Kevin Murphy Takes on the Father of Lies

Kevin Murphy Takes On The Father Of Lies

M. J. Smith

Copyright 2011 Michael J. Smith, Sr.

All rights are reserved.

Published by Book and Software Publishing Corporation at Smashwords.

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Table of Contents

The Murphy Gathering

Thanksgiving Dinner

Arriving In Ireland

The Charging Of The Stone

The Meeting And Escape

Finding Kevin In The Creek

Kevin Tells Katie His Story

Stradbally And The First Demon

The Rock Of Cashel And Its Demons

Killarney And The Ring Of Kerry

The Three Poser Demons

The Light Of Truth

Shannon Airport And The Return Home

The Murphy Gathering

The Estes Park Scottish-Irish Festival was just ending and people were making their way toward the parking lot not realizing they were missing the most astonishing event of the weekend. The ghost of John Murphy and a leprechaun named Patrick Dunn were walking through the crowd, looking for John’s great, great, great, great grandson, Kevin Murphy. John had taken on a very normal-looking body, as ghosts have the power to do. He and Patrick were dressed in short-sleeved shirts, blue jeans and Birkenstocks in hopes they would fit in. The only thing that distinguished John from those around him was his pale skin. Even Patrick’s short height, red hair and red beard went mostly unnoticed as the people hurried to leave. The fact was, almost anyone would go unnoticed in that crowd where some were dressed in kilts, others in jeans; a few wore suits while others wore shorts.

As Kevin stopped to talk to a friend about borrowing his kilt, John grabbed Patrick’s shoulder and pointed toward Kevin. That’s Kevin over there talking to the boy in the kilt. He’s the reason I brought you here. I want you to know what he looks like so when the time comes you’ll know who he is.

Patrick studied Kevin for a moment then quickly turned back to John. Ya didn’t need ta drag me all the way here from Ireland ta show him ta me. He looks like the rest o’ ya Murphys. After pausing to take another quick look, he added, So what’s so special ‘bout him?

Ignoring Patrick’s question, John continued, Remember when I saved your life and your gold, you promised to return the favor. Now’s when I collect and it involves Kevin.

Patrick looked back at Kevin a bit more carefully than before. I always pays me debts, I do, but John me boy, it’s been over 130 years since I made that promise ta ya. I thought ya bein’ dead ‘n all woulda ended me responsibility.

Both John and Patrick smiled and nodded at a group of people who walked in front of them. Once they were out of hearing range, John responded, Dead or not, a promise is a promise and it’s time for you to pay up. He paused and decided to have a little fun with Patrick. In life, he liked nothing better than to see a leprechaun get worked up. I’ve just been thinking a bit more…and I believe I should be getting an extra wish or two as interest for all the years I’ve waited to collect the debt.

Agitated, Patrick quickly said, Forget the extra wish stuff! Holding his hands out from his sides to expose his entire body, he continued, Do ya thinks I look like a genie? It’s enough if I do anything let along givin’ ya extra stuff. So, what do I havta do? Just make sure it ain’t too hard, considerin’ how long ago that offer ta return a favor was made.

A deep frown flew across John’s face. Don’t start calling it an offer, Patrick. You made a promise and you’ve got to help Kevin to make good on it.

Patrick was happy he was able to get John going because he, like John, liked to tease, but now it was time to get down to the business at hand. Okay, okay, but help Kevin ta do what? Ya haven’t told me what ya wants me help with!

John knew what he was going to ask wouldn’t be well received by Patrick. He had thought of several nice ways to put it to him; but now that the time had come, he made the request short and direct. Kevin’s got to stop the next breakout and I want you there to help him.

ANOTHER BREAKOUT -- ALREADY! Patrick yelled. ’N YA WANT ME TA HELP STOP IT? AT HIS AGE, HE’LL END UP DEAD…OR WORSE.

John smiled a bit and then said, That’s why I want you to help him.

Shaking his head, Patrick paced for a few seconds before he looked at John again. That ain’t gonna be easy. They’re still talkin’ ‘bout all the demons the Father of Lies sent after ya when ya outsmarted him durin’ the last breakout. His eyes moved from John to the ground in front of his feet. Are ya sure it’s gonna fall ta Kevin ta stop this one? he paused and looked back at Kevin. After all, he’s only a kid? Can’t they pick someone who’s a little older?

While John and Patrick were talking, Kevin finished his conversation about borrowing the kilt and was walking directly toward them. His eyes were focused on Patrick because of the commotion he was making. When John saw Kevin approaching, he quickly put his hand on Patrick’s shoulder and turned him away. He wasn’t quite fast enough because Kevin got a brief look at Patrick. As he passed, Kevin continued watching Patrick, hoping to get a better look at his face, but by that time only Patrick’s back was visible. Realizing there was nothing more to see, Kevin turned his head in the direction he was walking and headed for the parking lot.

John kept his eyes on Kevin until he was out of sight. That was close, he said as he resumed his conversation with Patrick. I want you to help him but you can’t tell him what’s going on. That’s one of the breakout rules. Patrick looked as if he wanted to say something but John didn’t give him a chance. It’s going to be harder than when I did it. Ever since I found out about the breakout, I’ve been watching the Father of Lies and he’s mad…madder than I’ve ever seen him. It’s clear he doesn’t intend to let his next chance to get free of the shadow world slip past him.

It’s gonna be harder than any o’ the other eight breakout tries ‘n you wants me ta help? You musta lost your sense when ya died. I’ve seen that happen before. Someone in their right mind dies and they completely lose their senses goin’ through the experience. I just didn’t expect it ta happen ta ya, John. He paused a moment as he switched topics. Ya knows I’d have ta be nuts ta go along with ya on this thing. Patrick slowly stroked his beard as he waited for a reaction from John. When it didn’t come, Patrick became much more direct. If I goes along with this, what’s in it for me? Without giving John a chance to answer, Patrick added, How ‘bout some o’ that gold ya got for outsmartin’ the Father of Lies the last time? It ain’t o’ no use ta ya bein’ your dead ‘n all.

John shook his head slowly from right to left as he looked directly at Patrick. He waited to give Patrick a chance to think about what he had said. Once the right amount of time had passed, he said, Patrick, just a minute ago you said you always pay your debt, right?

With a very sincere look on his face, Patrick responded, ’Tis the truth. I do always pay me debts.

Well, this is your chance to even your score with me. The problem is I’m dead so you can’t do anything for me directly. The only way to clear up your debt is to help Kevin. Besides, you’ve got lots of powers that can help Kevin without putting yourself on the spot too much. Just befriend him and give him some of your excellent advice – it’s all going to be very new to him.

Patrick looked down and stroked his beard a few more times while he thought about John’s request. Finally, he looked up and said, I guess ya don’t leave me no choice, do ya? Ya turned me own words against me. I do pays me debts, John, me boy, but this is a whole lot more than I was expectin’ ta havta do for just savin’ me life and me gold.

Trying to encourage Patrick, John said, You don’t have to stop the breakout – that’s Kevin’s job. All you have to do is help a little with some advice and encouragement along the way. That shouldn’t be too hard. I wouldn’t have asked you to do it if I wasn’t sure you could easily handle it.

That’s easy for ya ta say but I’m the one havin’ ta do it. Realizing he was on the hook to help Kevin, Patrick moved on to a more practical issue. So when’s this breakout gonna get started?

I don’t know for sure but I think it’s got to be soon – sometime in the next year. Somehow Kevin’s got to be in Ireland for it to happen.

A huge smile floated across Patrick’s face. Then all I havta do is keep him from goin’ ta Ireland and I’ll save Kevin from havin’ ta take on the Father o’ Lies ‘n I’ll have paid me debt ta ya.

You can’t do it that way. It’s not allowed. You’ve got to play by the rules and let the breakout happen. Another thing, you can’t tell Kevin I told you about this. Like I said before, it’s against one of the rules.

Patrick couldn’t believe what he was hearing. The Father o’ Lies don’t play by no rules and ya can be sure o’ that! So why da we havta follow ‘em? It ain’t fair.

John smiled broadly and even laughed a little. And just look where not playing by the rules got him. I think you’re a lot better off by following the rules so you don’t have to pay the old boy a visit when your time comes.

As they walked toward a tent, they both glanced around. Seeing that no one was looking at them, they slowly disappeared. Patrick’s voice could be heard saying, Okay, I’ll do it your way but I’ve gotta figure out how ta make somethin’ on it. When I told ya I was in your debt, I didn’t think ya’d be makin’ me come face ta face with the Father o’ Lies ta get even. I’ve gotta get some gold out o’ this.

Just then an announcement was heard over the public address system officially closing the festival and thanking everyone for coming. It ended by reminding everyone to reserve the first weekend after Labor Day next September for the festival. Kevin smiled as he thought to himself. That guy doesn’t have a clue - this festival isn’t over yet. We still have to go to the Murphy family dinner at the Dunraven Inn before this thing can be declared officially over for the year.

For the Murphy family, ending the festival with dinner at the Dunraven Inn was a tradition that started 25 years ago with the first festival. It was something Kevin had grown to dread. While he liked his grandfather a great deal, he thought the dinner and the telling of the John Murphy story was exceptionally boring. That day he had a plan for spicing it up a bit by talking his grandfather into letting him tell the story. He considered himself good at talking people into things so he had high hopes for greatly improving the dinner.

The rest of the Murphy family was already gathered at Shane and Bridget Murphy’s home, waiting for Kevin to arrive so they could leave for the restaurant. Pat Murphy, Kevin’s grandfather, was pacing between two chairs in the living room. The dinner was very important to him. It was always important but he especially wanted that year’s dinner to come off without a hitch. It was the first time he had to host it without his wife, Catherine, who was in a Denver nursing home recuperating from a stroke. Grandpa Pat stopped pacing, looked at his watch and asked Katie, Kevin’s younger sister, Where’s Kevin? I don’t remember him being the kind who’s late. We’ve got to leave for the restaurant in a few minutes.

Katie shook her head as she looked at her mother as she answered, He’ll come in here with some outrageous story about why he’s late and expect us to all to fall for it. He’ll even come up with some lame reason why we should feel sorry for him. You can bet I won’t be a sucker. She then grabbed her mother’s arm, gave it a tug and continued, Don’t fall for it, Mom, or he’ll never stop telling those whoppers.

Katie’s mother, Bridget, smiled and then said, He’s through with that kind of stuff, Katie. We took away his driving privileges for the story about getting home late because a bear chased him 6 miles back up Longs Peak. I can’t believe he expected us to fall for that one but I’m sure we’ve heard the last whopper from Kevin.

Katie looked at her mother in disbelief. Mom, you and Dad just don’t get it! Kevin will do anything to tell what he thinks is a great whopper. He always pushes it as far as he can without getting caught. There’s something in him that makes him do it. If you do catch him, he judges how good his story was by the amount of trouble he gets in. For your information, he’s been bragging to everyone he knows about getting his driving privileges taken away for the whopper about him getting chased by the bear. He thinks it’s just great because he can brag to his friends about telling the whoppers, knowing that all he has to do is shoot one of his big smiles at you and you’ll give in and let him have what he wants. He was driving the car within a week of being told he couldn’t drive it anymore. It isn’t right.

Just as Katie finished talking, Kevin walked through the front door wearing the borrowed kilt. His friend was four sizes larger than Kevin and it showed. Ignoring the look of disdain from his sister, it was time to put his plan to spice up dinner at the Dunraven Inn into effect. Sorry, I’m late. I had to stay at the festival to get my two awards and it took a lot longer than I thought it would. You know how that goes. If I’d known how long it was going to take, I’d have asked them to mail them to me so I could get here on time.

Immediately Kevin’s father got a very skeptical look on his face. What kind of awards did you have to stay to get, Kevin?

Kevin moved to the middle of the living room as if he wanted to be on center stage. The first one was for storytelling. He looked directly at Grandpa Pat because he was the one he needed to convince if he was to get his way with spicing up the dinner. I told the John Murphy story Grandpa always tells at the dinner we’re going to…and I won! Everyone gave me a standing ovation that lasted almost forever! Even the judges were standing up and clapping! I couldn’t believe how much everyone liked it.

Grandpa Pat smiled broadly. So they all liked the story about John beating the Father of Lies before he moved here to Estes Park?

Well, actually they thought the story was okay, answered Kevin, but they loved the way I told it. Here’s where the flaw Katie had identified started to show itself as Kevin departed from his prepared script. In fact, in addition to the ‘Best Storyteller’ Award, they gave me the ‘Most Fantastic Storyteller Ever’ Designation, but I have to wait to get that while they get it made. The judges came up with it after they heard my story because they liked it so much. Earning that designation is very special. No one has ever won it in all the years the festival has been held.

So you won two storytelling awards? Kevin’s mother asked.

No, I won one award and one designation for fantastic storytelling. They made sure to tell me there was a difference. There was a small pause as he worked to make sure he got the rest of the story right. The second award was for dancing, Kevin said as he pointed to the kilt he was wearing. That’s why I’m all dressed up in this kilt and stuff. I won the award for dancing in the Highland Fling Contest. There was almost as much cheering when I finished my dance as at the end of my story in the storytelling contest.

Katie didn’t believe a word that Kevin said. She knew he had gone over the line again. Kevin, the Highland Fling Contest is for girls. Two of my best friends were in it. You couldn’t have done the Highland Fling. You can’t even dance a single step!

You mean it used to be for girls, Katie! I wanted to show the girls how to dance properly. I’ve been watching them for the past few years and I thought they all needed a lesson on how to do it right. Then, smiling broadly, he continued, I beat both of your friends. They ended up in second and third place. Both of them were okay, but the truth is I beat them bad. I think they’ll be a bit mad when you see them at school tomorrow. Tell them I couldn’t help myself - I just had to show off my Murphy talent. At that point, Kevin put his hands above his head and did a few Highland Fling steps. When Mom took my driving privileges away a few weeks ago, she told me there was more to us Murphys than storytelling and she was right. I’m the best dancer around and today I proved it. Katie, you have Mom to thank for all of this.

Grandpa Pat asked, Why in the world would you enter a Scottish dance contest when the festival has one of the finest Irish dance contests around?

With as sincere a look as he could muster, Kevin said, I wanted to enter the Irish dance contest but it was on the other side of the fairgrounds from the storytelling contest. I wouldn’t have time to go back and forth between the two tents when I had to perform. I also thought it would be cool for an Irish guy to win the Scottish dance contest.

Kevin’s father continued to look very skeptically at Kevin as he asked, And where are the awards you were given this afternoon?

Since he made up the entire story about the awards, Kevin had to think fast so he could give a plausible answer to his father’s question. After a short pause, he answered, Well, as long as they were going to make the special storytelling designation thing, they decided to put all of them together into one huge plaque. No one has ever won both the storytelling and dancing awards before today. The people in charge asked if it was okay with me to combine them to make something real special and I told them it was fine. Don’t you agree it’s better to have one large plaque than three small ones?

Busted! yelled Katie. Kevin, you are totally lame! You went too far again! Who could believe that dumb story? You can’t dance a step and I know it! You were okay with the storytelling part because we all know how good you are at that, but you blew it with the dancing story! You just don’t know when to stop!

Kevin looked first at his mother and then his father to see if his parents agreed with Katie. Based on the looks on their faces, they thought Katie was right - he was busted!

After a short pause, his mother asked, Why did you go to all that effort just to tell a whopper when you knew you were going to get caught? Even if you got by us today, we would know when The Trail-Gazette comes out on Wednesday and the real winners are listed. You told us you were through with that kind of thing. I just don’t understand you, Kevin.

Kevin looked at Grandpa Pat and said, Mom, after you took my driving privileges for the story about the bear, I didn’t want to have to tell another whopper ever again in my entire life and that’s the truth. The problem was I really wanted to get the chance to tell the John Murphy story at our dinner this year; and I thought if Grandpa Pat believed I was a great storyteller, he would let me do it. With a look of urgency on his face, Kevin looked at his grandfather as he continued, Anyhow, can I please tell the John Murphy story this year, Grandpa? I’ll show you how good I am.

No. Now let’s all get in the car and get going so we get there before they give out table away. We’ve wasted enough time with all this foolishness.

As they headed to the car, Kevin persisted, Come on, Grandpa, please let me tell it. I can do a great job. I promise I won’t mess it up.

No, Kevin, I won’t let you tell the story! Storytelling skills aren’t one bit important to tell the John Murphy story. What’s important is to tell it right; and based on what I just heard, I think you’d add a lot of stuff just to make the story more outrageous.

Kevin’s father couldn’t let that stand unchallenged. He had heard his father’s unbelievable story about John Murphy for years and knew there was little Kevin could do to make it more preposterous. Come on, Dad! How could Kevin make that story more outrageous? No one could. You’re the only person I know who tells bigger whoppers than Kevin. I’ve been thinking that you’ve got to stop telling all those stories because Kevin must be getting his tendency to BS from you.

Grandpa Pat, with a totally indignant look on his face, defended himself. The John Murphy story isn’t BS! It’s true, every word of it is completely true. I don’t know who Kevin gets his whopper-telling tendency from but it isn’t me. I wouldn’t even know how to start telling a whopper like the one I just heard from him. What’s outrageous is for you to compare me to Kevin! The rest of the Murphy family smiled broadly as they continued on to the restaurant. They all knew Grandpa Pat was the best storyteller they had ever met.

As they arrived at the Dunraven Inn, Katie asked, Why is this place named after an Irishman when it’s an Italian restaurant? The place is full of pictures of the Mona Lisa. There’s got to be a hundred of them. The only things weirder than the Mona Lisa pictures are the dollar bills all over the walls in the entrance and bar. Naming this place after an Irishman like the Earl of Dunraven doesn’t make sense! She, too, loved her grandfather but thought the obsession with the story and the restaurant was more outrageous than either Kevin or Grandpa Pat’s stories.

Grandpa Pat needed to bring an immediate end to that kind of thinking because it might somehow diminish the Earl of Dunraven and his historic link to the Murphy family. The kind of food they serve here isn’t important, Katie. What’s important is the connection between the Murphy family and the Fourth Earl of Dunraven whom this restaurant is named after. That’s what we’re here to honor.

The whole thing is dumb! They should serve Irish food or name the place after some Italian. Katie shrugged her shoulders as she continued, But if they did that, we wouldn’t have anywhere to hear the John Murphy story every year.

The family was led to a table in a small room off the back room. As she walked to the table, Katie made sure everyone saw her counting the pictures of Mona Lisa on the walls. All twenty tables in the back room were filled but the Murphy family had the small room to themselves. As was often the case when the festival was on, there were several men in the room wearing kilts. Kevin selected a chair at the end of the table near the door to the main dining room so everyone could see he, too, was wearing a kilt.

After dinner, everyone knew it was time for the John Murphy story. As Grandpa Pat positioned himself to begin telling it, Kevin was thinking about what he needed to do for school the next day. All the while trying to look interested in the story. Suddenly Kevin felt himself get shaken and he heard a voice say, Listen to this story! It’s important that you listen to every word, Kevin! You can think about school work later.

Kevin quickly looked around to see who had shaken him. He couldn’t see anyone so he asked, Who said that?

Who said what? asked Grandpa Pat. I was just getting ready to tell the story. Nobody said anything yet!

His mother said, Kevin, I don’t want to hear another one of your stories! It’s Grandpa Pat’s turn to tell his story.

Kevin continued looking around as Grandpa Pat began the story the same way he had every year Kevin could recall. John Murphy was born and lived in Stradbally in County Waterford, Ireland. Grandpa Pat spent almost ten minutes covering every little detail about John Murphy’s life until he went to Blarney Castle when he was 28 years old.

By that time Kevin was paying almost no attention to the story. He had heard it so many times he could tell it by heart; and if he had gotten his wish he would have told it that year. Just as Grandpa Pat got to the part about the Father of Lies, Kevin’s shoulder was shaken again but there was no voice that time. When he looked around, Kevin didn’t see anyone near him. He was getting very unnerved. Nothing like that ever happened to him before.

Grandpa Pat continued with his story, When John Murphy reached the rock formation called the Witches Kitchen, he saw a strange little man coming out between the two main rocks that made it up. The man was short with tight green pants, a green waistcoat and pointed green shoes that had large silver buckles. He had a short, well-trimmed beard. He wore a green hat that was flat on the top and had a large black band with a silver buckle. He was carrying a bag of coins in his right hand and a long white pipe in his left hand. The man asked John if he would like to make a bet with him. John, like many Irishmen, loved to bet so he asked what the bet involved. The little man told him all he had to do was guess who he was. If John guessed right, he would get the 100 gold coins in the bag; and if he lost, he would have to give the man one item he had with him. John took the bet and immediately told the man that he was the Father of Lies. After a bit of kicking his feet and carrying on, the Father of Lies told him that he would have to prove it in order to win.

Grandpa Pat held up a black cane-like stick in his right hand as he continued, "John hit the Father of Lies on the head with this very shillelagh called The Talker. It made flames come from the Father of Lies’ ears, nose and mouth. Within a second, the Father of Lies’ appearance completely changed. He became a huge horrid-looking creature who was full of equal portions of hate and malice. Because John guessed right, the Father of Lies was forced back to the shadow world for another hundred or two hundred years – maybe even longer. St. Patrick determines the exact length of time and it is common knowledge only he knows what makes the time right for another breakout attempt by the Father of Lies.

St. Patrick had driven the Father of Lies from the surface of Ireland that the Father of Lies ruled over 1,500 years ago. The Father of Lies is allowed to roam freely everywhere in the world except on the surface of Ireland. The Irish believe that is why Ireland is prettier than any other country. When the Father of Lies is let out in Ireland, he can stay only if he immediately takes possession of the soul of the first person he confronts. But the trick is the person must freely give up his soul. The Father of Lies had failed on each of his 7 previous attempts and was furious to have lost again. As the Father of Lies was returning to the shadow world, he stopped, turned to look at John and with one motion of his hand, he sent several demons after him. They chased him first to Stradbally, then to Cashel, and finally to Killarney. The demons were very powerful and John would have been caught if he hadn’t used one of his special powers to escape them."

The part about special powers caught Kevin’s attention. That was the first time he remembered hearing anything about special powers. He started paying better attention because he wanted to be ready for the inevitable quiz that would take place after the story.

Grandpa Pat continued. John had the power to see things exactly as they were. That is why he was able to guess who the Father of Lies was. He could also figure things out very quickly. No other person had the ability to figure things out as fast as John Murphy. When the demons would take the shape of a person or a thing to try to get him, he was able to see they were actually demons. That special power allowed him to get out of Ireland without being caught by any of the demons the Father of Lies had sent after him.

After thinking about the special powers part for a few seconds, Kevin was sure it was the first time he’d heard it. He also thought the part about there being more than one demon was new. Kevin decided he wanted some answers so he blurted out, Hey, Grandpa, why all the new parts to the story? I mean, this is the first time you told us about the special powers and I’m sure you never said there was more than one demon before. What are you trying to do – see if we’re paying attention? After I went to all that effort to get to tell the story, you wouldn’t let me do it because you said it had to be told exactly right and now you’re changing it! What’s the deal?

Grandpa Pat looked directly at Kevin and said, There’s nothing new in the story Kevin. You must not have been listening very well when I told it before. I’ve been telling the story the exact same way since before you were born. There is nothing new but it’s nice you’re finally listening. I’m glad I didn’t let you tell the story because you would have messed it up.

Not wanting to let