31st October 1952
Standing in the bow of his father's crab fishing boat, Jamie knew that he lived in the most beautiful country in the world. The sun was shining, and it was unusually warm for this time of year in Scotland. It was hard to believe that it was Halloween already, and almost time to trick or treat.
Jamie had got up at six in the morning to go fishing with his father and uncle. It was the last day of his school holidays and he was so grateful to be allowed to help his father.
There was nothing better than being out on the loch beside his home catching crabs. If they were lucky they would get a big catch and he would go with his father to the market and sell them. If they were really lucky they would get enough to buy a sheep for their little croft. Life is hard in the Highlands of Scotland and every little bit of luck helps.
Mrs McDougall had made a lunch for her husband and son Jamie, that consisted of some home made bread with a little jar of potted meat to put on the bread. Mrs Mathie had made the same for her husband Donald who was Jamie's uncle.
The sun was shining and there was not a drop of wind when Jamie helped push the boat into the water and they motored off to find the first crab creel that his uncle had set in the water the day before.
His father had saved for five years to get their little engine for the boat, but it meant he could use the boat alone and not always need the help of his brother-in-law, but Jamie always went with his father on school holidays.
They stopped when they came to the first crab creel, they lifted it in and Jamie saw the biggest crab he had ever seen in his life. They went to the next crab creel and lifted it in, and it was even bigger than the one before. Four more reels they went to and now had the biggest six crabs that any of them had ever seen.
Truly it was a blessed day.
The water had been as a still as a millpond, but all of a sudden the water started to foam and froth, and it became very very rough, the little boat was being tossed around like a feather in a sandstorm. The rain started, heavy heavy rain and Jamie could just hear his father shouting to his Uncle, that they would turn around and head for home.
The little boat would rise up and drop down as they moved into the waves.
Then blackness arrived, it was as if heaven had switched off the lights. Jamie couldn't see his father nor his uncle and now he was scared, very scared.
"Sweet mother of Mary" Jamie heard his father say.
He looked up and saw what looked like a massive horse head that filled the sky.
"We are doomed, it is the kelpies Jamie, I love you son more than you will ever know" said Jamie's father.
The boat nearly capsized as the water came cascading over them, and on the right-hand side, Jamie now saw another horses head.
"Go Jamie, there is two of them, go swim to safety and we will hold them off, tell your mother I love her and Jamie, I love you both so very much".
"No papa, I won't leave you" screamed Jamie.
The boat was half full of water now, and the crab reels had been lost overboard.
There would be no sheep bought for the croft, there would be no trip to the market.
Jamie looked up just in time to see one of the kelpies swoop his massive head down and scoop up his father between his teeth.
"No No No" screamed Jamie "Leave papa alone, what did we ever do to you" cried a hysterical Jamie.
He watched in terror as the two kelpies threw his father from one to the other, catching him in their massive mouths, his father was like a little rag doll, being thrown in the air.
One of the kelpies swooped down and grabbed his uncle just as the other one dropped his father, who fell into the seething water.
Jamie was stuck, his bones were frozen in terror, even if he wanted to swim to safety, he couldn't. He was watching a live horror show. Suddenly the kelpie on the right side caught his uncle in his mouth and instead of throwing him back to the other kelpie, it bit his uncle. The kelpie was so big and powerful that it bit clean through Jamie's uncle and while the top half of Jamie's uncle was in the kelpies mouth, the bottom half of Jamie's uncle fell feet first into the water, his legs seemed to kick as he hit the water.
"You animals, you horrible animals, I hate you, I hate you" screamed Jamie.
He was petrified. He had just watched his uncle be bitten in half.
"Please Lord, I know I am a rascal, but save me from this evil" prayed Jamie.
He looked up and could see the kelpie on his left side move its head closer and closer.
Image by Holtappels from Pixabay
The Falkirk kelpies statues
Jamie peed his pants in fear, his time was up.
Closer the kelpie came.
Closer and closer it came.
So close until Jamie could feel the air blowing out its nostrils and he fell over.
Transfixed in terror, Jamie could not stop staring at the kelpie, knowing he was about to die.
The kelpie pushed Jamie on the head and he fell backwards. The other kelpie splashed the water and the boat almost sank.
Jamie was not going to give up without a fight, and with his little fists, he began to punch the kelpie on the nose as hard as he could.
The kelpie opened its mouth and grabbed Jamie between his teeth.
Jamie was shaking himself as hard as he could, trying to free himself from the kelpie. He punched and he kicked and he almost shook himself free.
He felt himself shaking hard.
"NOOOOOOOOOOO I will not die" Shouted Jamie.
"Get up, get up Jamie, you are late already, your father is downstairs waiting to take you to school." said a worried Jamie's mother "Were you dreaming again of those stupid kelpies?"
Jamie woke to feel his mothers hand on his shoulder shaking him awake.
It really is a blessed day after all, whispered Jamie!
The End ......
This is my wee story for Silver Prompt - New Topic for November 3, 2022 from the Silver Bloggers community
There is lots of literature surrounding The Kelpies but this brief overview from CultureUK/The-Kelpie might be of interest.
The Kelpie by Ben Johnson
Falkirk in Scotland is home to The Kelpies, the largest equine sculpture in the world. Unveiled in April 2014, these 30-metre high horse-head sculptures are situated in Helix Park near the M9 Motorway and are a monument to Scotland’s horse-powered industrial heritage.
But what are ‘kelpies’?
A kelpie is a shape-changing aquatic spirit of Scottish legend. Its name may derive from the Scottish Gaelic words ‘cailpeach’ or ‘colpach’, meaning heifer or colt. Kelpies are said to haunt rivers and streams, usually in the shape of a horse.
There you go readers, thank you for having a wee read of this!
All images and ramblings are from me, the mad Scotsman @TengoLoTodo unless otherwise stated.
October 31st 2022
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