I saw The Loch Ness Monster
My hands trembled but somehow I kept the charcoal moving on the paper. There she was playing with her beach ball! She had no idea that I was there, on the bank, sketching the early morning view across the loch.
The monster was not at all as I imagined for she was only about twelve feet in length and her long ears gave her the appearance of a large spaniel. The Irish connection suddenly dawned on me for she looked like an oversized Irish Water Spaniel, a breed of great antiquity. Every inch of her body was covered in chocolate brown ringlets except for her pretty face and long fishlike tail. These were smooth and hairless.
Monsters play like dogs. This one was tossing her green and white spotted ball in the air and chasing after, as it floated on the water. Suddenly I froze, spellbound – the ball landed a few feet away from where I was sitting. The creature strained upwards to reach it. That was when I made my mistake – I stared into her eyes and that caused fear between us. With one mighty twist she was away across the loch. I never saw her again.
The theory of a deep-water tunnel between the loch and the Irish Sea must be the answer to the mystery. The Irish Water Spaniel did not inherit his intelligence and tight ringlets from the French Poodle, as once was believed. Instead he evolved in true Darwinian style from the famous Loch Ness Monster. Their feeding grounds are in the Irish Sea but in the spring, during the breeding season, they dive down through the water tunnels to the calmness of the loch. It is thought that only one pair survives, seen occasionally by the locals.
The drawing before me on my easel is proof of my vision but I suspect it is not enough to convince you. It is therefore, with regret that I find it necessary to tell the rest of the story: I sat there until nightfall waiting patiently for her to collect her ball but Rosie never returned. Sadly, I made my way home with the spongy green sphere in my art bag.
That evening I sat nursing the ball. I automatically made minute circles with my finger on the soft surface. This action had a calming effect on me and I began to doze in my chair.
Squish! Squelch! I woke to find that I was covered in a green sticky liquid and there amongst the debris I could see a perfectly formed baby monster, squirming like baby monsters do. I have called him Barney O’Too after the Irish Water Spaniel that lived circa 1880. He has grown considerably and will soon outgrow the bath. If you must, you are welcome to come over to see him. By special appointment only!
Note: If you own Field Spaniels like I do, you will know that a long time ago an Irish Water Spaniel was used as a stud in our lines. Reports of ‘monster’ behaviour in the Field Spaniel is quite common!
NOTE: This story is in my book of short stories ‘Dog Tales & Other Gems
