Tasting a Rainbow (A St. Patrick's Day Story)

Tasting a Rainbow

by Elizabeth LaGrange Muster
Word Count 500


So I wrote my very first picture book in second grade and it won an Indiana Young Author's contest.  It was called "Did I See a Leprechaun or was it a Dream?"  I've had this idea in my head for a month now, and finally had time to write it down.  Let me know what you think. 

Brianna woke up early on a dreary morning hungry for a banana.  

(Illustration note: calendar shows it’s March 17).

She searched and searched the kitchen and couldn’t find one anywhere.  Strange, she thought.
There was one more left last night after dinner.  Maybe Momma ate it. But Momma was still asleep.

Then Brianna heard a noise coming from the refrigerator.  Was it her little brother, Benny?
No. Benny was still asleep too.  

Curiously, Brianna opened the refrigerator door and found -- a leprechaun!  
The strange little man with bright orange hair sticking out from a under a green top hat
wore a matching green suit.  Brianna thought leprechauns only existed in books and movies.
But here was a real one in her refrigerator! On St. Patrick’s Day at that!

Brianna tapped the leprechaun on the shoulder.  “Can I, uh, help you with something?”

The leprechaun turned around, holding the missing banana.  “I found this strange little rainbow,”
he said. “But some colors are missing.”

Brianna pointed to a bowl of strawberries.  “These are red.”

The leprechaun tapped his chin.  “That might work. Such a dreary day.  
Need some sunshine to make a real rainbow. But I have to find a way, or I might get fired.”

“I wouldn’t want that to happen,” Brianna said.  “What about oranges?”

The leprechaun frowned.  “Those look much too big.”

“We can slice them.” Brianna peeled the orange and then the leprechaun carefully cut it.   

He popped a wedge into his mouth and juice dribbled down orange beard.  
“That even tastes like sunshine.” He grinned.

“We can add some yellow pineapple chunks to the banana,” Brianna said.  
“Now we need green.”

“My favorite!” The leprechaun clicked his heels.  “But that’s not green,” he said
as Brianna took a kiwi from the drawer.  

“Cut it in half. See?”

“Leapin’ leprechauns!  That’s beautiful!” The leprechaun did a little jig.  When he was finished,
he said, “We still need blue.”

“Blueberries, of course,” Brianna said. “We’ll just rinse these off.  And here’s are some purple grapes.”

(Illustration note: Leprechaun pops a purple grape into his mouth.)

“Now let’s make our rainbow,” the Leprechaun said.  

Brianna set out a platter and the two arranged the fruits in arches -- red, orange, yellow, green, blue,
and purple.  

“It’s beautiful!” said the leprechaun.  “But there’s something missing.”

“What?” asked Brianna.

“A pot of gold!”  

“I’m all out of money,” Brianna said.  “And my parents are still asleep. I guess I could go take
some pennies from Benny’s bank.”

“No, no,” said the leprechaun.  “Let’s make our own. I just happen to have the recipe here
in my pocket.”

Illustration note:

Leroy’s Pot of Gold Dip

• 1 (8 ounce) container frozen whipped topping, thawed
• 1 (3 ounce) packet dry instant vanilla pudding mix
• 1/2 (12 ounce) can frozen lemonade concentrate, thawed
  Mix everything together and place in a bowl.  

Brianna dipped a strawberry into Leroy’s concoction.  It was delicious! This was the best
St. Patrick’s day ever.  “Can you stay for breakfast?” she asked Leroy.

“Oh, no.” He shook his head. “I’ve got to move on. Lots more rainbows to make.”  

Just as Leroy slipped out of the back door, Benny walked into the kitchen.  

“Did I see a leprechaun or was that a dream?”

Brianna rubbed her eyes too.  “I’m not sure. But here, have some fruit.”  

Patience, Lost and Found

I wrote this for a poetry contest, but I'm not going to submit it because I think it’s geared more for parents than for children.  I've gotten some great feeback on 12X12 that helped me improve it, and I may still totally rework it into a picture book from the child's POV. But none of the readers actually believe Maddie Grace asked me if my patience had gone down the drain during bath time. But she did. And the other night she called down the drain to try to find them.

Patience, Lost and Found

A bedtime poem for a mother and daughter

By Elizabeth LaGrange Muster

Come on, Maddie Grace,

get out of the tub.

Just five minutes, please.

My mermaid’s swimming.

No, little girl, your

fingers are wrinkly.

Don’t lose your patience.  

Is it down the drain?

You’re a silly girl,

and you’re oh so smart.

Ouch! Don’t comb my hair.

No! Not the dryer!  

Time to brush your teeth

Yes, morning and night.

Yucky! Blue toothpaste.

Can I spit in the sink?

Come in the bedroom,

put on your jammies.

Not the unicorns,

I want Paw Patrol.

Let’s lie down now and

sing “Little Red Bird.”

I’m not sleepy yet.

Let’s look for Patience.

It must be hidden

among piles of toys.

Let’s try the kitchen

And eat Scooby snacks.

Get in the covers.

Let’s say our prayers.

I’m thirsty again.

How about some juice?

No.  Your teeth are clean.

You’ll have to potty.

I want my iPad.

Let’s watch videos.

Let’s snuggle in tight

and tell a story.

The one about pigs

and the scary wolf?

That’s your favorite.  

Once upon a time...

Tell me another one.

How about Goldilocks?

I’m tired, baby.  

Here’s a kiss goodnight.

I love you lots, Momma.

Did you find your patience?

I’ve found it right now

with you in my arms.