our essence, our personality. But there is an even more valuable coin: the golden one, which is given only to people who have not only found happiness but are pure and share joy wherever they go, with everyone they meet.”
“Because with this one you can buy things?” He risked again.
“No! What else do you need? Those who have a golden coin are blissfully fulfilled.”
“I would feel joy with more toys,” said Oliver angrily, not exactly understanding what his grandmother was saying.
“You are too young to comprehend my dear; in our world we do not buy things like in the fantasy stories of those creatures called Humans... We exchange, do favors for each other and donate what we do not need or want. It works much better.”
A wolf's howl was heard outside, reminding Marin that her grandson had already spent too much time awake. She could not say if it was entirely his fault or if she was letting it happen: both loved each other's company. Oliver loved hearing stories of his grandfather and, in telling them, Marin was touched once again with a longing for her companion, her husband, her everlasting love.
“All right, wise guy, you won again!” Marin teased and tickled her grandson. “But now it's time to sleep, okay?”
With a nod, Oliver hung his green cap on the side of the bed and closed his eyes. But he was just waiting for his grandmother to leave the room to finally stop pretending and soak (indulge) in another endless night with new possibilities: a new world where he could be what he wanted and feel his little heart fill with happiness.
That night Oliver did not have to close his eyes to dream.
