Poetry & Gabriel in Scotland - Chapter 2: Exploring Edinburg

Chapter 2 – Exploring Edinburgh

Gabriel followed alongside Poetry noticing all the very old buildings.  “This is Old Town,” Poetry volunteered.  “It’s where Greyfriar’s Bobby lived.”  

“Who’s that?”

“He was a Skye terrier whose master died in 1858 and was buried in the Greyfriar Kirk (church) Cemetery.  They say Bobby spent every night sleeping on his master’s grave for 14 years.

“Fourteen years?!” Gabriel cried in astonishment.

“Yes.  Do you want to see Bobby’s grave?  It’s just outside the cemetery under a tree near his master’s grave.”

Poetry soon found the street that led to the church where they would find the cemetery.  “ Bobby’s master was John Gray.  He was a Constable, which is a policeman.  He would take Bobby there,” Poetry said pointing to Greyfriars Bobby’s Bar as they passed it, “when they got off duty.  It used to be called the Eating House.  After Bobby died they put a fountain out front with a statue of him.  

credit: Ben Schultz

And there’s where Bobby was buried,” Poetry said as she pointed across the way.  There was no longer a marker for his grave because a memorial stone had been placed along John Gray’s grave inside the cemetery.  Gabriel followed Poetry into the cemetery.  They stood in front of the gravestone and Poetry continued the story.

credit: Ben Schultz

“After John Gray died the cemetery caretaker tried to shoo Bobby away, but every morning there he was asleep on the grave.  Soon the caretaker took pity on Bobby, feeding him and trying to get him to come inside when the weather was bad, but he wouldn’t leave the grave.  It wasn’t long before the townspeople noticed Bobby’s nightly vigil and offered him food.  After awhile Bobby soon learned that when he heard the 1:00 time gun there’d be a meal waiting for him at the Eating Place….”  

BOOM!  “What was that?!” Gabriel shouted.

“Hee, hee, hee,” Poetry giggled.  “That’s the 1:00 time gun at the Castle.

Gabriel looked up the hill in the direction Poetry was pointing.  “Gee,” Gabriel said, “That was loud!”  They could still see a puff of smoke coming from the cannon on the castle’s ramparts.

“Are you hungry?” Poetry asked.  Gabriel nodded and followed her through the cemetery gates to the street.  They both stopped in their tracks.  Everything looked different.  Where there’d been cars before there were now horses pulling wagons.  

Gabriel looked at Poetry.  “What’s going on?” he asked.

Poetry looked just as confused.  “I have no idea.”  It was then they saw a scruffy little gray dog, a Skye terrier, enter the Eating Place.  Their eyebrows rose as they stared at one another.  “No, it can’t be,” Poetry declared.

“Let’s follow him,” Gabriel said.  They crossed the street being careful to avoid the horses and peered in the window of the Eating Place.  They could see the little dog eating from a bowl placed on the floor.  As soon as he finished he ran out the door as Poetry and Gabriel watched him enter the cemetery.  “Let’s follow him, “ Gabriel said again.  

Soon they caught up with the little dog.  “Hello,” Poetry and Gabriel said at the same time.  Then they introduced themselves.  

“Hello to you, too.  I’m Bobby.”  Poetry and Gabriel looked at each other again.  Bobby then said “Are you new here?  I’ve never seen you before.”

Poetry and Gabriel sat down in disbelief.  Bobby continued, “Are you OK?  You look worried.”

“We think we’re lost,” Poetry spoke up first, “by about 150 years!”  Now Bobby was confused.  

“You see,” Poetry continued, “when we came here this morning it was 150 years in the future.  I was telling my friend here about you and your master John Gray.”  With the mention of his master’s name Bobby’s face fell.  He still missed his master very much.  Gabriel knew how he must feel because that was how he felt when he thought he’d never see Poetry again.  “And then after the 1:00 time gun we were back in your time!” 

“ With horses and wagons!” Gabriel added.  

Then Poetry wailed, “How will we ever get back home!”  

Gabriel took this all in and remembered his Fairy Godmother.  “Poetry,” he said, “Do you remember me telling you about my Fairy Godmother?  Maybe she can help us….but I think we will have to wait until tonight to find out.”  

It was then Bobby who said, “Let me take you up to the castle this afternoon and show you around.  Tonight is when Sgt. Scott gives me a steak for my supper.  We can share it!”

“Let’s go!” Gabriel barked.  As they headed up the hill to the castle Gabriel trotted alongside Bobby asking him questions.  They soon realized they were distant cousins because Skye terriers and West Highland terriers shared the same ancestry.  They realized they came from the same great-great-great (they lost count of how many greats) grandfather.  

After exploring the castle grounds for several hours they entered the Castle’s courtyard.  Bobby was greeted with open arms.  Sgt. Scott said with surprise, “Why, who do we have here, Bobby?  New friends of ye?”

 “Aye, Sir.  This is Poetry and Gabriel.  They are visiting from….”  Bobby turned to Poetry and asked just where they were from.

Poetry said, “Oh, we’re from Edinburgh, only not this Edinburgh.”

“Oh,” the Sergeant said, bemused at the barking and meowing as though Bobby and his friends were actually answering his question.  “Well, ye be careful of the dog catcher because only Bobby has been given license to run free.”

With that Poetry and Gabriel looked at each other with concern.

Bobby spoke, “Oh, I’ll see them safe, Sir.”  

Sgt. Scott then said, “Well, I guess you all be wantin’ steak for supper?”

“If it’s not too much trouble,” all three grinned.

“Right, then.  Just wait here.”

By the time they finished eating it was growing dark and Bobby led them back to the cemetery where he lay down on his master’s grave.  Gabriel asked why he slept there every night.  Bobby said, “Because he was very loyal to me and I owe him my loyalty.”  

Poetry broke into their conversation and suggested that Gabriel try to summon his Fairy Godmother to get them home.  She hated worrying the Mrs. of the House by being gone so long.  So Gabriel closed his eyes and made his wish.  When he opened them Bobby was no longer on the grave.

“Does this mean we’re back in our own time?” Poetry asked.

“It must be.  Bobby would never leave if he were still alive.  Let’s go.”

As they left the cemetery they once again saw cars and were relieved.  Soon they were home again safe and warm in their beds after a well-deserved scolding from the Mrs. of the House.

©CathyGilleylenSchultz

Chapter 3:  Home Again