Katie Morag and the Grumpy Grannie Katie Morag

# Katie Morag

# Far away across the ocean

# Katie Morag

# Over the sea to Struay

# Katie Morag

# Far away across the ocean

# Katie Morag

# Over the sea to Struay. #

My name is Katie Morag McColl and I live on the island of Struay.

I suppose it's quite wee but it's ginormous to me.

And everyone looks out for me

when I'm out and about having my adventures.

I'm not what you call an early night kind of person.

I would much rather stay up and play but Mum makes me go to bed,

even if I say 100 pleases.

I don't even argue any more.

The one bit I look forward to go is saying good night to Grannie Island.

Of course, I can't just yell out the window

because she lives too far away.

So we use a special code instead.

I flash my torch right across the bay to her croft.

Then Grannie flashes me right back.

That's strange.

Now there weren't many things I could be absolutely totally

sure of, but Grannie Island saying good night was one of them.

Something wasn't right and I didn't like it.

What are you still doing up, love?

I flashed my torch but Grannie Island didn't flash back.

-Och, she probably forgot.

-She never forgets.

Well, I'm just off the phone to her and she sounded fine.

So there's nothing to worry about, OK?

OK.

The next morning I couldn't stop thinking about it.

It was just so unlike Grannie Island not to say good night.

If it makes you feel better, we'll pop by after school and say hello.

We could. Or we could pop round before school.

Please!

-Come on, slow coach, we'll never get there.

-Hi there!

Look, Katie Morag!

Grannie Island says there's treasure lying at the end of every rainbow.

Usually I try to find it but not today.

-Knock-knock.

-Over here.

-See, I told you she'd be absolutely fine.

Grannie!

Oh my goodness! Are you ill?

Och, it's nothing. I just...

-hurt my back a wee bit.

-You look terrible!

-Well, thanks very much!

-What happened?

I was fetching something off my shelf and the chair slipped.

You need to be careful. Falls are dangerous at your age.

-It wasn't the fall that hurt.

-What was it?

-It was hitting the ground.

Why didn't you tell me all this when I phoned last night?

-I didn't want to bother you.

-I'll phone the nurse.

You'll do no such thing.

I wouldn't trouble her for a wee thing.

-It's not a wee thing.

-Och!

-If you want to help, you can fetch my breakfast for me.

-Fine.

-I'll make you some toast.

-No, wait...

It's nothing.

-I'll ask Mr McMaster to drive you down.

-Down where?

-You are staying with us until you get better.

-I am not.

-You can't stay here.

-That's exactly what I'm doing. East, West...

Home's best.

I can't look after you here. I have a business to run.

I'm not asking you to look after me.

Well, you can't look after yourself.

-I will be up and about in a... Ooh!

-Can I look after her?

-Oh, sweetheart!

-I am great at looking after people.

-And what about school?

-Mr Matthew won't mind.

-I think he might.

It's very kind of you to offer, Katie Morag,

but I think your mum's right.

So... What will we do?

I hadn't had any brilliant ideas for almost a week.

That really isn't like me.

But an absolutely fantabulous one popped into my head that very moment.

What about Granma Mainland?

-What?

-Excellent idea!

-She's a proper nurse and everything.

-She would be happy to help.

-I bet she would.

-She's a very lovely person.

-Well, she can go and be lovely somewhere else.

I am not having her here bossing me around.

I came as fast as I could.

I was already at school by the time Granma Mainland arrived,

-but Mum said the two of them got on brilliantly.

-The poor thing.

-I am not a poor thing.

-It is good that she's kept her spirits up.

That's a good sign.

-Why is she doing that? Why is she talking like I'm not here?

-So...

-How are we feeling now?

-Well, I'm feeling like a piano landed on me.

I don't know how you're feeling.

-Though I could probably guess.

-She seems a bit discombobulated.

-I was thinking that myself.

-Right, now...

I need you to roll over and let me have a look at you.

-I'll do no such thing.

-I need to check your back.

Anyone lays a hand on me, I will bite it off.

She's trying to help.

Ooh-oh!

SHE TUTS

And what is that? That tutting thing.

I need you to lie still and don't move a muscle!

-How long for?

-Until I say otherwise.

-I'll die of boredom.

Let's hope not!

Now, there is no point in us sitting around looking at her.

-Where does she keep her broom?

-What do you want... Ooh!

What did I say about moving?

Now, the first rule of nursing is...

..no job is complete until the sickroom

is neat.

-Now, you would be as well just heading off.

-You sure?

Oh, absolutely.

We are going to be just dandy.

SHE HUMS A TUNE

Did you see that?

She's absolutely loving this.

Couldn't you take her home with you?

You are very lucky to have her. You should be grateful. I certainly am.

ACCORDION MUSIC PLAYS

Right. Just a few things left that I didn't know what to do with.

Well, don't do anything with them.

If something isn't beautiful or useful,

it has no place in your home.

Does that go for people too?

-Now, what's this?

-A chair leg.

-Well, it really isn't beautiful!

-No, but it's useful.

What's it useful for?

-No?

-Well, give me a second.

Recycling bin!

SHE SIGHS

-Beautiful or useful?

-Both.

I don't think so. Bin.

Now, just a few things left. After that I will make some lunch.

Then we can both have a wee nap.

SHE SNORES

CRASH!

-Oh, my goodness!

-Oh! Ooh!

What on earth has happened?

There must have been an earthquake.

You were trying to get out of bed, weren't you?

Oh, aye, now I remember.

-I was trying to fetch something.

-What was it?

-A shell.

-A shell?

-A special shell.

-Tell me where it is and I'll fetch it for you.

-I left it lying on that book shelf.

-But I cleared that this morning.

Where did you put it?

Well... I'll go and have a look.

-What colour is it?

-Shell colour.

Please don't tell me you've thrown it out.

-Of course I haven't thrown it out!

-It's very special to me.

-Well, where is it then?

-I'm still looking.

I couldn't wait for school to finish.

I was so excited to see how my two grannies got on.

I was imagining the fun they'd have together,

chatting about people they know, telling each other stories

and laughing and laughing about all the things me and Liam get up to.

Maybe Granma Mainland was even doing Grannie Island's hair.

I'm back!

What's happened?

-Your grandmother has lost a shell.

-It was you who lost it.

-Can't we just get a new one?

-I've already offered.

I could have got hundreds of new shells.

I don't want 100 new shells. I want that one.

You see what I have to put up with.

-Nobody asked you to put up with anything.

-Stop it, both of you!

You are behaving like babies.

Now, it doesn't matter why her shell is so important, it just is.

Granma Mainland has made a mistake.

She did not do it on purpose and she is very sorry, aren't you, Granma?

Yes. Yes, I am very sorry.

Now, let's go and find it.

-And that's when I saw it...

-What is it?

-Katie Morag?

The biggest, brightest, most beautiful rainbow

I'd ever seen in my life.

Now rainbows are tricky. You think you know where the end is.

But when you try and get there, it moves away.

But this was the clearest rainbow I had ever seen.

And the end of it was definitely slap bang

on Grannie Island's compost heap.

I've found it, I've found the treasure at the end of the rainbow!

-Oh, thank goodness!

-Oh, you clever, clever girl.

I must have thrown it out with the toast.

I don't know how to thank you.

Why is the shell so special?

It's... Just a shell. But it was the first thing your mum ever gave me.

Oh, Grannie.

-Ooh!

-Oh, sorry, I forgot!

-Sit up.

-But you told me...

-Up!

-I want you to count to three.

-I would really rather not.

-I didn't take you for a baby.

-Fine. One... Two...

-CRACK!

-Oh!

-There, now, how does that feel?

-How does that feel? How does that feel?!

Actually...

It feels much better! That's amazing. The pain has gone.

-Just needed a little adjustment.

-How did you know?

Well, one of my many skills. I spotted it right away.

-Well, why did you leave me stuck here like a tumshie?

-Why?

Well, I needed you out of the way so I could clear up your mess.

You cheeky wee monkey!

THEY BOTH LAUGH

I've told you before how different my grannies are.

As different as pickles and porridge.

But in some ways, I reckon they are just the same.

They are both really clever.

They are both really kind and they both like to get their own way.

And there is another thing they have in common.

I love them both very, very much.

Good night, Grannie Island.