“For Saint Patrick’s Day this year, I am not dressing up as a leprechaun,” declared Ryan.

“But Ryan,” said Mom. “I already told Mrs. O’Grady you would do it.”

It wasn’t fair. Just because Ryan had bright orange hair and freckles his mom had volunteered him to dress up as a leprechaun and ride on a float on Saint Patrick’s Day. 

The day of the Saint Patrick’s Day parade finally arrived. Ryan reluctantly donned a little green suit, a plastic green hat, and ugly green shoes. He hoped no one would recognize him behind his fake orange beard.

“Oh, you look just adorable,” gushed Mrs. O’Grady when Ryan took his place on the parade float.  Ryan cringed.

As the parade wound its way through town, everyone cheered when the leprechaun float passed by. After a while Ryan forgot his embarrassment and began waving at everyone.  He stood proudly on the podium when his float won first place in the float competition.

“Hey look, that’s Ryan,” someone yelled. Ryan noticed a group of boys from his class. “Way to go, Ryan,” they shouted.

Ryan waved down to them, hoping he could be in the parade again next year.

© 2008 Suzannah Hayes. Original for CCF  (Hayes grants CCF  first electronic rights for one month; CCF may archive the material indefinitely and include it in an eBook anthology).