The Adventures Of Little Sham - Chapter 4 (Part 1)

The Adventures Of  Little Sham  

A Novel

by Paul McCann

Chapter Four

The Colours Of Spring  

Part 1

The morning light streamed through the windows of Shams bedroom and he sat looking at the gossamers that clung around the shutters on the window . Then he started thinking and drifting away to far away place and his thoughts were flowing like waves on the ocean of another world .

He wondered if spiders sung songs as they spun their silken strands to make their webs of delight that were built to catch anything that might come flying by , like a butterfly or a dragonfly maybe, who could be carrying some secret messages to the buttercup fairies sprinkling their golden patches of butter in rows , with a hearty guffaw among the dogs ears that growl wildly around the mossy barks of the Dogwood trees in the Glens where the rabbits run from the gun of hunter and barking of the hounds that are thirsty for the blood of a kill .

He was ushered back from his daydream world by a knock on the bedroom door .

followed by another rap across the hall in quick succession like a drum roll .

“Breakfast is on the table “

“Thanks Mrs McDermott “ Came the reply .

One by one the Greenwoods all made their way downstairs to the dining room .‘

What a lovely surprise it was for them to Mrs Mc Dermott on the piano with a small choir greet them to breakfast with a song .

“We’d like to bring the best to you this morning with a little song before you start the  day ,  its just a song at day break , that might make your milk shake , its your breakfast time song to get you on your way “

The Greenacres all applauded and the small choir took a bow and left the room .

“This is such a lovely place .“  

 Said Mr Greenacre and Mrs Greenacre nodded her approval and added ,    

“ Its like no place else on earth .“

Little Sham looked happy and said ,

“I’m just so happy we found this place, so where are we going today ? “

Shams mum replied .

‘ Your choice Sham, shopping for souvenirs or exploring for treasure ?”

Sham screamed with delight and said .

“Exploring for treasure.”

After they finished breakfast Mrs McDermoot came to collect the dishes from the table and asked what their plans were and little Sham said ,

‘We’re going treasure hunting today”

“Well is that so , Little Sham , then I suppose you’ll be taking the little boat over to Glasshouse Island That’s where I’ve been told there are many things worth looking for and if its treasure you’re after then that’s where you should be going. ‘

Mr Greenacre replied

Oh Mrs Mc Dermott thank you for the tip , we’re amazed at your knowledge . What time does the boat leave ?”

She took a look out the window and returned to the table and said ,

“Anytime before the tide  runs out which is in about an hour give or take . So if I were you,  I’d be getting your skates on and start making your way down to the boat shed beside where all the upturned boats are lying on the seashore”

“I’ll make you a little lunch to bring with you as there’s no shops over there on that island and exploring for treasure is hungry work. “

Sham asked .

‘Mrs McDermot could you put in some bread just in case there are some hungry birds over on the island “”

She looked at Sham and smiled .
“Haven’t you a heart of gold . You’re so thoughtful little Sham , I’ll tell you what , just for you put in a loaf of bread that I baked this morning and I’m sure you will find that more than enough ?”

After that they all started to make tracks to get on their way . Up the stairs they went to get dressed and when they came back down Mrs Mc Dermott stood waiting with a picnic basket readd and an umbrella in case  there was a possibility of rain .

“Enjoy your day out on the island ; I’ll have dinner ready at 6pm the boat will have returned before then as Carlin the boatman is putting out some lobster traps and his nets which will  take him the best part of the day .”

She stood at the door watching as they all got into the car . Mrs Greenacre open the window and said ,

“Thanks for the lunch Mrs McDermott.”

With a wave of her then they drove off through the town to where the boats lay upside down near there they parked the car . Making their way to the boatshed they saw a man taking out a boat from the shed .Three other men went to help him carry the boat down to the shore

Amr Greenacre waved and called out .

“Mr Carlin would you take us to the Island with you ?”

He took the cap off his head and shouted back ,

““It’s a good day for it . So if you‘re wanting to go over to the island then you better come now .?”

They made their way over as he urged him to come  .Ine of the other fishermen asked ,

“So what is it you’re going to do there on that island ?”

Sham replied . ”Explore for treasure and we’ll be feeding the birds. “

Another one of the fishermen said,

‘Well, sure enough there is something I’ve heard of that needs to be found there  .“

Mr Greenacre asked

“What’s that ?”

The reply came back

“Well that’s not for me to say but for you to try and find out ?”

The fishermen all stood around the boat that they had placed into the water by the shore .

“Well then you must be the visitors I’ve been hearing about ?
Carlin said .

Mr Greenacre smiled and another one of the men said .

“Ah so you brought the birds some bread ?”

Sham replied

 “Well, this is not just ordinary bread , it’s Mrs McDermotts special hand made bread that she just baked this morning”

“Another one of the fishermen said ,

“If there should be no birds on that island m would you mind if I took that load of special bread home with me later ?”

Carlin looked at him with a grin and a frown and said ,

‘Now that’s enough of your begging its time now for us to get on our way .Let’s go everybody get  in the boat and we’ll make our way across to the Island.“

They placed the boat in the direction of the island and Carlin pulled the string that started the engine of the boat and they left the shallow water’s behind .

Some seagulls flew overhead calling out with squawks and squeals to the sea .

The wind also made its presence felt , spraying salt water into the face os all in the boat .  

Carlin laughed and said ,

“Let the birds fly and the wild winds blow , underneath an overcast sky

For today we’re hunting for treasure and I can see there’s a rainbow nearby .

So I’m thinking there must be some gold to be found somewhere there

Thats been buried in a place under the sky and above the sea for you and I .

And as sure as God is in heaven we can be find a place where we can be free,

to look for the gold in the valleys and fields and even over the sea”

“How long have you been fishermen?”

Mrs Greenacre asked,

“We were born for it ”

Another replied .

“It can be a cold cruel sea that demands something in return. “

“Aye sure enough it gives and takes ?”

Came the reply .

The wind seemed to agree with the word spoken as rushed through their hair and the sea spray gave then a shower at the back of their neck .

Carlin looked at the Greenacres with a smile that folded into a frown and said ,

“Isn’t that’s the truth though . The ocean is our life and in this part of the world sure we have no choice but to go out and make our living any way we can in or out of the ocean. We take what she gives us and we live no matter what she takes away. “

After a while the wing died down and the sun came out again and shine down on the little boat as it made its way over the diamonds that sparkled upon the water ,

When the reached the shore of the island Carlin tied to boat to a mooring post and one by one they all got out of the boat .

Carlin looked at them and said ,

“Welcome to Glasshouse Island . We’ll be here when you return , There’s no rush , we’ll leave around twilight “’

They stood there surrounded by sand and rocks on a beach where seaweed lay

like rosary beads on  a burial ground from an ancient battle . The fishermen went about their business and the Greenacres began exploring the island , They steep from the beach into a green glade that soon the edge of a forest . For a moment they felt as if they were transported back in time to a place where man had not yet set foot on . They imagined they were in a land where all kinds of wild beasts roamed around they even tried to make strange dinosaur noises .

Roaring out like savages and then laughing the antics they made .

They ventured on further into the forest on the island where they found a place to hide . It was a glasshouse filled tomato plants , strawberries and strange looking flowers .Also In the glasshouse there was some shopping bags hanging up and beside the bags was a blackboard with a message that read , .

You have found a treasures here on the island . There are more to be found . Just keep looking , Take all the time you need , time is free here on Glasshouse Island “

The Greenacres put some fruits into a bag and carried on exploring  . It was like a getaway day from life there on the island  . Time seemed to disappear for a while and all it took was a little boat to get and sure there’s always another boat everyday if you want to go back . Then again, who knows maybe not , you can never tell . Strange things can happen in Chapters End . If you think you’ve arrived it could be time to say farewell , because time never seems to move in this place , There is no demand to do anything , there is no rush to get it done , everything just happens as if it were planned .In any case you are welcome to stay until you’re ready to go , there’s always a time to leave but for now all the Greenacres wanted to do was to say hello.

They continued to make their way through the forest . Up ahead they saw a passage of light , that seemed to be reflected from mirrors that hung in various places that  that captured the sunlight from above the forest surface . As they walked into the passage they found another glasshouse there . Inside the glasshouse there were birds of many colours perched on bamboo rods and some other birds sat on the  rungs of a ladder that went through the roof of the glasshouse to a treehouse above  where another  ladder climbed to a ledge on a cliff face .

They all made their way up the ladders to the treehouse and found some woollen garments and blankets laid out . Then as they looked further around the discovered a shelf with some coloured glass bottles sitting beside each other . They all reflected the sunlight in a beautiful display of coloured light on the shelf where they stood .

The sunlight streamed down from the sky above through a gap where the other ladder ascended to a ledge above on the cliff face . They climbed that ledge where they were found the most beautiful view of the island and mainland . Then they opened up the picnic basket Mrs McDermott had made up for them and started  eating the food gazing at the most beautiful view they had ever seen   

After they finished eating they just sat there in silence until Mrs Greenacre spoke  .

“Who ever you are who built this place . Thank you “ she said

Then Mr Greenacre said ,

“I have never seen anything like this anywhere in the world . This is really a treasure to behold “

 As they sat there looking at the view they noticed how the birds flew in circles around the island and a basking whale that made its way in from ocean accompanied by flocks of seagulls that hovered above .  They sat looking back at  the mainland that was spread out like quilt in different shades of green . Time seemed to stand still but they knew that they should get on their way back to the boat .

Mr Greenacres said .

“Well everyone time to make our way back now through the forest to the track where we came from . It won’t  be long until the daylight fades away. “

Sham replied .

“Lets all march like soldiers of the forest back to the boat “

Mrs Greenacre said ,

‘Lets go men . By the right march ,  left , right and off we go .”

Down the ladders , through the tree house , into the glasshouse , through the passage and back on the track to the seashore . On the way there were bluebirds and butterflies ,and beautiful flowers that brought them back to the boat where Carlin and the three fishermen were waiting .

Carlin took off his cap and shouted .

“Well did you find any treasure ?”

‘We certainly did .”

Mrs Greenacre said and Mr Greenacre added ,

The entire island is a treasure itself. “

One of the fishermen responded ,

“We discovered this place many years ago by accident .We think someone built it as a retreat from the world . Over the years we have tried to add a few things to the beauty but we want it to remain as it is . It was all build in secret to be enjoyed by anyone who would come here. “  

Carlin added ,

“Well good folk lets get back in the boat and go now while we are still innocent and catch up with our dreams . It nice to visit places like this where the sunbeams  filter through coloured glass and the music of the birds sing to us about life and time stands quite still for a while and no one asks how long will you be because no one cares how long you’ll  take. “

They all got back in the boat and Carlin pulled the string and the motor started and off they went to the mainland as twilight fell . When they arrived on the shore Carlin asked ,

‘”If you would be as kind to keep the secret of the island to yourself for we believe it is there only for those who are meant to find “

They all agreed and then before they said goodbye .

Mrs Greenacre said ,

“I will remember always, the kind people I have met and the treasure I have found here today,”

They all smiled and waved goodbye then left in peace ..

The Greenacres returned to their car and Carlin to the boatshed and the three fishermen went in different directions from the shore .  

As they drove through the town,  one by one the lights of the village came on in the little houses all over the place . Then when they returned to the guesthouse Mrs McDermott came rushing to meet them as they came in the door where she looked with a great big smile and said ,

“Well tell me . What did you find on the island ?”

Mrs Greenacre handed her the shopping bag with tomatoes and strawberries and then she gave her a big hug and said .   

“Mrs McDermott thank you . We found treasures that will stay with us forever . You are amazing  for letting us know about that island .”

“Thank you for these fruits . WelI you know I kind of felt that you were all meant to go there to the island and  I’m so pleased that you found the beauty there that not many people will ever see in their lifetime . Now, dinner won’t be too far away now , so if you want to freshen up , I’ll have it on the table in just a wee bit  ”.

They came back down stairs and had dinner and afterwards wanted to share everything they had seen and done on the island with Mrs McDermott. After that they went to their rooms to rest after a long day .

Sham gave his Mum and Dad a big hug and said ,’

”Thanks for the best holiday ever . I love you “

As he went into his room , he looked out the window at the ocean and listened to the sound of the waves crashing down on the shore .Then he heard music that came out of the sea . It was like a piper playing a tune . It was so peaceful and made Sham relax . The wind started to sing a song .

Come away Sham , to the place where no ones ever been ,come away now lets go and see the things no one has seen .

End - Part 1 

Part 2

https://www.abctales.com/story/mcscraic/adventures-little-sham-chapter-4...

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