The raft is complete and ready for the team
“This is the way,” gurgled Red.
Felix pulling the raft followed Red. And everything went smoothly for about two minutes when suddenly B Rook started bucking and whirlpools began forming all around the raft. “Oh no,” cried Poppy Leigh. “B Rook needs stabalizing. Quick, Felix pull us to shore.”
Felix did his best but B Rook was stirring up quite a bit of trouble. By the time Felix reached sure footing B Rook was a mess of whirlpools.
Wellington leapt from the raft. Poppy Leigh was dead on his heels. Felix could handle the raft. They began throwing rocks and boulders into B Rook as fast as they could. Their efforts managed to settle B Rook down but not before the raft escaped the futile attempts of Felix to keep it near shore.
“I’m sorry,” said Felix. “I so need opposable thumbs.”
“I’m not sure that they could have helped,” consoled Wellington, “that enchantment is a wicked one.”
B Rook looked bedraggled. “I’m sorry.”
“It’s not your fault,” Poppy Leigh watched the raft drift out of sight. “You were a good raft! Safe travels,” she called out.
“Did I hear the word raft? Anyone need a life raft?” A sing song voice rang out. “Got one to sell. Cheap.”
Wellington’s head jerked up. “Is that you Lance?” he asked hopefully thinking that his friend Lance the leprechaun might be nearby.
“Name’s Khaun. Lance is my cousin thrice removed. But even that’s not far enough if you ask me. He’s nothing but trouble,” an emerald green leprachaun stepped out of the green grass. “Got anything to trade? Gold was mighty slim this year.”
“Nice crochôga.” Poppy Leigh pointed to Khaun’s bright green socks.
Khaun was dumbstruck. Who was this girl who knew such a fine Irish word as crcohôga? “Thank you,” he bowed. “At your service bean ôg. What do you have that might interest me?”
“I’ve got poppers.”
“Poppers?” the leprechaun danced a jig. “That does sound interesting. Tell me more.”
“My pretty pink poppers are safe and soothing. They create a mood like no other.”
“We could work a trade,” the leprechaun approached the girl. “What’s your offer?”
Poppy Leigh thought for a moment. “Eleven poppers for a raft.”
“How do I know that you’ll keep your word?”
“How do I know if your raft is any good?”
“Trust,” Wellington interjected.
“Do you have a sample for me to try?”
Poppy Leigh reached into her pouch but Wellington stayed her hand. “We don’t have time for this.”
“Guess you don’t need that raft so much after all,” Khaun turned to leave. “Those poppers sounded suspicious anyway. And really, why would anyone want to be in a good mood?” He started to scamper away in the grass.
“Wait,” called Wellington. “Take the sample but be quick about making up your mind if we have a deal or not. Time’s a’wasting.”
“Here.” While Wellington was talking Poppy had approached the stalled leprechaun with a huge beautiful pink popper gleaming in her hand. “Enjoy your dreams.”
Khaun gleefully took the popper and popped it into his mouth. Almost instantly his body began to sway and sink. “Umm, nice. Raft’s over th…”
Wellington stared at the cagey girl. “What did you do?”
“Oh, sort of gave him my special double dose popper,” she smirked. “He’'ll be asleep in a lovely dream world for hours.”
“And awake none the worse,” Wellington did not want any more trouble.
“None the worse, even with a double dose.”
“I found the life raft,” yelped Felix. He had been worried that the leprechaun was all talk and had begun looking around while the others negotiated. “That leprechaun might be a rascal but his offer was real.”
“And I’m honoring my end of the bargain,” said Poppy Leigh as she tucked an envelope containing eleven poppers into Khaun’s gold sack. She noticed that the leprechaun was not conning them about his lack of gold. His sack was almost empty.