Scottish Tale
The cosmogony according to the pupils of the Carlibar, Barrhead primary school
Barrhead, Scotland, 2008
A work guided and directed by the storyteller Gerry Durkin
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A long time ago before the world was born there was an island. The island was called Scotland, and it floated in a sea of magic.One day a seed washed up on the shore of the island. It took root and began to grow very quickly. Soon it had become a large tree, and at the very top grew a beautiful fruit, green, red, yellow and orange. It was a bapporry, the most magical and delicious of all fruits. It tastes of banana, apple, orange and strawberry.
On the island, at a place called Barrhead, there lived a boy and a girl called Jimmy-joe and Heather. They were best friends who did everything together.
Jimmy-joe and Heather were out walking together and saw the new tree. They ran over to it and looked up at the wonderful fruit. As soon as Jimmy-joe saw the bapporry he wanted it, but it was very high in the tree and he was afraid to climb so far.
“Will you climb that tree and bring me that fruit?” he asked Heather.
Heather could see how much her friend wanted the bapporry.
“Certainly,” she replied, and Heather began to climb the tree. It was hard work, and twice Heather slipped and almost fell, but she made it to the top.
“Throw it down,” shouted Jimmy-joe, but Heather was afraid he would drop the fruit and it would be ruined. It looked so delicious she couldn’t resist having a little taste.
“Hey,” shouted Jimmy-joe, and forgetting his fear he began to climb the tree. Soon he was at the top beside Heather and they shared the rest of the fruit. When they were finished eating, Jimmy-joe and Heather noticed that they could see a very long way from the top of the tree. Off in the distance they could see another island.
“I wonder if anyone lives there?” Heather said.
“Let’s go and find out,” replied Jimmy-joe. They went to the shore. As soon as they walked to the waters edge a bridge began to rise from the sea of magic, joining the islands together.
When they got to the other island they met **** and **** who told them their island was called France. They took Heather and Jimmy-joe to the top of a hill from where they could see another island.
“I wonder if anyone lives there.” Heather said.
“Let’s go and find out,” they all agreed.
Another bridge appeared and off they went.
When they got to the other island they met **** and **** who told them their island was called Belgium. They all went to the top of a hill from where they could see another island.
When they got to the other island they met **** and **** who told them their island was called Portugal. They all went to the top of a hill from where they could see another island.
“I wonder if anyone lives there.” Heather said.
“Let’s go and find out,” they all agreed.
Another bridge appeared and off they went.
When they got to the other island they met **** and **** who told them their island was called Hungary. They all went to the top of a hill from where they could see another island. “I wonder if anyone lives there?” said Heather.
“Let’s go and find out,” they all agreed.
Another bridge appeared and off they went.
When they got to the other island they met **** and **** who told them their island was called Italy. They all went to the top of a hill from where they could see another island.
. They took Heather and Jimmy-joe to the top of a hill from where they could see another island.
“I wonder if anyone lives there.” Heather said.
“Let’s go and find out,” they all agreed.
Another bridge appeared and off they went.
When they got to the other island they met **** and **** who told them their island was called Germany.
All the children played happily together, dancing, swapping stories and sharing their toys and games.
“We should have a name for all the islands together,” they decided. “We’ll call them the World,” they agreed and pointing to one another they sang
“I, you, we share the world!”
