Cindy Burns, age 11, of Portland, Maine, for her question:

Were there ever real leprechauns?

Well now, as far as Andy himself is concerned, this is a very touchy subject  ¬very touchy indeed. It so happens that he claims to be an ancient pooka. The pookas, of course, are offshoots of the pixie clan and, in a rather roundabout way, the pixies are related to the leprechauns.

There are, believe it or not, a number of hard headed, cold blooded people in this world who refuse to believe that leprechauns ever existed. But please let's tread softly because Andy is indirectly, very indirectly, related to these pixilated little people. Some years back, certain solemn grown ups who write stories for children suffered through a very bad spell of obtuseness    which is a sort of blind spot in the imaginative section of the brain. They actually convinced themselves that animals do not talk and that the pixilated little people of fairydom do not really exist at all.

Fortunately the sickness soon passed. But in the meantime, they had infected a lot of other people, including children who usually have good sense in these matters. This aroused certain older children, old enough in fact to be adult qualified scientists. These worthy citizens set about finding the scientific facts of leprechaun history. And find it they did. At any rate, those not suffering from obtuseness are satisfied that they explained leprechaun reality.

Some friendly scientists claim that ages ago, northern Europe was populated by several different races of people. The rather smallish Neanderthal people were woodsy folk who lived very close to nature. The larger Cro Magnon 'people were bold and sturdy folk bent on improving the world of nature to suit themselves. They wiped out the wolves and other fierce animals that threatened their peace of mind. And for good measure they also wiped out the timid Neanderthal people. Later they regretted this action and missed their smaller friends. They felt guilt and grief and tried to keep the Neanderthals alive in their minds. They told and retold legends about the little people, half afraid and half hopeful that they were still somewhere around.

Through countless generations the stories were exaggerated. The smallish race of ancient people became smaller and smaller until nowadays a pixie person is said to be small enough to ride on a bumble bee or comfortably doze in a daisy. A whole imaginary realm has been populated with an assortment of pixies and pookak leprechauns and other little people. And there are uncountable tales of their outrageous antics. Those friendly scientists who found a sound reason for the legends of the little people may or may not be right. Andy has his own private opinions on the subject and you are entitled to yours. But be careful now    remember the dreary miseries of that dismal disease called obtuseness.

If you want to know Andy's private ideas, just think of your dog or cat. Anybody who claims that your pet can't talk must be stone deaf as well as obtuse. Now just suppose the little people still are around. It would be just like them to use their magic to turn themselves into puppies and kittens, frisky little mice and even glamorous goldfishes. This hint should help you to figure out Andy's private opinions on the tantalizing topic of the little people.