Grannie Island's Ceilidh - Annie Jessie and the Merboy Katie Morag

# Katie Morag Ran away across the ocean

# Katie Morag Over the sea to Struay

# Katie Morag Ran away across the ocean

# Katie Morag Over the sea to Struay

# Katie Morag. #

'I love parties,

'and I reckon Grannie Island's are the best in the whole wide world.

'They go on way past our bedtime.

'But as long as we've brushed our teeth

'and put on our jammies, we're allowed to stay up.

'Grannie Island doesn't call them parties. She calls them ceilidhs.'

Right then, boys and girls, ladies and gentlemen.

Let's gather round. Who's ready tonight for some real entertainment?

'We may not have a cinema, or a swimming pool, or even a bus,

'but everyone agrees that Struay's got talent.'

Time for another story. Whose turn is it to pin the tail on the island?

Me! Me! Me!

Er, I think you'll find, Agnes, it's Sasha's turn. Come on, Sasha.

There you go.

There you go now.

'We always play pin the tail at Grannie Island's ceilidhs.

'The children take turns of sticking a wee pin on the map of Struay.

'Then one of the grown-ups tells us a tale about that part of the island.'

Mmm-hmm. The island of Fuay.

Who knows a story about the island of Fuay?

-I know a wee story about the Isle of Fuay.

-Matthew it is, then.

Here, Peter, pass me over one of those shells, will you?

Thank you.

Long ago, here on Struay,

there lived a teenage girl called Annie Jessie.

She was born in a house on the headland beyond the new pier,

and from that place there is a lovely view of the Isle of Fuay.

When Annie Jessie was young she had to look after

her brothers and sisters as her mother had sadly died.

Her father was a teacher

and he was away all day at the school.

When he got back with the older children,

he expected the house to be clean and tidy,

and the evening meal on the table.

Not only had Annie Jessie to look after the family,

but also the cow, the pig, the hens, the sheep,

the dogs and the cats.

After breakfast, her father would go off to school, and Annie Jessie,

after she had fed all the animals,

would go to the peat bank with the little ones,

and collect fuel for the stove.

At the end of the day, once the children were asleep

and with her father working at the table,

she would get into the boat and row out into the bay to catch fish

for the next day's breakfast and supper.

Now, one particular evening it was wild weather.

Annie Jessie sheltered behind the boat on the shore,

waiting for the storm to pass.

She listened to the wind roaring and screeching around her.

But there was another sound, like someone crying.

Annie Jessie stumbled over the slippery seaweed

and saw the most amazing sight.

Now, I'm sure you all know what a mermaid is.

But what she saw was a merboy.

He was in front of her,

sitting on a rock with tears streaming down his face.

Annie Jessie asked why he was upset.

The merboy said he had lost his comb

and that the Sea King would be furious.

"He is in charge of all us sea creatures

"and can be very fierce.

"We merboys and mermaids must comb our hair twice a day."

Annie Jessie told him to dry his tears.

"I'll get you another comb," she promised, "and bring it tomorrow."

The merboy smiled for the first time - such a lovely smile -

and disappeared into the foaming waves with a happy flip of his tail.

How was Annie Jessie to get a comb?

There was only one comb in HER house,

which was needed every morning for all the family.

And it was often lost.

As she wandered back along the shore she saw some long, flat razor shells

just like this one, and put them in her pocket.

That night Annie Jessie couldn't sleep.

Feeling cold and lonely, she remembered her promise to the merboy

and remembered the razor shells in her pocket.

Her fishing knife was sharp.

It wouldn't take long to carve one of those long, flat shells.

So she lit a candle, and sat close to the light.

But the shell was brittle and soon broke in two.

The second, third and fourth shells all shattered.

Dawn was breaking and it came to the last shell.

And pffft! The candle guttered out.

In the half-light of the skylight window, Annie Jessie worked

ever so carefully, and this time made the most beautiful comb.

She carved some hearts and kisses on it, then raced down to the shore.

"Merboy, here is your new comb!" Annie Jessie called.

"Thank you," he smiled, as he took it from her.

"It is beautiful.

"And so are you."

Annie Jessie smiled. She thought HE was beautiful, too.

The merboy told Annie Jessie to untie the boat and follow him,

and he would find her the best fish,

and would continue to do so from that moment on.

Being with the merboy was the best part of the day for Annie Jessie.

The family had mounds of fried fish for breakfast,

and colossal fish pies for supper.

Grateful though she was to the merboy,

she knew he could not help with her other chores.

When the weather was too bad for fishing, she sat beside him

on the rocks,

and told him how lonely and exhausted she sometimes got.

And how she wished she could have a life with him.

"Would you really like to live with me?" he asked, hopefully,

for he had had the same thoughts.

The Sea King had heard about their romance

and decided to do something about it.

So a large, rolling wave rose far out to sea,

and as it came close to land, it turned into a team of white horses

with foaming manes, pulling a huge shell chariot towards the shore.

The Sea King stood tall and fierce. He boomed out his message.

"A little sea bird has told me you have fallen in love

"and want to be together."

Annie Jessie and the merboy agreed wholeheartedly.

But she knew she could not leave her family, and told the Sea King.

"They will be fine," bellowed the Sea King.

"I'll send a new teacher to Struay who will help your father

"at the school, and at home.

"And I will make you a beautiful place to live."

And so saying, he turned to the sea and raised his hands.

The setting sun darkened, and suddenly it was deepest night.

Thunder and lightning grumbled and flashed.

Annie Jessie and the merboy huddled together on the rocks.

"Look," commanded the Sea King. And he pointed to the horizon.

Where there had been dark sea a moment before,

there was now a small island bathed in sunlight.

"This is your island," announced the Sea King.

And so it was

that Annie Jessie and the merboy went to live on the island.

And what do you think they called it?

They called it the Isle of Fuay.

One fine evening, Annie Jessie met the new lady teacher

who was helping her father dig up the tatties.

"I like it here," smiled the lady teacher.

Annie Jessie's brothers and sisters all cheered.

Annie Jessie made razor shell combs for all the family

and the lady teacher, and a spare one for the merboy,

just in case he lost his special one.

And that is the story of the Isle of Fuay.

APPLAUSE

That was great, Matthew. I loved that story.

I think it's one of my favourites.

Alistair and Jane, come on. It's time you gave us a tune.

'We love the ceilidh stories, and always want to hear more.

'But Grannie Island says the same thing, "Time for another tune."

'And by the time the grown-ups have finished dancing

'we're usually fast asleep.'