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.