The Rather Foul-Smelling Fairy

There once was a fairy that lived in a rock cave hidden amidst the rolling green hills of Northern Ireland. He was called Grogoch.

Now Grogoch didn’t look the way you might imagine a fairy. He certainly had no gossamer wings or magic wand; he did not spend his days frolicking in the fields nor did he sing sweet songs. He was the size of a small child but looked more like an old man. As his home was in a forest, the rust-colored fur that covered his body was usually tangled with leaves and twigs. But if you ever met Grogoch, what you may remember the most is his smell. You see, Grogoch was not overly worried about personal hygiene. However, no matter how bad the creature smelled, he was a pleasant and social chap.

One day, a little boy named Danny Doyle walked home from school. He began to chase a floppy-earred rabbit that had come across his path, jumping over logs and skipping across river stones. He finally thought he had it cornered, but what he found instead was Grogoch.

Now everyone knew about these fairies, but almost no one had ever seen one before. Grogochs only become visible to incredibly special people and on very rare occasions.

So, Danny was more than taken aback when he saw the hairy little fairy leaning against his rocky home, smoking a pipe, and looking up at him with a rather curious expression.

He was even more surprised when Grogoch followed him home. Danny would look back every so often, spotting the fairy sneakily shadowing him. But each time he turned to ask him what he was doing, Grogoch disappeared.

“You can’t come inside,” Danny called out from his front porch. “Mum would have my head!’’

The fairy shuffled out from behind a honeysuckle bush. “But I can help you and your mum with chores. Sweeping floors and doing laundry are my specialties!” Grogoch said.

“Absolutely not!” Danny said, crossing his arms and jutting out his chin.

‘‘I can also help your family around the kitchen,” Grogoch said, moving to the bottom of the porch steps. “Oh, and I know where the most delicious mushrooms grow. I will gather them and make you a soup.”

“You smell far too bad, and you would make an awful mess, Grogoch!” Danny stamped his foot on the wooden boards of the porch for emphasis. He did not want to get in trouble.

“I am so lonely,” Grogoch said, his gruff voice cracking. “I do not have a family of my own. The woods are an awfully quiet place, and the rabbits and mice do not make particularly good conversation.’’

Danny’s resolution crumbled as he regarded the forlorn fairy. No family or friends to talk with sounded rather lonely indeed. “I’ll tell you what,” he said. “I will let you stay in my room. But MY room only! And if Mum comes in, you need to remain invisible.” Danny only hoped he could live with the smell.

So, Grogoch came to stay. He slept in an old apple box that had a blanket inside. His days were spent cleaning up Danny’s room and chatting with spiders and shoeflies, but the evenings were Grogoch’s favorite times. He would entertain Danny long into the night by spinning stories about leprechauns and other secretive folk. As he was rather old, Grogoch had many tales to tell.

However, it was not long before Grogoch became bored. “I’ll just go out for a minute. Maybe there’s something I can help with,” he thought. He climbed out of the apple crate and snuck his way downstairs.

“Danny!” Mrs. Doyle shouted when she saw the piles of folded clothes and towels. “What did you do with this laundry? There is dirt all over it! Now I’ll have to rewash it all!”

Utterly confused, Danny looked down at the laundry. He swore it was nice and clean earlier. ‘‘It was not me, Mum. I promise!’’

“Danny!” Mrs. Doyle shouted the next day. “How did you manage to break my favorite mug? And what happened to all our milk?’’

Danny rushed into the kitchen to find the mug in pieces and the milk jug empty. “It was not me, Mum. I cross my heart!’’

Things went on this way for the next few days, but after Danny got blamed for getting ashes from the fireplace all over the furniture, he decided to fess up. “It wasn’t me, Mum,” he muttered. “It was Grogoch! That’s the truth!’’

“What? You better not have a Grogoch here!” she exclaimed. “You know that once you invite one into your home, it’s just about impossible to make it go!”

Danny stood there, his eyes darting around the room to avoid seeing the disappointed look on Mum’s face.

“Those Grogochs are nothing but trouble, Danny!”

As Danny waited to see what Mum would do, his little sister came into the house crying.

“Mum! Come quick! One of the sheep fell into the ravine!” Sarah cried. “And it looks like her leg is hurt bad.”

Dread crept up Danny’s spine as he forced himself to look at Mum.

‘‘This was probably the work of your little Grogoch friend, Danny. He probably got bored making mischief in our house and decided to mess around with our sheep!’’ she said. “Come on…let’s see if we can save the poor animal from the fairy’s misdeeds.”

They drove as close as they could to the ravine, but they also had to hike quite a distance. Spirits were low. Would they make it in time?

When they arrived, they found Grogoch sitting and watching the sheep happily nibbling some grass.

Sarah looked on in confusion. ‘‘But she was just down in the ravine!” she said. “I was so sure she hurt herself, but now…now…she looks fine.’’

The fairy smiled at the trio, and the sheep bleated happily. Baa.

‘‘I was taking a walk and heard her crying out, so I hopped down the ravine and fixed her all up. I am an awfully good climber,’’ he said proudly.

“But…how…”

“Well…” Grogoch said. “I can explain a wee bit about us Little People... over a nice cup of cream?”

So, in the end, even Mum was happy that Grogoch had been there. “Well…okay. But he cannot stay in your room any longer, Danny!” she said. ‘‘He will have to sleep somewhere else. And you, young man, will be doing double chores for a week.’’

The family made a home for Grogoch in their old barn. No longer did he sleep in an apple crate, now he had his very own bed. He was pleased to slumber so close to the friendly horses and sheep, who were much more interesting than the rabbits. And now he could tell his stories to all of Danny’s family. It was better than Grogoch could ever have dreamed. Now he finally had a family of his own.

Everyone was happy—especially Danny, who once again had a clean-smelling room!