Page 5 of Long Live the King

Lochinvar said, “He is wee, he is the weight of a broadsword.”

Fraoch said, “Ye ken it daena matter, the question is how much does he benchpress?”

Archie and Ben laughed.

Archie joked, “I can lift almost thirty.”

Fraoch said, “Thirty! Och aye, in that case ye will be able tae swing a broadsword, easily, but it will need tae be made of flower petals.”

Once the laughter died down. I said, “So, I’ve been a king for eight years, as the crow flies.”

Isla said, “What does that mean?”

I said, “The crow flies in a straight line, if I follow its path it has been eight years, but if I truly recount how long I hae been a king, the path has been a big loop-the-loop — it feels as if I hae been a king for much longer. But I use Archibald’s age tae mark it — eight years.”

Archie took a bite of his sandwich and chewed thoughtfully. He and Ben were alone on the big raft and it was lackadaisically spinning. Then he asked, “How long do kings usually rule?”

I narrowed my eyes, “I daena ken, tis dependent on war and rules of succession and the length of time the king lives.”

Archie said, “If I am going to be king does that mean you will be...” He whispered, “Dead?”

Fraoch was perched on a small tube, eating his sandwich. “Och nae, this conversation took a dire turn.”

I watched Archie for a moment, tryin’ tae decide what the turn of question meant, but answered truthfully, “Aye, Archibald, if ye are crowned king, I will be gone.”

“That doesn’t seem fair.”

“I ken. Fortunately we hae decades tae go afore that happens, I intend tae hae a verra long life.”

“Good.” He looked quietly down at his sandwich. Then said, “Not sure I want to be king if you are gone.”

I nodded. “Well, Archie, life is full of responsibilities, and this is one of them, someday ye will be king, and God willin’, ye will be ready for the challenge.”

Fraoch said, “Of course he will be ready, he already presses thirty! He canna weigh much over four stone, he lifts close tae half his weight. He is goin’ tae be a king of power and glory who all will revere?—!”

Lochinvar jumped from his tube ontae Fraoch’s tube — the tube tipped, Fraoch spun his arms, pretendin’ tae try tae save himself, but slid intae the water, holdin’ his sandwich up above his head. “Saved it!”

Fraoch and Lochinvar both climbed back ontae their tubes and Lochinvar and the boys sang songs as we floated down the current.

A while later, Fraoch scrambled up, pulling his legs from the water and crouched on his tube. “Och!”

Isla said, “Too cold, Uncle Fraoch?”

He looked suspiciously down at the water and around in it in all directions. “Nae, like all good Scotsmen, this brisk temperature is perfect, if yer heart races and yer breath puffs, ye are certain ye are alive and that the summer is upon ye. I was just thinkin’ on what is under the— ” He startled, “Did ye see that?”

Ben said, “Uncle Fraoch, there aren’t gators in the water, we told you that!”

“Aye, but I wonder, Ben, are ye just tellin’ yer uncle a story? Ye ken how I feel about gators, ye might be lyin’ tae me.”

Archie earnestly said, “I wouldneverlie to you.”

“Ye hae stolen m’glorious raft right from under me!”

Archie and Ben laughed.

Fraoch was crouched and his tube was spinning. “Och nae!” He was frantically looking down in the water.

Ben said, “Uncle Fraoch there aren’t any gators, tell him Dad!”

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