Cerridwen and the Loch Ness Monster

According to family legend, dozens of my ancestors on my daddy side of the family, fought and died under the banner of Charles Edward Stuart, and when he was defeated at the Battle of Culloden they were forced to flee to the colonies, and somehow later ended up here in Mississippi. I don't know how true that story is. But I do know, my dad always wished to see Scotland, to him it was that fable homeland. He was proud as a peacock of the few remaining traces of Scottish blood that flowed in his veins.

Now my daddy was not the richest man in the world. He worked long hard hours, and had to fight from the day he could walk for his daily bread. He was born the thirteenth son of a large family and when his father passed when he was still in school, there was little left for him. So he was forced to make his own way in this world. He married my mom during his second enlistment in the armed forces. He did twelve years in the army, rising from the rank of Private to Sergeant. He got out with a small retirement.

Anyway he took what he learned at the army and became what we call here an 'Chemical Man' that is a man who works at the Chemical Plant in Yazoo City. The drive is about thirty minutes both ways, but he earns a good income for me and my mom and I never at want for anything. He was just promoted to shift leader and when the Chemical Plant opened a smaller plant here in Benton he was transferred from Yazoo City to Benton. Along with the promotion he was given a huge bonus and was allowed to take a few weeks off.

So, Dad decided to finally take the trip he often dreamed of. He decided to visit Scotland. And of course because he thinks of him as a second son, James Donald Bell, or Daisy as we call him, my boyfriend was also invited to come along.

And so that brings us to what I'm doing right now, walking along the stone covered shore of Loch Ness. I was finding the weather somber, cloudy and the water was dark and brooding. As fair as the green covered hills that ringed the Loch were, they were not as fair as the green hills of home. The wind whipped around and tossed my black hair around and caused me to shiver. As I shivered I turned around and saw Daisy peering right at me.

“What?” I said, taking a deep breath. Daisy and I had been dating for a year or so now. “Something on my face?” I said as I peered toward the boy, who looked kind of like a girl. Daisy and I were around the same height. The only difference between us was he had blonde hair and I had black hair. And I had boobs and he did not.

“Just looking.” Daisy said, taking a deep breath as he peered out over the shadow covered water. Daisy was dressed in a simple pair of jeans, boots and a long sleeve shirt worn over a windbreaker. His long blonde hair was tied back in a low ponytail.

“Oh?” I said, taking a deep breath. “What are you looking at?” I said turning around to peer with him over the long shadows that seemed to cover the water. There was something unsettling about the water. It seemed to be hiding something. Something seemed to be lurking under the surface. The water was not warm, inviting as the waters of the Gulf of Mexico. You could not trust yourself to this water as you could the many swimming holes of home. It reminded me of the muddy Mississippi River. A river we natives of Mississippi both admired, loathed and embraced. All at the same time.

“I'm looking at your natural beauty. I swear for a moment my eyes had been cheated by a magical spell. That the fey that lives in yonder mountain had stolen away my wits and senses.” He said stuffing his hands into his pocket as he turned around and flashed a smile in my direction.

I blinked open my mouth and closed my mouth again and then blinked again.

“I thought for a moment you were looking for the Loch Ness Monster or something.” I said turning away from him. The wind was blowing harder now and dark, gray storm clouds, pregnant with rain, seemed to be blowing down from the snow covered mountain peaks to the surface of the water.

“I don't think there is a Loch Ness Monster.” Daisy said as he peered directly at me. “I mean I know there are monsters and other supernatural creatures in this world. I know I've seen a few ghosts in the fifteen or so years I've cursed this earth. I mean we've both had our own encounters with the paranormal.” Daisy said, shifting his gaze toward the clouds that hovered now above our heads.

“Looks like it's going to rain soon?” He said. “Also, you look nice Cerridwen. I mean you always look nice, I mean I've never seen you in tartan before.” Daisy said smiling.

I blinked and felt myself start to blush, my outfit for today had been a red and black tartan jumper dress, brown leather boots, a cream colored blouse and a black jacket. Mom said I'd looked like a Catholic School Girl when she spotted me at the breakfast table that morning in the inn we were staying at. Dad said nothing and only muttered how nice I look. Daisy said the same.

“I feel like a Catholic Schoolgirl.” I said blushing a little. And then I fell into a fit of giggles.

“You look like a Catholic Schoolgirl.” Daisy added. As he walked up to me and wrapped his arms around my waist. I nearly jumped but then I started to lean in. I was starting to trust him, and I loved when he and I had the chance to just be alone and snuggle.

“And you look like a rejected Anglican Schoolboy.” I said trying to counter his mild attempt at flirting with my own mild attempt. Daisy though just shrugged his shoulders and smiled.

“I was an Anglican Schoolboy. St. Katherine's is an Anglican Academy. So by me getting kicked out of St. Katherine's I was indeed a rejected Anglican Schoolboy.” He said in a tone of voice that lacked any trace of humor, mirth or even bitterness.

“Why are there no Anglican Schoolgirls then?” I had to ask as I turned away from him and peered toward the loch. I blinked, had I just seen the outline of a flipper just below the surface of the water.

“There are Anglican Schoolgirls. They are just not as alluring and vixens as their Roman Catholic counterparts.” He said, blinking. “A Catholic Schoolgirl would kiss you on the first date. An Anglican Schoolgirl would make you wait till at least the third date before even allowing you to kiss her on the cheeks.”

I felt my blood starting to boil. I turned toward him and I was just about to throw my hand up and bring it across his face for that cheeky comment when I caught sight of his eyes, and his dimpled heart shaped face that was framed by his long, flowing blonde hair. In a matter of seconds my blood started to cool and I felt myself lost for words.

“But none of the Belle's of Vicksburg. Be they Catholic or Anglican could compare to my Cerridwen.” He said as he moved up and took my hands into his strong hands. He then smiled, bent down and kissed me on the lips. As my lips meet, I felt a sudden onrush fill ever fiber of my being. I felt myself starting to melt. My legs turned to jelly and I felt his warm tongue starting to enter into my mouth. Shocks of joy, lust and desire started to flood over me.

We kissed for several seconds before we both had to come up for some air.

“Daisy.” I said, taking a deep breath. “Would you sing for me?”

Daisy blinked and it took him a few minutes to connect the dots.

“You would like me to serenade you? Here in public?” He asked as he looked around.

“Yes! I think it would be so romantic if you serenaded me here, on the rock covered banks of Loch Ness. With only the crows, the fey and the monster around.” I said, smiling sweetly.

Daisy took a deep breath and stepped toward me, he then guided me toward a nearby rock. I smiled and eased my skirted bottom down upon the rock and then he stepped back and took another deep breath. How many deep breaths did the boy need? Anyway he seemed to be collecting himself and then he started to sing acapella.
By yon bonnie banks and by yon bonnie braes
Where the sun shines bright on Loch Lomond
Were me and my true love will never meet again
On the boonie, bonnie banks of Loch Lomond

It was a nice start. But we were on the rock scattered banks of Loch Ness instead of Loch Lomond. But I guess if you've seen one Loch you have seen them all. And plus there was something romantic about the song Daisy had decided to sing. I felt myself being transported back in time, to the time of the Jacobite Wars. I of course being a lovely highland lass who had taken a stroll with my strapping Highland Lad who would ride forth at dawn to fight for his beloved King. Oh the thought gave me goosebumps.

O' you take the high road, and I'll take the low road
And I'll be in Scotland afore ye
But me and my true love will never meet again
On the bonnie, bonnie banks of Loch Lomond

Daisy had the voice of an angel. A pure, girly boy angel who I would love to pounce on every chance I'll be given. The tenderness of his words, the purity of his voice, it made me tingle, it made me shiver. Oh! Oh how cruel the fates were in my daydreams. I could see him now marching away, a kilt upon his knee, a musket upon his shoulder, his blonde hair tossed around and I, in a homespun dress following behind the main column. And before the battle, I would rush up and hold him and whisper tenderly into his ears, 'Oh beloved, my lover, my soon to be husband.' a pause as I brushed away my maiden tears, 'Remember the old saying the Greek woman told to their husbands before battle! Return either upon holding your shield or being carried on it! But dare you return not without it!'

'Twas there that we parted, in yon shady glen
On the steep, steep side of Ben Lomond
were in the soft purple hue, the hieland hills we view
and the moon coming out in the gloaming

Daisy's voice echoed off the hills and caused my heart to jump into my throat. Oh yes, yes we will never see each other again. For the Prince of Orange's troops have pierced my lover's heart with a leaden musket ball. And as the sun sets, I hold him, I bend down and hold his hand, his bloody hand, and peer into his eyes that are shadowed with death. I feel his blood flowing through my fingers, as he tries to whisper something to me, regrets, a dying proclamation of his undying love for me! I wrapped my arms around me and shivered, this was so romantic. So poetic

O' you take the high road, and I'll take the low road
And I'll be in Scotland afore ye
but me and my true love will never meet again
On the Bonnie,Bonnie banks of Loch lomond.

At this point Daisy paused and blinked several times, his eyes grew as wide as saucer plates as he peered not at me, but through me. He shook his head. And behind me I heard the splashing of water and felt something moving toward me, I wanted to turn around and see what was standing behind me, but the sight of Daisy held me in rapture! He was too beautiful to be a boy! So handsome! Oh I loved him with my whole heart, with my whole soul with every fiber of my being.

The wee bird sings and the windflowers spring
And in the sunshine the waters are sleeping
but the broken heart kens, nae second second spring again
though the woeful may cease from their grieving

At this point Daisy stopped and just stood there, his jaw hanging open, all the color had drained from his face as he raised a shaking arm and pointed behind me. I tilted my head to the side and looked at him.

“What? Finish your song! I was just getting lost in my daydream!” I said with a pout.

“Cerridwen behind you!” He muttered as he peered at me.

“What!” I said, peering at him.

“Just look behind you, woman!” He yelled as he pointed toward the Loch. “Just look behind you and run! Run like the wind!”

“What are you babbling about!” I said getting off my rock as I peered at Daisy. “Have you gone daft or something?” I scolded as I peered at him. He was shaking like a bed sheet that had been hung out to dry and had been caught by a sudden wind. His face had lost all color and he looked as if he had seen the devil himself rising up from the loch behind me and he was now wading toward us.

“Cerridwen Circe Whitethorn!” Daisy yelled. “For the love of all that is good! All that you love! For all that is, please look behind you!”

“JAMES DONALD BELL!” I said hotly. “Have you taken leave of all your senses!” I said as I lifted myself from the rock I was sitting on and firmly I placed both hands on my hips. “What has gotten into you! You look like you have seen the devil himself!” I shouted.

Then I heard a roar behind me. I nearly jumped out of my skin. It was a loud roar, something that was hard to put into words. I don't think I've ever heard anything like it before or since. I quickly turned around and there towering over me was the long neck of some creature that did not belong to this day and age. The neck was long and slender as a willow tree with a head as big as a log. And two beady black eyes.

“DAISY!” I yelled as I quickly turned around.

“I told you to RUN!” Daisy said as he rushed up to me and wrapped his fingers around my slender wrist. “I told you to RUN!” He said as he started to pull me along as fast as his two legs could carry him.

“You never finished your song!” I said, maybe now was not the right time to scold him since we were both running for our lives. But then again where is a good time to scold somebody?

I think there is no logical way to conclude this tale. Daisy and I kept running till we reached the small, homely inn that we were staying at. And I mean homely in the British English sense of the word. And by that I mean the inn was simple but cozy and very comfortable. Once we reached the inn, Daisy and I turned to each other and sighed. And then as if to put the whole thing behind us, we went into the little cafe/eatery that was attached to the inn. There we both ordered a meal of steak and fries and much to the horror of the woman who was taking our order, we asked for a glass of ice tea. And there our tale comes to an end.