By wierdgrace
In the North West highlands of Scotland between craggy ridges in one of the many glens sat weather beaten house on a hill, below it was one of the many sea inlets in the highlands called Lochs.
This Loch or Scottish lake was a port of Loch Lamond the largest and most famous of the Scottish lakes.
The house was all by itself, the Grampians Mountains closed it in on all sides. Many of the old timers knew the entire house as the McMillan Mansion.
It was for from a mansion now, its roof leaked in places, the only port of its structure that had been token core of was the big kitchen, front room and two bedrooms on the bottom floor.
The stairs leading to the upstairs were blocked off, wood rot had set in, and the stairs could not be walked on as they might collapse.
Roy McMillan in his eighties was the lost of the McMillan's; no heirs had been born to carry on the name. Roy McMillan lived here all of his life.
It was twenty years now since his wife had died and until the year before he had been all alone, but his granddaughter, age 15, had been brought to live with him.
Her parents had been killed in a car crash and he was the only living relative so the attorney who handled their affairs brought her to the so-called McMillan Mansion.
It was a rough drive and there was no way to contact McMillan since there were no phone lines out there, so the attorney did not know what he would run into. He had no choice, either bring the girl here or put her into on orphanage.
She was a beautiful girl, black, curly hair that hung past her shoulders, big brown eyes, skin that was flawless. She was only about five foot tall and maturing very slowing. She looked about twelve years old. The child was despondent in the throngs of grief and depression; she did not seem to care where she went. Speaking not a word on the long drive up.
Mr. Stevenson, the attorney, had taken it on himself to bring the girl. There was an insurance policy; she got at age eighteen for her college studies in case she wanted to go.
She could get this anyway but now the funds were gone after the funeral of her parents. Neighbors of theirs had taken care of the funeral arrangements and had taken the girl awhile but they had a low income so could not keep her.
Now Mr. Stevenson loaded her and her clothes and personal things into his car and took her to her great grandfather. He was shocked when he was close enough to see the desolate looking house; he almost turned back but then went on when he looked at the girl.
She now had her window open, her hair blowing in the breeze, her face turned toward the body of water. It was the first sign of interest the girl had shown since she had lost her parents.
High fog was over the area, making the place even more barren looking. MR. Stevenson pulled up in front where there was a tiny porch with dead vines clinging to it.
He got out of the car saying in a cheerful tone, "Here is your Grandpa's place."
She looked up, not saying a word. Mr. Stevenson pounded on the door, there was no answerer, he rapped again, and then he heard footsteps with-in. The door opened and there stood a little old man. He stared with eyes that seemed to live more in the past then the present.
Mr. Stevenson told why he was there and called to the girl who slowly got out of the car and came over. The old man looked at her and his eyes lit up.
"My, you look like my Lori, my granddaughter; she looked just like my daughter."
Mr. Stevenson could see that what he explained had not reached the old man.
The girl said, "Lori was my mother, I'm Teri."
That was lost too on this figure out of the past.
"Come in, come in," he said, "My you are a Bonnie wee one," and from then on, he had called her Bonnie.
| Author Notes | The beginning, first draft |
By wierdgrace
The girl now had someone to take care of. She now fit right in. The old man tottered back to his chair and sat down dismissing them both from his thoughts.
He sat there and dozed off, his white hair making a halo around his face. The girl looked around the cluttered room then into the large kitchen. Mr. Stevenson followed her. There were dirty dishes all over.
She turned and said, "I will fix some tea for us and for Grandpa," and went to work washing three cups and saucers and carried it into the old man.
She told Mr. Stevenson, "You can leave whenever you are ready," and thanked him prettily for bringing her. She said, "I will be fine. I have something to do now and someone to take care of."
The old man did not even know she was moving in just taking it for granted she was there, she had the attorney just put all her thins in the front room saying, "I'll get the other bedroom cleared and move in there."
Therefore, Mr. Stevenson doubtfully left, giving the girl his address and telephone number in case she ever needed him. He had two hundred dollars of the money left from the estate so he gave it to the girl, he had been going to give it to the grandfather but changed his mind, all he knew was the girl seemed happy as he left, she had already opened windows on the bottom floor and was cleaning as he said goodbye.
Time went on, Bonnie and her grandfather were happy, each in their own way, it was sure the girl's coming postponed the coming postponed the coming death for the old man. She made sure he ate and he was now clean all the time.
She ordered him like a child when to go to bed at night instead of sleeping in his chair. At times he was really brilliant and knew who she was and at other times lived deep in the past calling her by his wife's name or some of his daughters, but both were content with their life.
Farther back than even their house, about ten more miles down the road, were the closest neighbors, a couple in their sixties. He went to town each Monday to a farmer's market, so Bonnie went with him the first day she arrived.
When she heard the car coming the next morning she ran out, he stopped shocked to see her. He had been the one to check the cupboard and bring food to the old man, so time went on and Bonnie was happy with her life and she set herself a time chart: up early, eat, feed Grandpa, clean house, and then she would leave and go down on the white beach.
She swam and sunned, she tanned as dark as a walnut. She tried to get Gramps out on the beach, but he wanted to be left alone to his memories, so she didn't worry about him. He sure didn't worry about her. So again, time went on.
Bonnie was now sixteen and a beautiful young woman.
Deep in the waters of the Loch, unknown to Bonnie she had an admire. He would come close to the white sand watching her every move while she was on the beach. When Bonnie was swimming he got as close as he could.
He had been watching this girl for a year with a brain inside-love for this two legged female, he wanted her for his own but knew in the body he was in there was no chance.
A few times, he swam close to her in the warm waters. Bonnie would see a dark form below her and beat a hasty retreat to the beach. So now he was careful that she would not see him.
| Author Notes | Hope this is getting close to tell you what its all about, the first draft, enjoy, |
By wierdgrace
He, this thing, was a Mollusk with eight writhing arms or tentacles, some people call them a devil fish but octopus is the name given in the Greek words and it means eight feet.
This was not an ordinary octopus as it drew its energy from a large form at the very center and bottom of the lake. This thing was alive. The whole body was covered with a thick Grey skin, a round large ball. It could not move except to roll now and then but it was all brain.
It controlled all living creatures in this Loch. It was now pulling all its energy force and sending it into this octopus. The mother, as we call it, ruled all. She was fed from the magnified ground where she lay.
She could see all over the Loch through the fish and living creatures she fed. Now she wanted more and would have it through this octopus. She had drawn from the water the element in the human body when Bonnie came in to swim.
Now the mother was ready for the experiment, the greatest experiment she had ever tried. The excitement going through this horror caused it to slight move, large waves were caused, and the waves like the tides of the ocean coming up on the beach and touching Bonnie feet where she lay sunbathing.
She sat up surprised as this Loch, which was usually calm and still, no wind was blowing and as Bonnie watched the lake once more settled down to its mirror-like existence.
It was a couple more days before the stranger arrived, the month was July, the weather gorgeous, temperatures in the water warm. Bonnie ran out in her Whisk of a bathing suit and into the water after dropping her towel and beach blanket in a heap on the beach.
The water felt wonderful, she dived down with her eyes open under the clear water and to her surprise, she saw through the water a human form swimming toward her.
Bonnie came up, swimming back toward the beach, until her feet hit the bottom and she stood up. The boy about her age cut through the water and rose to the surface, his blonde hair was long, sticking to his neck. He tossed his head throwing the wet hair out of his eyes.
"Hi!" he yelled.
"Hello," she answered, "where did you come from?"
"I am a merman," he laughed. "I sure sneaked up on you huh?"
"You sure did." Bonnie answered.
They both came out of the water and bonnie looked shyly at him. He was about five foot ten and had a golden tan. He was very muscular and good-looking. His blue eyes just seem to cut through her, he looked her all over from head to toe.
"You are bonnie, huh?"
"Yes, how do you know that?"
"Oh a little bird told me or maybe a fish," he laughed at that. He turned handsprings on the beach. He could twist and turn as if she never remembered seeing anyone do before.
'He's fun,' she thought to herself. 'I hope he lives near here.'
"What's your name?" she asked.
"I guessed yours," he answered, "you guess mine."
"Bill, John, Larry," she went on and on with him saying, 'No, No, and laughing and rolling in the sand.
Bonnie was laughing too, the laughter was contagious he had such a hearty laugh. His whole body shook with glee. Bonnie took a deep breath, her face wet with tears from laughing so hard.
"Okay, how about Nick?"
"That's it, I'm a nick off the old block," and more laughter.
"Is it really Nick?" she asked.
"Do you like the name Nick?" he asked and now was string right at her, his face very sober.
"Sure, is that your same?"
"Yes, that is it, Nick, Nick," he repeated.
Bonnie watched him now and thought, he is weird, but I like him.
"Where do you live?" she asked.
He waved his arm over toward the lake or down the beach.
She could take her pick. "Do you live close?" she asked.
"No, pretty far but close and fast if I swim here."
"Oh, it's like a short cut," Bonnie said and he nodded. His hair was drying now and it was all curly and like spun gold. She said, "Nick, do you want to sit on my blanket?" as she spread it out.
"Sure," he answered. They sat there and talked.
He told her, "I've been watching you swim for a long time."
"You have, why didn't you let me know?"
He laughed again, lying back now, and then said, "I couldn't, and I didn't want to scare you."
"You couldn't scare me." Bonnie said.
Nick reached out and grabbed her, Bonnie jumped.
"See I can scare you."
It was teenage fun, they kidded, chasing each other in and out of the water, then Bonnie said, "I have to go home and cook my grandfather's dinner, this sure has been fun, will you come back tomorrow?"
Nick said, "I sure will, bye for now Bonnie," and he walked into the water. She watched him for a while then he dived under and disappeared from her view.
| Author Notes | Remember first draft, having fun writing, hope you enjoy, having trouble finding pictures so enjoy. |
By wierdgrace
She talked to her Grandpa about the boy she had met and all the fun as she cooked, she would hear a grunt from him now and then, and then she led him to the table, "Come on now and eat."
The old man cleaned his plate like a good child, then looked up and said, "Bonnie you are so pretty."
Bonnie blushed. She could see she had his attention now.
"Do you know anyone by the name of Nick?" she asked.
Grandpa said, "Nick, Nick. Well I do believe I have heard the name before."
She then once more told him about the friend she had met, he listened for a while, and then his eyes closed.
"Grandpa, do you know Nick?"
He repeated the name again and then his eyes opened wide.
"Maybe that is the carpenter that built that house on the island," he said.
"Yes, I am sure that was his name."
That was all Bonnie got out of him as he dozed off again, so she gave it up.
All gramps was interested in was his glower garden outside where he puttered around and his house where he lived in the past.
At times Bonnie felt he didn't even know she was there, but she took care of him and that's all that mattered.
Nick came out of the lake every day and they were becoming very close now. Bonnie was falling in love with him. Sometimes when she got to the beach, he was already there.
He could not seem to stay out of the water very long, every half hour he would say, "Let's go in the water," and if Bonnie didn't want to, he would just dive in and out of sight of the land. Only stay in like five minutes and then back with her on the blanket.
She offered to bring him a lunch down to the beach and he said, "No thank you. I have to go see if my place is alright," and told her a tale that he watched the place while his mom and dad worked, so he never ate with her.
Grandpa, to their surprise, one day came hobbling down to the beach, "Oh, there you are Bonnie," he said, shocking them both.
They sprang apart as they had been clasped in each other's arms. Gramps didn't seem to notice and he just said, "You are alright aren't you?"
Bonnie introduced Nick to Gramps but the old man now had lost interest and was talking to his dead wife.
"See honey she is okay," and he left going once more to his beloved garden.
Bonnie told Nick, "He is very old and thinks I am his wife who died many years ago, sometimes.
Everyone thought he was like 87 years old, but I have seen in the old Bible at the house that Gramps is close to 100 years old, but he is healthy and I love him very much."
Nick had nothing to say and shortly after that he said he had to leave.
| Author Notes | First draft hope you are enjoying, thank you for the picture Celia Claase |
By wierdgrace
It was two days before Bonnie saw him again and she was heartbroken. She thought he was gone forever, so when Nick walked up to her this day on the beach, she jumped up and they were fast in each other's arms.
"I missed you so much, "Bonnie murmured, "I thought Gramps had scared you off."
"Never," he answered," I was sick, seems as though I can't stand the sun on my skin."
"You couldn't have got sun burnt not with that tan," Bonnie said.
"I didn't," he answered, "It's a sun poison so I just came to ask you if you can meet me at night instead of daytime as I was told to stay out of the sun."
Bonnie agreed and when it got dark, she would come down onto the beach so that night about 8 P.M. she was on the beach. She had her sweater over her bathing suit as a cold breeze came off the water. It was close to 9 P.M. before Nick showed up.
She said, "Hi, I didn't think you were coming."
They both cuddled together under the blanket and the heat of passion flowed over them. Bonnie had no worry or no will power to resist this stranger, just a great love. She tried to pull back but the passion in her body for this boy left her without reason, so about close to midnight they were as one.
After the passionate embrace they drew apart, the experience had been wonderful.
They lay there relaxed after the wonderful experience, inside Bonnie's body the act was over, the tiny sperm had entered and was on its way to growth.
After many loving words, they said goodnight, Nick back into the deep waters of the Loch, Bonnie to her dreams of happiness, content and in love.
As the action on the beach had been final, the waters of the lake had risen as if it was also in the passion that had consumed their bodies.
In the weeks ahead, Bonnie developed a craving for lobster and shellfish and fish in any species. Nick met her on the beach every night and the great love between them grew and was satisfied. Bonnie told Nick how she was suddenly craving.
"You know I never cared for it before but it does seem like I can't get enough to satisfy me now days."
So Nick told her, "I know where the shell fish beds are, I will bring you some."
She would come to the beach in early morning for her swim and there would be a pile of fish and shell fish on the beach waiting for her. She ate hers raw, cooking some for Gramps.
| Author Notes | First draft and hope you are enjoying, thank you for the artwork,mirrorman, it great |
By wierdgrace
Now Nick would also show up suddenly in the daytime and swim with her but he would not come out onto the beach anymore in the blazing sun. Bonnie was putting on weight around her hips and stomach.
"You know I think I'll have to cut down on my food," she told Nick, "I'm getting fat."
The words were no sooner out of her mouth when the waters around them rose and shimmered.
Nick told her, "I must go, I will see you tonight," and he dove deep into the dark waters.
Donnie decided to follow him and she dove in deep right behind him but he was too fast for her.
Bonnie kept swimming in the direction ha had taken. She had seen his feet flapping for one moment then he seemed to vanish and where he had been to
Bonnie's shocked eyes she saw a large octopus swimming, its eight tentacles writhing and twisting as it swam.
She could see this monster of the waters closely, its large glittering eyes, the parrot-like beak, and snake-like tentacles. Her heart beat madly as she swam to the surface of the water and beat a fast retreat to the shore.
She was exhausted and frightened. She lay there with thoughts of fear going through her brain, fear for Nick.
Had he run into this thing? When she had rested, she went to the house. Her grandfather was out in his garden, she went out there hoping he would be in the present time. She was in luck. He was glad to see her, showing her some buds that would bloom soon.
"Gramps, have you ever heard of an octopus being in the Lock?" Bonnie asked.
It took the old man fancy, "Yes," he said, "Many years ago there was one, it was a large one and reached twenty feet from tip to tip of three of the tentacles, oh, it was a beauty everyone was afraid to go into the water."
"You know the octopus has a soft pear shaped body that's joined to the head by a short neck and the tentacles around the mouth is joined by a web. On the other side of each tentacles are two rows of powerful sucker disks."
"The octopus seizes and holds its prey or food with these disks, then sweeps it into the horny jaws of the mouth, yes, this devil fish as its called, has an opening like a funnel beneath its head. Let's see now what was that called?"
The old man sat down on the garden bench, a wrought iron bench, almost as old as he was. Bonnie, now that she had his attention, did not want to speak until he was finished as in the past when she had spoken, she had lost him to these thoughts. Therefore, she stood there quietly.
"Oh yes, that funnel beneath its head is called the siphon. The octopus swims by drawing water onto its body, then forcing it out through the funnel. It comes out with such force it shoots its body backward like a rocket. But, that's where it is swimming. You know though it usually just moves along the bottom or climbs over rocks with its sucker disks."
"The big one year ago seemed to come to the top scaring everyone out of the water. It's a strange creature. It also uses its funnel to escape from danger, when we caught that one in a net, it was all beat up and on its last legs as you would say."
| Author Notes | broke down the conversations as they were long, first draft, hope you are enjoying, more to come tomorrow. |
By wierdgrace
Gramps looked at her and his eyes twinkled. He was really enjoying this tale of the octopus.
"I was just a young fellow and my friends and I took it apart after killing it, there's a gland near its liver."
Bonnie said, "Liver?"
"Yes," he chuckled, "they have a liver which secretes a black fluid, and I'll tell you that octopus really squirted this fluid or ink like material. He turned the water black all around him."
Bonnie could see he was finished, she quickly said "Grandpa, I saw an octopus in the water a few minutes ago but," she spoke too late.
Gramps was tired so he went inside and lay back in his favorite chair and taking one of the many naps he took.
Bonnie could hardly wait for Nick that night, she was glad when he came out of the water and she ran to him, "Nick I had a terrible scare today. I'm so glad you are alright," and she told him how she tried to follow him and about the octopus.
Nick turned and looked at her in the moonlight, his arms dropping from around her waist, "You must not ever follow me again," he warned her, he was stern, his voice harsh.
Bonnie looking at him for a fleeting moment, felt a resemblance in Nick with that octopus, she brushed it aside. Her beautiful Nick, how could she!
Bonnie told Nick now "I'll be afraid to go into the water; Gramps told me all about them."
Nick said, "No! You have nothing to fear, I know the octopus, it has a love for you, and it would never hurt you."
"How can you say that?" Bonnie cried out, "it's horrible, the most horrible creature I have ever seen."
Nick turned and walked toward their blanket, Bonnie had spread it on the beach, and his shoulders slumped as if he was tired.
"What's the matter Nick?" she asked.
"Nothing," he answered as he sat down staring at the water.
"Yes there is, what have I done? Are you mad at me for something?" she asked.
"No! I love you and I have some disturbing news to tell you, now on top of it, you tell me you are afraid of one of the inhabitants of the lake. I want you to go in the water like you always do, it will not hurt you, I promise, and I doubt very much if you will ever see it again." His voice had a deep sadness in it she had never heard before.
"Nick, what is it? What are you trying to tell me?"
"Before I tell you, promises you will swim in our beloved water as you always have done."
At this point Bonnie would have promised anything. She put her arm around his shoulders and nestled close to him.
"I promise and I'll be careful and not go in too deep, now are you happy?" she asked.
He clasp her to him and the love making that night was surpassed by all other, he clasped her to him at times so tight she moaned and he would relax his grasp. It was as though for the last time.
After it was over Nick said, "I have to talk to you, I won't be here tomorrow."
"Why," she said.
"I have to go away and I don't know for how long."
"Where? Why are you going?" Bonnie was now in tears saying, "You don't love me anymore?"
Nick said, "How can you say that after the love we just shared?" and he kissed the tears from her eyes.
"I have to go on a fishing trip with my folks, there is no way out, and we leave at dawn tomorrow."
"Did you tell them about me?" Bonnie asked.
"Yes," he smiled and his whole face lit up.
"Will I get to meet them some time?" she asked.
"Yes you might but not now, the mother loves you now."
"You mean your mother don't you?" Bonnie said.
Nick just smiled and nodded. Nick stayed with Bonnie all night, it was turning dawn when he left, and it was a tearful goodbye and Nick told her, "One day I will surprise you and here I will be."
Bonnie told him, "I hope you get over that sensitivity to the sun so we can once more lay on the beach and swim together."
He convinced her it was almost gone and when he came back he would be normal again and his old self once more. He again made her promise she would go swimming and not be afraid, as he knew nothing or no one could hurt her.
| Author Notes | Hope you are enjoying this, first draft. |
By wierdgrace
Bonnie came into the house just as Gramps came out of his room, he was spry and cheerful after a good night's sleep.
"Well aren't you the early bird," he said, "I see you have already taken your morning swim?"
Bonnie was wet as she had walked into the water up to her waist with Nick.
He had grabbed her at the last minute, pulling her down under the water and kissing her, then stood there and watched her go to the house before diving under the water.
She had looked back as she got to the door, the loch was like a mirror, and not a ripple on it and Nick was gone.
Bonnie agreed with Gramps, fixed his breakfast, and ate some of the raw shellfish she had in the refrigerator. Gramps did not notice she was eating fish raw.
Time went on; bonnie dreamed of Nick, she missed him so much. He had been gone now for two weeks and it seemed like a lifetime for her.
Nick must have told some of his friends to leave her the fresh fish and shell fish on the beach, because just as she was running out, there lay the fish in a pile like Nick had always left them for her.
At first, she thought he had come back and went running down the beach and into the water calling his name. That's when she again saw the huge octopus; it was on its way out into the middle of the Lock and then went under the water and was seen no more.
She shuddered as she watched it, thinking how Nick said it would not hurt her and the flash came into her head about the last night when he had said goodbye and how his face had brought up the remembrance of the octopus.
She was gaining weight fast, now she knew she was with child and Nick not here, what would she do? Why didn't she even think of it while Nick was here? She went into the living room on one side was a bookcase built into the wall; she found what she was looking for, an old medical book.
Now she knew why she craved the fish. It said a pregnant woman craved all different foods, it was because there was a lacking in the body to supply the baby with the right vitamins, it also said at four months the mother could feel the movement of the child.
Sometimes as a gentle brush of a feather, but Bonnie figured, it was only two months.
She was showing and had felt the movement, in fact it was getting stronger by the day.
"I have got to tell Gramps," she thought, "How will I ever tell him, what will he say?"
| Author Notes | Next chapter tomorrow, first draft, working on errors at night, will put in draft soon, next chapter will tell a lot. |
By wierdgrace
She was scared to death and yet thrilled at the thought of having Nick's Baby. She wished she had a picture of Nick and she tried to draw his image from her mind's eye, but it never came out right, some way the body did not look right, there would be lines where they should not be.
She tore up all the drawings she had sketched while on the beach, she waited as long as she could without telling the Grandfather, then one bright sunny morning Gramps was at his best. Noticing her and with her in the present time she knew she would have to tell him quick before he dozed off.
"Gramps," she said, "I have to tell you something. Look right at me, and tell me, do you think I look any different?"
He looked up and now his face got serious, he said, "Bonnie, do you love the boy?"
Bonnie blushed and said, "Yes, I do."
"Then it's all right," Gramps said and reached out and patted her swelled up belly.
"You noticed? You know." Bonnie cried out.
"Yes, I know, "He answered.
There was sadness in his voice as he said, "The harm is done now but don't worry we will manage, does the boy know?"
Bonnie said, "No Gramps he doesn't, he went away with his folks on a fishing trip and he hasn't come back."
Big tears rolled down Bonnie's face, Gramps pulled her down on his lap and said, "Don't cry, it's all right, if the boy don't come back we will have a new little baby, you can give it my last name, maybe it will be a boy and he can carry the name on."
He consoled his granddaughter and had her laughing and happy again.
Bonnie said, "I don't know, I guess with-in about six and a half months."
Gramps then ask her, "when is the baby due?"
"Oh no! I have seen many with child before and you look like you are ready to birth it."
She had Gramps complete attention now, he did not doze off or wander with words, and he got up and walked back and forth saying, "There must be something wrong or maybe more than one."
Then he stopped in front of her, "Bonnie, you have to be examined, has Hank seen you?" she asked.
"No." Bonnie answered, "Since I have gotten big I have just left the list of groceries we need in an envelope with the money taped to the door."
"He will be here with the groceries tomorrow, and Gramps, Hank left the mail Friday and your checks came in, you will have to sign them so he can put them in the bank."
"I have written a check out to get more cash; you will have to sign it so Hank can cash it as well."
Gramps was still pacing the floor.
"Get them," he ordered, "I will sign them, and I'll meet Hank in the morning and go into town with him."
Bonnie said, "You will go?" It was the first time since she had been here, he made the trip, and Bonnie had gone when they needed clothing or something special in the past.
| Author Notes |
Now the story was out to gramps, what is next...
Thank you for reading the first draft |
By wierdgrace
The town was in the hills, a small place. One store housed the groceries, house wares, and department store all in one. It was also the post office, and a tiny bank.
There were no doctor in the town, he just came in once a month, a traveling doctor who even pulled teeth or filled them. He was all they had.
"Yes," Gramps was still talking as he signed the checks. "Sara lives on this side of town and she is a midwife, she delivers all the babies around here for miles, she may not be home but I will leave a message for her to come see you. I'm tired now so I will get my nap."
Off he went to his chair and fell asleep.
Bonnie was so surprised with all this and thought to herself, "I will just bet
Gramps had noticed and was waiting for me to tell him. I just hope he remembers all of this in the morning."
Gramps was up before her, had his one shirt, and suit on and all clean, his hair plastered down.
Hank was shocked to see him looking so spry and ready for the trip into town.
There people were not ones to gossip, they just took news with a solid main thought, what was to be happened. No gossip.
Gramps on the way into town said, "My granddaughter is with child so stop at Sara's I want her to check her out."
Hank took the news solemnly. "I thought it would take something really serious to get you out of your shell," he joked, then as they talked Hank said, "Who is the boy?"
Gramps said, "He lives on the other side of the Loch somewhere, do you know anyone by the name of Nick?"
Hank thought and scratched his head, "No, can't say I do, has she told him?"
"No, he has left with his folks."
"Could just be tourists." Hank said.
"Yes," Gramps agreed, 'that's what I thought," and the subject was dropped.
Gramps dozed off, Hank woke him when they pulled into Sara's. Her old car was gone, the door open and a big pot of tea was on a warming burner, so Gramps and Hank sat down and had tea. Gramps painstakingly wrote a note in his shaky handwriting.
'Just came by, Granddaughter with child, 'and signed his name and they left and went into town.
"She may be there when we got back," Hank said.
"Yes," Gramps answered. "If she is not on a long case."
Everyone called him Gramps, he had not heard the name McMillan in years, so all he met, welcomed him.
"See you are still around and up and at it."
Many would pat Gramps on the back as a welcome. Mamie, the store owner took his grocery list, Hank was helping himself to the things he needed. It was like one big family in this out of the way community.
| Author Notes | First draft, out of town for a couple of days, appointment with specialist in San Francisco, more to come when I get back. |
By wierdgrace
"Why don't you bring that pretty granddaughter to one of our socials some evening?" Mamie asked.
"I will sometime, she is with child," Gramps said.
There was no surprise as it was just taken naturally.
"When is her due date?" Mamie said.
"Don't know that yet," he answered, "but soon I would say, I left a not for Sara."
"Oh, she is at the McFadden's delivering the tenth baby, so I guess it won't take long," as Mamie laughed. She got his groceries and continued to rattle right on.
"They have four girls and five boys, so would be nice if it's another girl, be an even number." They all laughed.
"Mamie, give me some flannel and whatever a baby needs so Bonnie can make some clothes. Some in white, pink, and yellow and blue," Gramps said.
The cloth was measured off. Gramps was still thinking of the days when all women made their children's clothes.
"Do you need thread or needles?" she asked.
"No, mom left a big sewing basket. I think there are patterns, etc, in there."
Finally, they were finished and continued on to the bank. A lot more kidding and well wishes there, was the most the old man had done in years and he slept soundly all the way back.
"We are home and I see Sara is here." Hank woke him pointing at Sara's car.
There sat the old Buick all beat up, dirt so thick on it you could not see the paint. Hank carried all the things in. They could hear Sara talking to Bonnie in her bedroom.
"You will be fine. I don't know when but will be delivering soon, as the child has dropped."
Hank waited with Gramps, as he was the only one that could take a message into in, in case anything happened or Bonnie went into labor.
Sara came out; she went to the sink, washing her hands.
As she greeted them, "Well Gramps your grandchild will be here soon. I would say maybe two or three weeks, but you never can tell."
Bonnie also told her she was only two months, but had to be mistaken as that baby is ready to pop out at any moment.
"Don't see any trouble there; she is a healthy young one. Now how are you going to get hold of me? I guess it will be up to you Hank."
"Yes," he answered, "that's what I was thinking."
"Well it's a first so we will have plenty of time," the midwife answered.
"The McFadden's just had another bouncing boy, so now six boys and four girls, they wanted a girl, I told them next time," and she laughed shaking all over.
She sat down with them and had tea.
They told her they had enjoyed her tea at their house. Bonnie came out and gave them oatmeal cookies she had made.
"How far could you see a flag Hank, from your house?" Sara asked.
"Oh, I could go up the hill, it's close, about a mile and I could see if a flag is up."
"Well then," Sara said as she got up, ready to go, "Just check to see if a flag is up every day."
"Oh, I will check in the morning and evening." Hank said.
"Good," she answered, "you will be fine," she told Bonnie.
Gramps took the cloth out of the bag and laid it on the table asking Bonnie if she could sew.
"Yes, I can," Bonnie, answered. "I have been making my own clothes bigger, so I can get into them."
| Author Notes | Lots more to come, hope I can keep up with this, |
By wierdgrace
Gramps took a package out of the bag saying, "What's this?"
"It was a present from Mamie at the store. Six little infant shirts, six diapers, and a nightgown."
"You can use these for patterns, I kept a roll of the flannel your Gramps bought, and us ladies will make two dozen diapers and send them back by Hank next Monday."
Bonnie was all excited, holding the baby things up to see. Sara looked back and said, "Well you sure got work to do, as that young one is going to make an appearance fast."
"Wait," Bonnie called to Sara, as she followed her to the door, "Are you sure the baby is going to be born soon?"
"You bet I am young lady, and I have taken care of a lot of mothers and babies in my time," Sara said.
"I can't understand it, in the book I read it takes nine months."
"You bet it does and you are about there."
"I can't be," Bonnie protested.
"Don't worry about it," Sara said, "I will be here when you get pains," and she patted her and took off at a run for her next patient.
It was another young girl and her first, so Sara was just going by to check on her as she was also due at any time.
Sara told her after checking out everything, "You will deliver soon but not as soon as the last little lad I just came from. Can you imagine the first time I have examined and she is due any moment and thought she was only two month along."
"How could she not know?" the girl said.
"I don't know that myself, but she sure believed it was only two months, you know."
Sara thought, as she got ready to leave on her way once more, "there sure may be something wrong with her baby as when I examined her I felt movements like
I have never felt from an unborn baby."
Sara talked about her cases to some but never told who it was and they knew better than ask but as Sara drove along the mountain roads her thoughts were on Bonnie.
'That girl seemed so sure, only two months, weird! And that big baby in there, I just wonder if it could be Siamese twins, but I only felt one heart beat. She is a pretty little thing. I wonder how she was taken. Oh well, we will see what happened,' and she headed for home.
| Author Notes | More to come soon, this is the first draft, enjoy, I do run the Grammar checker and speller, but it does not always help. |
By wierdgrace
That night Gramps was so tired Bonnie served him his dinner and had trouble keeping him awake to eat. Then he went straight to bed. Bonnie spread all of her things out on the table after she had done up the dishes and she carefully laid little nightgowns out and draw a pattern.
She cut and pinned them, and then the next morning, when it got nice and warm, she took them out on the beach to sew. She was in shorts she had let out at the waist and a tee shirt.
Sara had told her to stay out of the water, as it was too dangerous at this time. Bonnie would look down at her stomach and still could not believe all this.
"I wish Nick would come back," she thought as she stared wistfully out over the water.
As she sat, she stared wistfully out over the water. She sat there and sewed, eyes were watching her from the water, if she had been close she would have caught sight of the large object just below the water line. As long as she was on the beach this thing of the deep stayed out there.
The picture of the girl on the beach large with child was sent to the bottom of the Loch to this living mass.
With-in a few days Bonnie was too large to go sit on the beach, as she could not get up. She could not see her feet anymore.
She stood in front of the antique mirror in the hall and couldn't believe this was her. She was in misery.
This baby inside her moved night and day, she could not sleep in a lying position. Sara came by and was shocked by her growth, but didn't let on to Bonnie.
Bonnie told her that the movement was so bad she could not sleep.
Sara told her, "It won't be long now, and made a special trip to the neighbor Hank.
He showed Sara from the hill top where he had a view of the valley or glen below.
"Soon as they put that red flannel up, I will see it."
Gramps had the pole in front of the house put up years ago so he could call hank if he needed him.
A large piece of red flannel that was more pink than red, now from being out there in all weather laid at the bottom of the pole.
The heavy rope was attached to it, you pulled on the rope, and the so-called flag rose to the top.
Hank asked Sara "Is she ready to deliver?"
"Is she ever, I wanted to take her with me to my house so I can watch her but she wants to stay home with Gramps."
"How is Gramps?" Hanks asked.
"Oh, he is back in his garden and into the past again, but Bonnie did say he has bright thoughts at times and remembers she is going to have a baby."
Hank shook his head, "Well don't worry," Hank told her, "I will keep watching for the flag and come let you know."
It was about 3 a.m. when the pains racked through Bonnie's body, Sara had told her 'don't be scared as there will be many pains before your little stranger arrives, but put that flag up as soon as the first pain is over.'
Bonnie waited; it gradually grew less and then stopped. She got out of the messed up bed with the three pillows on it she used to prop herself up and made her way to her Grandfather's room.
She came in and called Gramps. To her surprise he awoke and said, "Is that you Bonnie is it time?
"Yes, it's time," She said.
He put his pants and sweater on and went out into this foggy early morning. Bonnie went with him and between them, they raised the red cloth to the top. Another pain struck, Bonnie could hardly get into the house, she was moaning and groaning.
| Author Notes | As it gets close to time, hopefully you enjoy the first draft. Posting again tomorrow. |
By wierdgrace
"It won't be long now. We will have that little one soon," Gramps said. He went out to the kitchen and put water on the stove to boil.
The wood range had been banked the night before, that was Grandpa's job and he never forgot to put the wood and kindling in, you just touched a match to it and it lit right up.
They had all the lamps on and the old house looked cheerful in the fog surrounding it. The pains kept hitting but didn't seem to get closer, they were like every twenty minutes.
Hank was up at dawn and saw the red flag waving in the breeze. He ran in and said to his wife, "This is it, the flag is up."
"I will go with you," she said, "and stay with her while you get Sara."
So here they came, entering Gramps house and bringing cheerfulness into it.
Hank's wife, Nellie told Bonnie, "You will be just fine," and she ran around getting the red ready and everything ready for Sara. She was dressed all in white and had the little black case she carried, like a doctor.
"Hi, Nell," she said, "I'm glad you are here you can help me as I think this baby will be a bouncing young one very soon."
Bonnie was all satisfied now and Gramps once more got into his chair for his many catnaps. All was okay or they thought it was.
Bonnie was in the last hard pains of childbirth. Her face, and head now covered with perspiration. Gramps awoke and joined Hank outside while the women inside went to work.
They could hear Sara say, "I see the head. Push! Bonnie, push!"
Then a scream came from Bonnie. Sara was helping this baby enter into our world. The shoulders came through, then Gramps and Hank heard Nellie scream, the baby was here.
It had a full growth of dark hair on its little head. The features were perfect, but fastened to the trunk of the body were eight tentacles wiggling and moving like snakes.
Sara grabbed a blanket and wrapped it around the tentacles, so all that showed was the darling face of the new born monstrosity.
Sara said, "it's a girl."
Bonnie was exhausted from the long terrible labor, "A girl," she said, smiled and fell asleep.
Sara took the half human into the kitchen and told Nellie, "Call Gramps and Hank in."
| Author Notes | More to come, first draft, keep reading, thank you so much for reading. |
By wierdgrace
Sara laid the thing on the table. Its eyes were open, and staring, it had not cried. It seemed to be gasping for breath.
"Look," Sara said to the men, "Bonnie has had a monstrosity."
She opened the tied blanket, before she got it opened one of the tentacles
came out and they both gasped.
Nellie was crying, "Oh that poor little girl."
Sara, stone-faced threw the blankets back and the eight tentacles went in all directions. It was a horrible sight; it looked like a baby being taken over by a nest of snakes.
Gramps put his glasses on, "Hank, it looks like it is half octopus."
"It won't live thank God; it's fighting for air now." Sara said.
Meanwhile the thing at the bottom of the lake knew its creation had been born. The Loch raised, waves hitting the shore. She sent full energy to the large octopus; it was close to the shore and watching the house.
Then in a flash it was once more a man, the father of the baby walked out of the water and to the house. He entered. Gramps, Sara, Hank and Nellie all standing around this thing at the table, they heard a sound and there stood the father, Nick.
"I will take my child, it needs to breathe water." He walked to the table and suddenly before their eyes, his arms disappeared and in their place were four of the tentacles.
They stepped back in fear as the tentacles picked up the child. His tentacles grasping it closely to his body and a purring noise like a contented cat came from the baby and him. He walked out.
They all rushed to the door and watched him walk into the water and the freak baby and he disappeared from their view.
"Don't tell Bonnie about the baby." Gramps told Sara.
"I won't, I will tell her it died. It didn't live as a blessing. I will say it was all wrong."
They all went back into the house, looked in at Bonnie, she was sleeping the sleep of the exhausted, after her long night.
Sara said to them all, "I guess I won't tell her, she should sleep and wake up naturally, the poor little thing and I have got to be on my way. I will never forget this night, and the boy! What was he? Something out of the dark ages, I would say. The baby took those tentacles right after the father."
They all shuddered at the scene they just witnessed. Nellie told Sara she would stay with Bonnie and Gramps for a few days and take care of them.
Sara said, "I'll be here in the morning to check on Bonnie."
| Author Notes | First draft, more to come, enjoy |
By wierdgrace
Sara left and Nellie sent her husband Hank home to bring back some clothes for her stay. Then she got busy cleaning up the mess from the delivery and getting Gramps and her some Breakfast while Bonnie slept peacefully.
Out in the deep water of the Loch, Nick, the father of the baby was taking the child to the Mother of all in this Loch. As he got closer to this big blob of energy, it opened in the middle two large flaps and lay there quivering waiting to receive its creation.
Nick who was now in his natural form, a huge octopus, carried the baby gently placing it in the warm soft place of their ruler.
She nestled it gently to her, putting a shield around it that let it have air and the oxygen from the water. Then carefully closed once more and the child would be taken care of, fed and cared for until it was ready on its own to enter the water of the Loch.
Bonnie awoke, she called out, and Nellie came to her bedside. She asked where her baby was and Nellie gently told her it had been all wrong, so did not live as could not breathe the air.
She told it in a gentle way to the teenage mother.
"You are very lucky it could not live as it would never have been normal."
"Where is she?" Bonnie asked.
"Sara took her to examine and see if she could find out what caused the lungs to collapse."
Bonnie said to Nellie, "You know it all happened so fast it's like a dream to me, as I drifted off to sleep, I knew something was wrong, as I heard you all running out of the room and I never heard the baby cry."
"No, it didn't," Nellie answered, 'it was too weak."
"Gee it sure didn't feel weak in my tummy." She answered, "You know Nellie, and I dreamed that Nick, the father of the baby came and took her, maybe he has died too."
Nellie and Gramps looked at each other.
"Yes," Nellie answered, "I will bet he has as I'm sure he would have come back to you. Now you rest. I will get you some tea."
"Oh, that would be good," Bonnie, said, she had just had tears in her eyes when told the baby had died. None of it had seemed real to her, even with the enormous growth that a child inside or should we say a half monster inside.
She could not picture herself with a child.
| Author Notes | First draft, I know it needs works will work on this soon, thank you for reading. |
By wierdgrace
Bonnie and Gramps lived there just six months more and then Bonnie went in to awaken Gramps one morning and he had peacefully died in his sleep.
After the child was born Bonnie was no longer happy here, she stayed in the house and whenever Hank came by to go to town, she went with him.
She stayed away from the water, she now had a fear of it, she could not explain it, but it held terror for her. She tried to keep from looking at the Loch, so as soon as Gramps passed away, she gave Hank the phone number of the attorney, who had brought her and given her in case she wanted to reach him.
He came and took her back to London where she entered women's finishing school and in her life, she married and had beautiful children.
The McMillan Mansion was never lived in again it was just one of the many deteriorating homes in the area, but there was something in the waters.
Fisherman came in with wild tales of seeing a girl with human face that had the tentacles like an octopus and she swam with a large Octopus.
Hal Johnson sitting in a boat in the Loch fishing one day came back with this tale. This girl swam up to the boat, black curly hair long to her waist, she smiled up at him showing a perfect set of pearl like teeth, and then two tentacles like an octopus grabbed the side of the boat. She was just a head and body, no legs or arms, eight tentacles.
Sara smiles as she heard this story; everyone kidded Hal saying, "What did you have to drink in that boat?"
Sara, who had delivered the half-girl half-octopus, she knew it was true.
About fifteen years later a group of fisherman from the United States came in and a wild tale they also uncounted the girl or monster as they called it, but she was swimming with two baby monsters or octopus children.
They had a human head and body, the same as her, but the tentacles of the octopus, a boy and a girl, one blonde-haired woman, and the other dark haired boy.
Is it a new race starting in the lakes of Lock as it is called?
| Author Notes | First draft, I ended this quickly, will change soon, but working on another so will post revised copy later, hope you enjoyed this fantasy. First draft as you know. |
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