Category Archives: Short Stories

You have three magic genie wishes, what are you asking for?
A young boy, called Rab, many years ago, lived  on a croft, that his family worked; way up in a remote  mountainous region of Scotland called the Highlands.
The family did not have much money and if any of the sheep they farmed were ill or died then they would very often have to do without.
Rab worked hard looking after the sheep and in winter,would sleep in the small barn with them to protect them from the cold and the wolves and bears that would eat them given a chance.
One night,while laying out some dried moss to sleep on.Rab noticed something shiny underneath the fresh moss that he had recently gathered from outside.
Earlier on, while taking in  the moss and drying it he had mumbled to himself wishing  that his family could have a bit of luck,instead of facing hardship all the time.
He dug his hands deeper into the moss and picked up the object.It was a tin lamp.
“Not much value in that he thought,it’s a pretty object.My mum  might find it of use or we could sell it to one of our neighbours.I wish it was gold.”
The Lamp changed into gold,but Rab couldn’t tell the difference,to him it was just a dirty old lamp.He laid it to one side and completed his chores which meant feeding and watering the sheep in the barn.
The carrots and turnips that he had for feed,were well passed their best and he felt sorry for the sheep.
“Oh if only I had some decent food,not these rotten carrots and turnips”. Rab said to himself.
It was then he noticed a bag in the corner of the barn,it was full of corn that the sheep loved.Rab was puzzled,but thought his dad must have bought it at the market for winter feed and forgot to tell him.
He supplemented the meagre carrots and turnips with the corn.
After,the sheep were fed and watered Rab settled down for the night on his bed of dried moss and slept soundly.
Unbeknown to Rab,the lamp contained the Laird of The Lamp,who by now had granted three wishes to the boy and  could now  escape from the lamp in which he had been trapped by a spirit for being an evil and  greedy Laird of his people.
The Laird looked down at the boy as he slept and was very grateful to Rab.The Laird had needed to grant three simple wishes to someone who was near the lamp and true of heart and not greedy. Rab had done so and the Laird was free.
From that day, Rab’s family had better luck and they began to make their way in the world.They sold the gold lamp and eventually were able to buy their own land and live on it happily for many generations.
The family  knew of the  Laird nearby who had returned weary from battle and had settled in the area.
He had been a great help to many people and things had improved since his arrival.He was fair and intelligent and offered good advice with everyday problems
No one knew his real story,not even Rab, only the Laird knew what turned him from being a Bad Laird to a Good one.