Island for Sale

There  are  many  islands  in  the  sea  near  Scotland.  This  story  is  about  one  of  these  islands.  The  name  of  the  island  is  Lana.  Lana  isn't  big,  but  it's  very  beautiful.  It's  very  quiet  too.

There  are  no  houses  or  roads  or  cars  on  Lana.  But  there's  a  castle.  The  castle  is  very  old.  A  young  Scotsman  lives  in  the  castle.  The  Scots  's  name  is  Duncan  McTavish.

Duncan  lives  in  the  castle  with  his  dog,  Jock.  Jock.  Duncan  is  very  happy  on  his  island.  He  likes  going  for  walks  with  Jock.  He  likes  swimming  and  fishing  in  his  little  boat.

There  are  many  big  rooms  in  Duncan's  castle.  They  have  a  lot  of  old  things  in  them.  Pictures  and  heavy  tables,  chairs  and  beds.  In  winter,  the  castle  is  very  cold  and  dark.  Duncan  puts  on  a  lot  of  electric  lights  in  all  the  rooms.

One  Monday  morning  in  April,  Duncan  gets  a  letter.  What's  this?  He  asks.  He  opens  the  letter.  It's  from  the  electricity  company.

Duncan  reads.  Electricity  from  October  to  March  5000.  Old  Duncan  says.  I  haven't  got  S  5000.  What  can  I  do?

He's  very  unhappy.  I  can  do  only  one  thing  sell  my  island  in  my  castle.  Duncan  telephones  a  man  in  London.  The  man's  name  is  Mr.  Moneybags.

Mr.  Moneybags  sells  houses  and  castles.  And  castles.  I  want  to  sell  my  island  in  my  castle,  Duncan  says.  Okay,  Mr.

Moneybags  says.  Two  days  later,  he  telephones  Duncan.  Leaping  Larry  wants  to  buy  your  island,  he  says.  Leaping,  he  says.  Leaping?

Duncan  asks.  Leaping  Larry.  You  know,  the  famous  American  rock  star.  He  wants  to  buy  your  island  for  his  girlfriend.  A  rock  star?

Duncan  says.  Oh.  He  wants  to  see  the  island  tomorrow  afternoon,  Mr.  Moneybag  says.  Is  that  okay,  Herb?

Yes,  Duncan  says.  Yes,  of  course.  Laping.  Larry  and  his  girlfriend  are  coming  to  the  island  by  helicopter.  They're  very  late.

Duncan  and  Jock  wait  a  long  time.  Then  the  helicopter  arrives.  A  tall  man  with  long  dark  hair  gets  down  from  it.  He's  about  45  years  old.  There's  a  girl  with  him.

She's  about  20  and  has  long  yellow  hair.  There's  a  small  animal  with  her.  The  animal  has  long  white  hair.  Hi,  the  man  says.  Hi,  the  man  says.

I'm  Leaping  Larry.  And  this  is  my  girlfriend,  Roxanne.  Hi,  Roxanne  said.  This  is  my  dog,  Bobo.  Larry  looks  at  the  castle.

Look  at  that  old  castle,  Roxanne,  he  says.  Don't  you  love  it,  honey?  Roxanne  doesn't  smile.  It's  only  an  old  castle.  Leaping  Larry  and  Roxanne  go  into  the  castle.

It's  very  dark.  Leaping  Larry  can't  see.  He  falls  down.  Where  are  the  lights?  He  asks.

I'm  sorry,  Duncan  says.  There  isn't  any  light.  The  company  stopped  my  electricity  this  morning.  I  want  some  hot  food,  Roxanne  says.  I'm  sorry,  Duncan  says,  but  I  can't  make  hot  food.

I  haven't  gotten  the  electricity.  But  there  is  some  cold  food.  Cold  food?  Roxanne  says.  No,  thank  you.

I'm  going  to  bed.  But  first  I  want  a  hot  bath.  And  Bobo  wants  a  bath  too.  I'm  very  sorry,  Duncan  says.  But  there's  no  hot  water.

No  lights,  no  food.  No  hot  water.  Roxanne  says,  I  don't  like  this  place.  Now,  honey,  leaping  larry  says.  Don't  call  me  honey,  Roxanne  says.

Let's  go,  Bobo.  Roxanne  and  Bobo  go  to  bed.  Larry  and  Duncan  eat  cold  food  and  talk.  Jock  watches  them.  Suddenly,  Roxanne  screams.

Duncan,  Larry  and  Jock  run  to  her  room.  Roxanne  is  in  bed  with  Bobo.  Honey,  what's  wrong?  Larry  asks.  There  was  a  noise  in  the  room,  Roxanne  said.

What  was  it?  Duncan  starts  to  smile.  Why  are  you  smiling?  Roxanne  says.  She's  very  angry.

Look  at  Jock,  Duncan  says.  Jock  is  under  the  bed.  He  has  a  mouse  in  his  mouth.  A  mouse  in  his  mouth?  A  mouse,  roxanne  says.

She  screams  again.  In  the  morning,  Duncan  and  Leaping  Larry  are  waiting.  Roxanne  and  Bobo  are  late.  They  get  up  at  11:00.  Good  morning,  Duncan  says.

Roxanne  doesn't  answer.  She  says  to  Larry,  larry,  I  don't  like  this  place.  I  want  to  go  home.  But,  honey,  Larry  says,  don't  call  me  honey,  roxanne  says.  This  castle  is  old,  dark  and  very  cold.

There's  no  electricity,  no  food  and  no  hot  water.  And  I  don't  like  it.  Do  you  understand?  Listen,  honey,  Harry  says.  We  can  build  a  big  new  house  here.

Our  friends  from  California  can  come  and  stay.  Duncan  looks  at  Jock.  Jock  looks  at  Jock.  Jock  looks  at  Duncan.  Build  a  big  new  house,  they  think.

Oh,  no.