The Boggarts of Boggart Hole Clough

     “Nathan! Wake up! Nathan! Wake up!”

“Arrgh. Shurrup Ruby”.

“Come on Nathan, its time to get up. Dad’s waiting.”

“Oh gosh, I forgot!” Nathan jumped out of bed and threw off his pyjamas. “Goin’ fishin’, goin’ fishin’,” he muttered to himself as he got dressed, and ran downstairs into the kitchen where Ruby was already half way through her breakfast.

“Where’s mine?” he demanded.

“Get your own.” answered Ruby.

“Stop arguing you two,” said Dad, plonking a bowl of cereal in front of Nathan, who looked at it in dismay.

“I didn’t want that. I wanted porridge!” he wailed.

“Well you should have got up earlier then,” said Dad,

“Mum would have made me some porridge.” Nathan grumbled. “Where is she anyway?”

“She’s having a lie-in. She deserves a day off from looking after you two. Now shut up and eat it or we aren’t going anywhere.”

Nathan pulled a face but did as he was told. Ruby got up from the table and put her cereal bowl in the sink.

“I’ve finished,” she smirked, and went outside to where Dad was loading up the car.

“Need any help Dad?” she asked.

“No thanks Ruby,” he replied, “all loaded up now, just waiting for Nathan.”

“Come on Nathan!” shouted Ruby.

“Come on Nathan!” shouted Dad.

“I’m coming!” yelled Nathan, running out waving his bow and arrows. “Can’t go without these”, and he climbed into the car beside Ruby.

“Right,” said Dad, getting into the driver’s seat and shutting the door, “let’s get off before you remember something else you’ve forgotten.”

At last they were on their way, and as they drove down the motorway Nathan asked,

“Where are we going Dad?”

“Boggart Hole Clough” was the reply.

“Why is it called Boggart Hole Clough?” demanded Ruby.

“Because boggarts live there,” answered Dad.

“What’s a boggart?” asked Ruby.

“Don’t you know?” scoffed Nathan. “Everyone knows what a boggart is.”

“Well what is a boggart?” persisted Ruby.

“Boggarts are little people who do mischief,” said Dad.

“What’s mischief?” asked Ruby.

“When you are naughty, and do things, which annoy other people,” answered Dad.

“We did a project on boggarts at school a few weeks ago.” Nathan volunteered, “and we found some information on the Internet about what boggarts do and where they live.”

“And what exactly did you find out?” asked Dad.

“They used to live in bogs and trap people with lamps called bog lights.”

“How did they trap people with lights?” Ruby wanted to know.

 “They waved the lights about at night and people thought they were street lamps and

went towards them and fell in the bog. And drowned.”

Nathan folded his arms and sat back in his seat, pleased with himself at being an authority on boggarts.

“But what did…….” Ruby began.

 “Right!” Dad interrupted.  “We’re here now, so no more questions.” and he swung the car into the car park.

Nathan jumped out first, and shouted “Come on Ruby, I’ll race you to the lake!