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Children's Stories
by Margo Fallis
Blow The Man Down


"Whoa! That wind’s a bit brisk, isn’t it, Bonnie?" Bruce called, barely heard above the gale force winds that were blowing the butterflies south. "I don’t think we’re making much headway. In fact, I think we’re being blow back towards Stirlingshire."

Bonnie put her hand over her eyes, trying to stop the rain from running into them. "I think you’re right. Maybe we’d better land. This is a waste of time to try to fly. It must be gale force nine. My wings feel so tattered and whipped around," Bonnie said, looking at her pink wings.

They flew down and landed among a forest of tall pines. "At least the wind isn’t blowing us to bits," Bruce called, still having to shout to be heard. The pines bent back and forth, creaking and groaning. Pine needles fell to the ground, being hurled by the wind. "Ouch!" cried Bruce as a pine needle poked his body. "Let’s hide in this hollow tree," shouted.

The two butterflies crawled inside the dead tree. "That’s much better. At least we can speak without shouting," Bonnie said. "Look at my wings, will you? They’re nearly shredded." She rubbed and stroked them, trying to pull them back together.

"Mine aren’t much better," Bruce sighed. "I wonder where we landed?"

"We’ll not know until this wind dies down. I saw a river though, just before we landed."

"It must be the Teith River. I think we’re near Doune," Bruce said.

"What? We were all the way to Braemar? Are you telling me the wind blew us down to Doune? That’s a long way, Bruce!" Bonnie said, surprised at his announcement.

"Well, since we’re here, perhaps we can visit the castle, once the wind stops, of course. In the meantime, I suggest a nap."

They snuggled up in the log and slept. When they woke up, a few hours later, the wind had stopped blowing and the rain had let up. "This is much better," Bonnie said. "Just smell the woods. It’s a grand smell." She took a deep breath. "Now, where’s that castle?"

"Follow me. If my calculations are right, it should be about a mile away. Come on," Bruce called. They fluttered out of the tree and through the forest. They soon came to a meadow and left the trees behind them. "It’s quite hilly in this area, isn’t it?"

"Yes, but isn’t the heather lovely? There’s the river. What did you call it? The river Teeth, as in choppers?" Bonnie laughed.

"Yes, Teith, but not the kind you chew with, silly, Bonnie. Up ahead; there’s the castle. See it?" Bruce pointed.

"It’s beautiful. The flowers are lovely too. Delightful. I see some primroses and violets!" Bonnie grinned.

"We should visit the castle first and then eat. It’s a big castle and there’s not that much daylight left," Bruce noted.

They flew towards the stone walls. Bonnie was fluttering around. "EEEEEEEEEEKKKKK!" she screamed at the top of her lungs.

"What’s the matter?" Bruce said, flying towards her. She was sitting on a ledge on top of the castle.

"What is THAT?" she gasped, pointing down.

Bruce looked over the edge. "EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEKKKKKKKKKK!" he screamed too. "Yikes! It’s ugly and frightening. It’s a monster."

gargoyle

Bonnie took a few breaths. She calmed down. "Bruce, there is no such thing as a monster. I’ll have a look." She bravely flapped her wings and fluttered down. "It’s a gargoyle," she laughed. "What on earth were we afraid of. It’s kind of cute, actually."

Bruce flew down. "Why, you’re right. It is a gargoyle. Look at the water gushing out of its mouth. It must be a waterspout too. Someone carved this out of stone. Isn’t it amazing, ugly, but amazing."

They flew around the gargoyle for a while, darting in and out of the water flowing out of its open mouth. "We’ve seen the castle, Bruce. Can we eat now?" Bonnie quizzed.

"I think we’ll find better flowers, tastier ones, in town. Can you wait?" he asked.

"Yes, I suppose," Bonnie sighed.

They flew into the town. "This is quite picturesque. There’s an old church with its tower and graveyard down there and look at that; as usual in these old villages and towns, there’s a Mercat Cross in the center. I believe this town once had a sheep and cattle industry, maybe even held fairs."

"I like fairs," Bonnie said. "What are those pistols on the sides of the cross?" Bonnie asked.

"There also used to be a pistol industry. Doune Pistols were quite a popular thing and worth a lot of money today because there are so few left," Bruce explained.

"What an interesting town. I’m almost glad we were blown over here. I’d have never known all this otherwise. Oh, what a lovely bridge," she noticed.

"That’s the River Teith again. Bonnie, this is really nice here, but we need to head out. The sun’s setting soon and with all this rain, it’s going to be cold tonight."

"Let’s go," Bonnie said and they flew off to find a safe, warm place to spend the night.


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