Katie Morag and the Wedding - Part 2 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.'

She said... "Yeah!"

Granma Mainland and Neilly Beag were getting married.

And I couldn't remember ever being so excited.

-Can I go tell Grannie Island?

-Of course you can.

The only person that didn't seem excited was Grannie Island.

-Who says I'm going?

-Why wouldn't you?

I don't particularly like weddings.

But I think she was just feeling down in the dumps.

Grannie liked living on her own but all the talk about weddings

must have got her thinking about Grandad Island.

-You wore a crown?

-A tiara.

Grandad brought it back for me from Paris.

-Have you still got it?

-Aye. Somewhere.

He hadn't visited in ages.

Grandad in his uniform.

He's handsome.

-Oh, look at the time.

-And I could tell she was missing him a wee bit.

So, I came up with one of my little plans.

And on the morning of the wedding, Grandad arrived in the helicopter.

I couldn't wait to see Grannie Island's face

when she realised Grandad was here.

Everything had worked out so perfectly.

Or so I thought.

Hello, Grandad. Grannie Island will be so pleased to see you.

Let's get him something to eat first, eh?

Aye, best not visit on an empty stomach.

I couldn't see much difference a stomach could make

but he must have been hungry because he didn't argue.

His wellies were on the wrong feet!

When Grandad went to eat his fourth sausage roll,

I decided enough was enough.

If he ate any more, he wouldn't fit into his trousers!

Come on, Grandad. I've been waiting a very long time.

All right, let's go!

-Aftershave.

-I don't think...

It will make you all fresh and mysterious! Grannies love it.

Thank you, OK! I think that's mysterious enough.

Come on, then. Let's go.

Come on, Grandad.

-How long has it been since you saw Grannie Island?

-Oh, a long time.

-Too long.

-Why don't you come to Struay more often? She misses you.

-She does?

-She's got photos and everything.

Well, I would like to come back more often, it's just...

Your grandmother is a wonderful woman, Katie Morag,

but she can be a little...

Well, she likes to do things her own way.

And if she can't do them her way, she would rather not do them at all.

The trouble is, I am a little bit the same.

Come on, then.

I wasn't sure what he meant exactly.

Grown-ups aren't always great at explaining things.

(Stop! You wait here till I call you. Don't make a sound.

(I don't want to spoil the surprise.

(Are you sure this is a good idea?

(Of course it is. Everyone loves surprises.)

Come in!

-Would you please tell me what this is all about?

-Just a sec.

Ready, steady, ta-dah!

-Nils!

-Hello, Belle.

Well, this is a surprise.

Go on, then. Give her a kiss!

-What's that smell?

-Aftershave.

Same one Neilly Beag puts on.

Lovely(!)

Did you have a good flight?

I did, thank you. Very smooth.

This wasn't at all what I was expecting.

It was as if they didn't even know each other.

Maybe I was wrong about everyone liking surprises.

Grannie Island didn't seem to like them at all.

-Would you like more shortbread?

-Thank you. It's very nice.

That's kind of you to say so.

Are you sure you don't want another bit of shortbread?

-Oh, I best get going. Thanks for the tea.

-It was a pleasure.

I'll see you later.

That was weird.

What was weird about it?

I don't know. It just was.

-You don't like him or something?

-Well, of course I like him.

-He's a very fine man.

-So why were you acting all funny then?

-Was it the aftershave?

-No. It wasn't the aftershave.

Well, then?

I haven't seen your grandad for quite a while.

It was a bit of a shock, that's all.

So, will you be OK at the wedding now the shock is all over?

-I'm still not sure if I can make it.

-Grannie!

I've a mountain of things to do.

It won't be the same without you.

Oh, Katie Morag!

-Fine. If you won't go, I won't go.

-Now, that's just silly.

I've got lots of things to do as well.

-Teddy's clothes need washed and my room is an absolute midden!

-Fine.

I'll do my best.

But I've got to get these jobs done first.

Why on earth was a Grannie acting so funny?

Grandad coming was a good thing so why was she so grumpy?

And why wouldn't she want to come to Granma Mainland's wedding?

The ferry man's wife was making one of her fabbydoo chocolate cakes,

why would anyone want to miss that?

Sometimes grown-ups can be so peculiar.

There's only one way to understand them

and that's to ask another grown-up.

Of course they like each other. They love each other.

-Why don't they live together?

-Well,

it's complicated.

Grandad Island likes to travel the world and Grannie Island doesn't.

-East, West, who's best?

-That's right.

-So, he does his thing and she does hers.

-Don't they miss each other?

I'm sure they do sometimes.

If they like each other and they miss each other,

why doesn't Grannie Island seem happy to see him?

Maybe she was a wee bit shy.

I never thought of Grannie Island being so shy before.

But I suppose it made sense.

After all, when I haven't seen someone in ages,

I can be a little shy as well.

Thanks, Dad!

Another satisfied customer.

The wedding was absolutely brilliant.

They got married on the beach.

They both said yes in the very right place

and Neilly Beag even remembered to bring the ring.

And everyone was very happy.

It now gives me great pleasure to pronounce you man and wife.

And then they were well and truly married.

And what made me even more happy was that Grannie Island was there

and she even wore a dress.

And afterwards, we had the party in the hall.

There was music and dancing and singing and super yummy food.

The ferry man's wife hadn't made one of her fabbydoo chocolate cakes.

She had made three!

Let's get together for Strip The Willow!

APPLAUSE

SCOTTISH COUNTRY DANCE MUSIC PLAYS

The only one who wasn't enjoying herself was Grannie Island.

She tried to hide it but I could tell.

And that's when I had it.

The best idea I've had in my whole entire life.

I would have to be quick, though.

This wasn't the kind of idea that would wait around for you to

finish off a slice of cake.

-Can I nip out for a bit?

-Of course. Where are you going...?

-I think you forgot something.

-And what would that be?

-This.

-Where did you find that?

-The same place you left it.

I didn't think so.

Katie Morag!

Stand still, will you?!

There.

A lot of nonsense. I must look like an absolute...

You look beautiful.

May I have the honour?

Just the one.

And they danced like that for the rest of the night.

In the end, my mum had to tell them the band wanted to go to their beds.

The next day, Granma Mainland and Neilly Beag set off

on their honeymoon in Neilly Beag's boat.

And Grandad Island had to leave to go back to work.

But he promised to come back and visit us more often from now on.

And that made us all very happy.

Listening to his adventures,

I could see why Grandad Island loved to travel so much.

I might even become a helicopter pilot myself when I'm bigger.

But I can see why Grannie Island doesn't want to

scoot around the world too because I know no matter where I visit,

be it north or south or east or west,

our little home of Struay will always be the best.

Good night, Grannie Island. See you tomorrow.