The Monster of Castle McToot

When Sachmo opened his eyes the next day

He went to the window straightaway.

Over the woods the lake shone bright.

No sign of the monster he saw last night.

He rushed to find Hamish ‘What is it Sachmo?

You’re looking quite flushed.’ Sachmo spoke slow.

‘You’ll think I’m mad, but last night I glanced

Out of the window and a monster danced!’

‘The monster of Loch McToot you saw.

‘Monster?‘ Said Sachmo. ‘Please tell me more.’

‘It’s not very often she makes herself seen.’

‘I saw her dancing. She still looked mean.’

‘I wonder if she’ll come out today.

Why don’t we all go down that way.

Gather yon mice. We’ll all go to the lake.

We’ll go for a picnic. A nice little break.’

The mice scuttled round, filling a hamper.

They hurried along with a happy scamper

Gathering, bread, cheese, ham and cake.

Lots of goodies for them to take

Down to the lake to enjoy the view.

(Only Hamish and Sachmo knew

What the mice were likely to see.)

The hamper was filled, a flask full of tea.

They all left the castle, down to the wood.

The view to the lake was awfully good.

The followed Hamish who led the way.

‘Keep to the path. Make sure you don’t stray.’

The mice followed close but soon heard a shout.

They turned around to see feet poking out

Of a hole in the ground, right by a tree.

‘Help!’ yelled Sachmo. ‘I can’t get myself free.’

The lads grabbed on to his long mouse tail

And pulled Sachmo out. He looked quite pale.

‘Oh thank you,’ he said and sat on the ground

As a rabbit popped up. They all looked round.

‘I wanted to see where that rabbit went,

So I followed it but the tree trunk bent

And I tripped and fell and got quite stuck.’

‘Oh Sachmo, you really have bad luck.’

‘I say,’ said Bongo. ‘What’s that there?

Sticking out of that rabbit’s lair.’

Bongo bent down in front of the hole

And pulled something out, all in a roll.

‘I say,’ said Monty. ‘What can it be?’

‘It looks very much like a map to me,’

‘I wonder if it’s treasure,’ said Keys.

‘Oh let’s go look,’ said Tina. ‘Please.’

‘We can’t look now, Hamish is waiting.

We’ll take it to Scriffy,’ said Monty, debating

Where on earth he could keep the map

And he pushed it quickly under his cap.

The mice ran off to where Hamish stood,

By the lake outside the big wood.

They all sat down. Hamish started to play.

The mice all hummed and started to sway.

Then all of a sudden they all saw a head

Pop out of the water. ‘Look out!’ They said.

But Hamish stood where he was and played

As the mice stood still. Very afraid.

Fiddlina’s hair stood quite on end,

While Quiffy’s quiff started to bend.

Bongo held on to his drums really tight,

While Keys looked on, looking awfully white.

Tich, Tupper and Tina all went to hide

While Monty and Twangy just stood side by side.

All of them watching a monster humungous.

‘ Hamish, don’t let him come here among us!’

The monster looked down with huge big eyes,

Then gave a sniff, and the loudest of cries.

Oh no! That monster’s eyeing the mice!

Is it naughty or is it nice?

Do the mice need to run away?

We’ll find that out another day.