A real tommyknocker


It took me a long time to start reading Stephen King's novels, because I was so put off by this one. How could he make a monster out of a tommyknocker?

For those who don't know, a tommyknocker is sort of a British leprechaun. They traveled to the U.S. along with the experienced miners, known as Cousin Jacks, to work in the deep mines of places like Virginia City, Nevada.

The tommyknockers lived in the mines, and as long as you left them a little bit of your lunch, they would look out for you. They might even warn you of an impending cave in.

But if you didn't leave that bite or two from your dinner pail, they were quite likely to hide one of your tools, so you couldn't find it on your next shift.

I was so glad to find out that tommyknockers weren't portrayed as monsters in the book, they were just the subject of a silly rhyme.

I intend to live forever.
So far, so good.

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