Poetry & Gabriel in Scotland - Chapter 7: Loch Lomond Here We Come Ready or Not

Chapter 7 – Loch Lomond Here We Come Ready or Not

Thankfully, they didn’t have long to wait because school was out for the spring break the following week.  Everything was packed now and being loaded onto the roof of the station wagon.  Soon they were on their way, Poetry and Gabriel were consigned to the very back row of seats with the littlest boy who was never allowed to sit with his brothers because he was so fidgety.  It was only about a two-hour ride, but that was two hours too long listening to a constant, “Mommmm, he’s touching me!!!” wail.   All three—Poetry & Gabriel and the littlest boy—sat looking backwards out the back window.  Poetry thought it was the best seat in the car because she could see the people in the car behind her.  People would always wave and smile at her whenever they were traveling.  Now she had Gabriel to join her in waving back.

They found the little cottage with the green door by 11:00, which gave them plenty of time to start exploring before they’d be called for lunch.  The three little boys had to help carry in luggage and food and everything else they’d brought along for their week’s stay.  

     

“Don’t stray too far,” called the Mrs. of the House, “We’ll have lunch within the hour!”  Poetry & Gabriel barely heard her because they were already making their way toward the village. They could see the loch (lake) in the distance and were eager to explore it.  

Soon they were down by the water’s edge.  Poetry dipped a paw into the water.  “Ooooh….it’s freezing cold!”  Gabriel ran full force into the gentle waves lapping at the shore.  He had such a joy-filled look on his face that all he could do was laugh out loud when the cold splash of water hit his face.  

They ran up and down the beach for a while until Poetry decided their hour must be up.  “Hurry up, Gabriel.  We mustn’t be late for lunch or else the Mrs. of the House will surely keep us inside the rest of the day.”  That was incentive enough for Gabriel to shake himself dry and head back up to the village and toward the cottage. 

After a minute Gabriel stopped in his tracks.  “Listen!  Do you hear that?”  

Poetry cocked her head and listened.  “That sounds like the song the Mr. of the House sang to us when he told us about coming to Loch Lomond!”

“Yes!  And those are bagpipes!  Let’s go find where they’re coming from,” Gabriel exclaimed.  Before Poetry could remind him they were supposed to be headed back to the cottage, Gabriel had run off in the opposite direction.  All she could do was follow him.  Soon they saw the fellow.  Gabriel ran up to him barking wildly in his excitement.  Gabriel looked at Poetry with such glee in his eyes she knew what he wanted. 

“Oh, all right,” Poetry meowed and began dancing a jig with Gabriel.  When the piper finished his song he turned to Gabriel.

“Well, hallo wee Laddie,” the bagpiper said as he let the air out of the bagpipe.  “Ye like that song, do ye?”

“Oh, yes Sir,” Gabriel exclaimed.  “And I know the song you’re playing.  The Mr. of the House sings it all the time.”  Poetry was sitting quietly watching now, although she was breathing heavily.  The bagpiper turned to her.

“And ye, wee Lass, do ye like the pipes, too?”  Poetry got up and walked over to him, brushing against his leg.  “Well, I guess ye do!  Here's another song.  It’s called “Scotland the Brave.”  When the song was finished Poetry and Gabriel bid the piper goodbye and headed for home.


©CathyGilleylenSchultz

Chapter 8:  Castles, Churches and Rainbows