The Legend of the Creature in the Lake
“Supper’s ready, Tina!”
“I’m coming!”
Tina barreled in, her ponytails just one step away from becoming a complete mess.
“Wash your hands, little lady!”
“Yes, mom!”
Without stopping, Tina stormed into the bathroom. The sound of running water came immediately. Her mother brought plates and glasses to the table.
“What do I do, mom?”
“Why don’t you bring the jar of water, darling?”
“Yes mom!”
“And be careful! Don’t spill it!” her mother sang.
Tina came back walking carefully, one step after the other, grabbing the jar with both hands. Her mother smiled.
“Well done.”
The girl places the jar on the table and walked around to her place.
“We have roasted chicken with vegetables, Tina,” her mother said. “I know you don’t like vegetables much, but…”
“It’s alright, mom. I know,” Tina said.
Her mother served two portions and they started eating.
“Where have you been today?”
“I went down to the waterside, mom.”
“Were you careful? We don’t want any more accidents…”
“Extra careful,” Tina said, raising a finger. “I never got close to the water.”
“Good.” Tina had almost drowned two years ago, and she still remembered the experience. One afternoon she didn’t come home, and the afternoon became evening, and her mother went looking for her. She found the girl on the shore, lying on her side, unmoving, and completely soaked. She had felt her heart sank.
To this day she wasn’t really sure what had happened. What she did know, though, was that she was happy her daughter was still alive. She was terrified of the lake, but living so close to the shoreline, how could she forbid the girl from coming near it? Luckily, Tina quickly agreed not to do it. The first times she had watched the girl from afar to make sure. Tina didn’t approach the water. Not once.
“I’ve been talking to Mr Gill,” Tina said.
“Oh. What does he say?” She wasn’t really sure she liked Tina having an imaginary friend, but the girl had such a wild imagination.
“He’s lonely,” Tina said.
“Oh, I’m sorry. Doesn’t he like being with you?”
“Yes, of course. But he says he feels lonely. I pity him, a little. He always looks sad.”
“Are you alright, Tina?” Was the girl projecting her own feelings on her imaginary friend?
“Yes, mom!”
“Are you sad, Tina?”
“For Mr Gill? A little. But he’s happier when he sees me.”
“That’s nice.”
“And he says I have to eat my vegetables.”
“Ah, that’s even nicer.”
*****
Later that night, Tina’s mum tucked her in bed.
“Tell me the story of the creature in the lake, mom.”
“Again?”
“Yes, please.”
“Ok, but it will have to be the short version.”
“Alright.”
“Legend has it that there’s a creature in the lake, an animal from ages long gone. Many say they’ve seen it, but are they telling the truth? No, because only the true heir to the realm can see the creature in the lake.”
“I prefer the long version, mum.”
“I know, but it’s late. Good night, Tina.”
“Good night, mum.”
*****
Tina used her small lantern to guide her steps. Still she walked carefully: the night was dark, and the path to the lake slippery.
Tina reached the shore and moved her lantern one, two, three times. Then she waited.
A circle of bubbles formed on the surface, and then a small head with two eyestalks appeared, followed by a long neck with two flippers and a fin that climbed and climbed up in the air. The creature then bent its neck so its eyes were level with Tina.
“Hello, Your Highness,” the creature said.
“Hello, Mr Gill.”
~~~~
This is my accompanying entry for the Weekly Writing Exercise: January 1–7, 2018 at the Writer’s Discussion Group on Google+. I am responsible for creating the prompts for the Exercise, so I don’t take part, but I still like to write a story each week. I’m publishing this on February 2, so I’m really late with my writings. I’ll try to catch up as soon as I can.
When I brainstormed this image, I had a first idea I liked. Then I changed my mind and decided I wanted a different approach, but when I actually sat down to write it, I discovered I had come back to that first idea. And here it is. I hope you like this nice little story.
