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Chapter 2: The Loch

  • Episode 1

  • Exploring "Loch" Land

    • Everyone was grateful for the shorter driving distance to the "Land of Loch Ness" Mal began calling Mort's friend's property. Al leased out more than 80% of the acreage to local farmers for growing corn, soybeans and other crops, but the remaining 20% left plenty of room to play and explore.
    • The Maloneys arrived around mid-morning, after trying to follow Al's detailed instructions. They had to backtrack several times when they realized they missed turning on one and then another unmarked road. It was certainly "off the beaten path," as the saying goes.
    • "It's more like a treasure map than the one you found at Door County, Mal," Mort said to his son.
    • "At least we won't be bothered by strangers dropping by," Agnes said.
    • "Let's look around before unpacking the car," Mike suggested when they finally arrived. "Get a lay of the land."
    • "Good idea, Dad" Mort responded. "This looks like a great weekend hideaway for Al and his family. Too bad he isn't able to take advantage of it more often."
    • As usual, Rufus and the twins bolted out of the car as soon as they were allowed to, determined to cover as much ground as they could in the shortest possible time.
    • "C'mon, Mel. Let's find the Loch Ness monster!" Mal shouted as he ran.
    • "When you find the pond, do NOT go into the water. Let's all have a look at it first," Agnes warned.
  • A First Look at the "Loch"
    • The twins quickly found the "loch." It was about 2 acres and surrounded by tall grasses except for a small sand beach. A wooden beach pavilion with a built-in picnic bench sat on the sand overlooking the pond and a tiny wooden pier. Off to one side, nearly hidden in the tall grass was an overturned wooden rowboat, its oars neatly placed alongside.
    • "Dad, would you help us turn over the boat? We'd like to just sit in it," Mal asked Mort as Mort and Mike reached the pond.
    • "Let's wait until we see more of the property here," Mort replied. "Then we can decide if we want to swim or fish."
    • The Loch's Fish
    • At work, Al had explained to Mort that the pond was spring-fed, with a constant supply of fresh water, so it was clean enough to swim in it, so long as everyone realized that it was about 15 feet deep in the middle. There were some fish in the pond, mostly largemouth bass, crappie, bluegill and catfish. They were safe to catch and eat too, if they were big enough.
    • “Throw the small ones back in,” he told Mort, “so they can grow up, spawn and make more fish. And if you do want to fish, early morning and dusk are the best times; you won't have much luck other times, especially with a lot of splashing and playing in the water. Fish tend to get spooked by all that activity and loud noises. They'll just sink to the bottom.”
    • Mort was trying to remember all of Al's advice and he also wanted to take a look at the fishing gear and other provisions Al said were stashed in various parts of the small "house" on the property. He told Mort that he let the property's caretaker know that guests with two children would be spending the weekend and that he instructed the caretaker to replenish any supplies that may need replacing before they arrived.
    • “Please feel free to use the property and whatever equipment you find,” Al had said to Mort, “including fishing poles and lures, the rowboat, inflatable raft and water toys. I'm just happy the place won't be vacant over the holiday weekend.”
    • The Cabin
    • Meanwhile, Agnes climbed up a small slope to the one-room wooden cabin and unlocked the door. Cabinets above and below a countertop lined three walls and an oversize picnic bench-style table occupied the center of the room. Everything was spotless; even the floor looked newly scrubbed.
    • Agnes opened the shutters to let the sunshine in, as there was no electricity in the structure. Plastic dishes and paper plates filled one cabinet, bowls and serving platters in another. A utensil drawer included a manual can opener, corkscrew and other assorted kitchen gadgets. Cleaning supplies and both paper and cotton cloths occupied one of the lower cabinets. In another were bug spray and mosquito coils and matches. There were even new coloring books and an unopened box of crayons in one drawer. Agnes took note that each drawer or cabinet was lined with colorful shelf paper.
    • Someone went through a lot of trouble to make us feel at home, Agnes thought, as she removed a large flashlight hanging from the wall next to the door and noticed the large battery-operated clock on the wall just above the flashlight hook.
    • Agnes put the key in her pocket and walked back outside. A small deck encircled the whole structure, protected by the roof’s overhanging eaves. Nice, she thought. It was then that she noticed wooden stairs leading to the bottom of the slope. I’ll check that out later, she decided. Better check up on Mort, Dad and the twins.
    • Preparing for Fun in the Water
    • “Mom, we want to go in the boat,” Mal called out as the rest of her family made their way back to the cabin.
    • “Let’s get settled in first,” Agnes responded. Then, to Mort, “How’s the water?”
    • “Looks really clean for a country pond. As a matter of fact, I think we should all go swimming this afternoon.”
    • Mort wanted to surprise the twins with the big vinyl swim platform Al suggested that they play on. It was packed in the storage area underneath the cabin. Al told Mort he had bought it in mid-summer and wanted it to be used at least once before the weather got too chilly.
    • “Have you found the, um, facilities,” Agnes asked Mort.
    • “No, but I guess we all need to know where the outhouse is located. It’s probably somewhere in the back of the cabin,” Mort guessed.
    • It was. It looked like an old-fashioned two-holer from the outside, but it was equipped with plastic seats and a composter, its walls covered with flowery wallpaper and there was even a battery-powered touch light on the wall for nighttime visits.
    • The Maloneys strolled around the cabin section of the property together, admiring the wildflowers that cropped up in surprising places, before heading back down the slope to empty the car. Agnes suggested that she prepare a light lunch of salad and sandwiches while Mort and Mike set up the tent. She asked the twins to bring in the bags with their clothes and to clean off the outdoor picnic table.
    • The day was getting warmer, and the twins could hardly wait to change into their swimsuits after lunch.
    • “First, we need to wipe down the tablecloth and help put things away,” said Mort. “Then you can make sandcastles on the beach. That will give time for your lunch to digest before going into the water.”
    • The twins found several pails and scoops in the sand underneath the beach pavilion table. They soon discovered that wet sand makes more stable structures than dry sand, although even wet sand towers were no match against Rufus.
    • As Agnes finished washing the lunch utensils (she much preferred metal over plastic, even though it meant extra work toting them along with dish soap and towels out to the water pump), Mort and Mike went to the lower level storage area where Al told them they’d find the box with the swim platform. In addition to the box, there were fishing poles, lures and all manner of games and water toys, all neatly arranged.
    • The two men took the swim platform out of the box. It was sturdily built and big enough to hold everyone, including Rufus, if he were inclined to join them (he was, of course).
    • “The box says it’s self-inflating, so let’s take it up to the pond and inflate it there,” Mort suggested.
    • Agnes had already changed into her bathing suit and was building sand castles with the children when the men dropped the heavy material onto the grass in front of the beach.
    • “Look, over there,” she said, pointing to the far end of the pond. “That looks like a small diving board.”
    • “It sure does,” Mike said, as he squinted his eyes to see better.
    • “What’s that yellow thing, Dad?” Mal asked as he ran over to investigate.
    • “You’ll see in a minute. Mel, why don’t you and Mal come around and help me with something here,” Mort said.
    • “Sure, Dad,” Mel answered as she ran to the folded object.
    • When Mort and Mike completely unfolded the vinyl material, Mort said to the twins, “You wanted a sea monster, right? Here it is,” as he released the valve.
    • “Whoa, what’s happening, Dad?” Mal asked, intrigued by the yellow mass that made a kind of hissing sound as it grew.
    • “It’s a trampoline, isn’t it, Dad?” Mel asked.
    • “It may be a trampoline for you and Mal, but I think it’s more like a floating lounger for your mom, Grandpa and me,” Mort said. “Mal, this valve sucks in air and fills the inside. I don’t know exactly how it works, though.”
    • “Speak for yourself, dear,” Agnes said to Mort. “I think it makes a perfectly good water trampoline! Mal, would you please bring your orange vests?”
    • “Aw, Mom. Do we have to wear those things?” Mal frowned.
    • “No vest, no boat, no water trampoline. Family rules I just made up. Now go,” Agnes said.
    • Mal knew better than to argue.

    Please click HERE to continue reading.

  • Red rowboat on grass in front of lake

  • LINK TO MORE INFORMATION

  • Best Times of Day to Fish

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  • Nessie the Loch Ness Monster
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  • LINKS: BOOK 2 TABLE OF CONTENTS

iNTRODUCTION TO BOOK 2

INTRODUCTION TO THE BIOFABLES SERIES

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