An Orkney Short Story: Exploring with the Elephants

In 2022, for Scotland’s Year of Stories, NorthLink Ferries ran a competition for adults and children, with prizes for the best short story set in Orkney or Shetland. This winning Orkney tale, written by Catriona Stevenson aged 10, stars three elephant brothers discovering the treasures of Orkney!

Once there lived three Elephant brothers called Fuddley, Alfred and Huggady. It was the first day of the summer holidays and the three elephants packed their bags for their holiday in Orkney.

Suddenly Fuddley the elephant heard a noise. It was a piece of paper falling from the roof of St Magnus Cathedral. It was a treasure map.

It was time to go so they caught the bus just on time. After a few long hours they reached the Ferry terminal. They all boarded the ferry and had some snacks. At 4:00 pm they had found themselves in Orkney.

Fuddley, Alfred and Huggady all went to the beach to play. It was getting late so they went home. They were staying in Skaill cottage.

In the morning the three elephants got ready for a trip to St. Magnus Cathedral with Gerald the tour Guide.

Gerald came and drove them to Kirkwall. When they got there, they went to the Judith Glue café. After a drink they visited the cathedral. There were lots of interesting things in there. They listened to the story of St. Magnus and his cousin. There were markings on all the bricks and lots of patterns on the rugs.

Suddenly Fuddley heard a noise. It was a piece of paper falling from the roof. It was a treasure map.

Gerald told the elephants he would take them to Hoy the next day. The elephants all decided to go tomorrow.

The next day Gerald came to collect the three elephants from Skaill cottage. They took a look at the map and saw that they had to sail to Hoy from Houton. They drove to Houton and caught the ferry to Hoy. The elephants were astonished by the beautiful view of the sea from the ferry.

The ferry was approaching Lyness on Hoy. When they all got off the ferry, they started to explore the island.

When they wandered further onto the island, they met three frogs called Tady, Toady and Fergus. They were looking for the treasure too.

The frogs were determined to find the treasure before the others so they rushed off before the elephants could even talk to them.

The elephants headed off to find the treasure. It took hours to reach the location of treasure but they kept on going.

Soon they came to a beautiful beach with sea as clear as glass. The elephants saw no sign of the frogs they met earlier on. Fuddley found some rocks in a cross shape. That must’ve been the cross on the treasure map.

The three elephants got out their spades and dug a big hole. Huggady’s spade hit something hard. It was a treasure chest. They all helped lift the treasure chest out of the hole.

Soon the frogs come over sadly because they didn’t find the treasure first. Alfred fold them they can share the treasure with them.

So they all made friends.

The End

By Catriona Stevenson aged 10

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