Snook and Jacked walked the parents and children over to the pathway by the back of the house. Snook asked if they were sure they had everyone. A quick head count was done to be sure. Hugs were shared all round and the convoy of children began their way home. Snook and Jack waved and then waited until they were out of sight before moving back to Snook's house. Together they moved the tables back inside not forgetting the rose coloured blanket.

Jack. "Surprised there is not a big mess after so many kids"

Snook. "No candy, No candy wrappers." ... "Looks like that's everything from out here. Fancy a coffee?"

Jack. "Thought you'd never ask, dying for one" "Kids do take a lot out of you" "Enjoyed the day, but keeping them entertained was hard work."

Snook and Jack moved to the kitchen for coffee. "I still have a plate of cookies and an apple pie if you have room."

Jack. "Room or not I could use them for the energy"

Crunching into a cookie, using one hand to wipe the cookie crumbs from the table into the other hand and dropping them to the plate Jack had 4 cookie's left on. Jack began to tell Snook about his morning in the village. Asking questions about why Blarneys Bar and Julies shop were being sold. Every store in the village had been visited by Me Roper, offering over the value prices for the shops.

Jack. "He even looked a bit ropey."

Snook. "Who?"

Jack. "That Mr Roper guy." "Something does not sit right about him." "Anyway, I asked around the village and it seems he is buying up every property he can." "They want to build a holiday resort of some kind around here. Hotels with swimming pools, a shopping mall, even a casino."

Snook. "Hmm, and my meadow too" "Well the meadow is not up for sale and it won't be sold either no matter what price they offer." "Top up on your coffee?"

Jack. "Yea sure." "Let's change the topic though, cause talk of selling is depressing."

Snook. " I agree." "So Jack, tell me, do you believe in magic?"

Jack. "Magic? What kind of magic? I did when I was younger, much younger. I seen magicians and they do appear to do magic, but that's slight of hand and trickery I think. Magic like Harry Potter, well I wouldn't say I believe in that. Witches and stuff."

Snook. " I see."

Jack. "Eh you don't seem to happy about that reply."

Snook. "Well it was magic watching you out there with those kids today. You certainly had them believing in magic, even some of the parents." Snook thought for a moment and then invited jack to go out to the apple tree with the flowers on it.

Arriving at the tree, Snook pointed to the flowers. "Have a close look at those flowers." "Notice how they are not dying,but still blooming and growing." "They shouldn't do that when they are picked flowers, they are still growing not withering."

Jack. "That is something to wonder about all right, but magic?"

Snook. "Pluck me an apple from the tree, let me show you something else."

Jack. "I don't think I would be up to climbing that tree again right now"

Snook. "Just take one you can reach."

Jack. "But I had to climb the tree just to reach them earlier."

Snook. "Jack, Just reach up and take one."

Jack reached up knowing he was going to say, see told you Snook I'd need to climb the tree. When he reached up though. There was an apple just in arms reach. "What the, What's going on here Snook?" "Am I on candid camera?"

That got a laugh from Snook. "Okay come with me now Jack, back to the kitchen."

Snook went to the refrigerator took out the last of her baking mix. Grabbed a baking tray, "Jack roll that mix out flat please." Snook pealed the apple skin from the apple and sliced it as Jack rolled the mix out into two round pieces. Snook put the pie together on the baking tray and placed the apple pie in the oven.

Snook. "Now we just put them in the oven for 35 minutes." "Lets wait on the porch, I like to watch the sun go down over the trees at the far end of the meadow."

Jack picked up two chairs from the kitchen and carried them to the porch. Snook picked up their coffee's and brought those. Snook watched the far end of the meadow and Jack kept looking toward the apple flower tree.

Snook and Jack sat silently, Snook watching the sun go down, wondering what Jack was thinking. Jack watching the apple flower tree and thinking, Does Snook really think she is a fairy.

Snook. "Here comes Mr Murtagh."

Jack. "Who? where? I can't see anyone."

Snook. "Mr Murtagh. Just coming through the front gate. The kids give him a terrible time, Playing Knick knack on his door."

Jack. "Knick knack?" "Whats that?"

Snook. "They knock on his door and hide before he answers it. He says he doesn't mind, keeps the blighters out of trouble, his words not mine."

Jack. "Ah I see."

Snook. "There he is now." Snook got up from her chair. "Mr Murtagh, care for a slice of apple pie?"

Jamie. "Hiya Ms Snook and company, Call me Jamie, most everyone does. I can see you have company. I won't be one to trouble you tonight."

Snook. "No trouble at all, come join us, just about to take the pie out of the oven." Snook looked to Jack and as Jack looked back. Snook nodded to get him to join them. "Just going to get them pie's out of the oven."

Jack stood from his chair and walked over to Jamie. Reaching out and offering his hand to Jamie, Jack said. "Hi, Names Jack. You're more than welcome to join us. We were just watching the sun go down and it's done that now."

Jamie. "Well in that case if it's no bother. Sure a bit of apple pie for supper would go down just nice." "Call me Jamie, most everyone does. The name is Sheamus, in English its James but everyone calls me Jamie."

Jack. "Jamie it is then."

Jack and Sheamus followed Snook into the kitchen. Each taking a chair from the porch and bringing it with them. As they sat down, Snook was putting the third of four apple pies on the counter from the oven. She cut one pie into three and passed Jack and Jamie a slice each saying. "They are not big pies, Coffee appleade?"

Jack. "Oh a coffee for me thanks."

Jamie. "Same here, very nice of you Snook."

Snook. "Jamie here got chased out of Ireland by Leprechauns."

Jack. "Leprechauns?"

Jamie. "That's right leprechauns. Now I know ye won't be believin' in leprechauns Mr Jack."

Jack. "Just Jack. No need to be formal, all friends here."

Jamie. "As ye wish Jack. As ye wish. As I was sayin' ye might not believe, but that don't not mean they ain't there. I'd be one to tell ye they is. Met a few of them ye know." Jamie took a bite from his apple pie and a sip of coffee. "Mighty fine, Mighty fine baker you are Snook. Yumm that's delicious pie."

Jack. "So why did they chase you out?" "I thought they were supposed to give wishes or their pot of gold?"

Jamie. "Well, let me tell ye."

Snook knew Jamie liked to tell his stories and she liked hearing them too.