Juan and Voirrey took a walk together,
to stretch their legs and enjoy the weather.

They shared the skeet and the latest news.
They wandered around, enjoying the views.

They stayed on the paths, like anyone should,
And soon they came to an old Manx wood,

The ground was soft with moss and leaves,
And the light shone bright between the trees.

Then Voirrey looked down and gave a loud gasp,
For there by the track, in the mud and the grass,

A heel and five toes, what a surprise,
A print of a foot, and look at the size!

She placed her own foot by the side to compare
And shouted to Juan to see what was there

So Juan hurried over, as quick as he could.
What made a footprint like that in the wood?

They hurried ahead, both eager to see,
What else they could find, a Manx mystery!

A left and a right, each massive and clear,
The tracks of a creature stomping through here.

They followed the trail, and there on the ground,
Were branches and twigs all scattered around.

But what of the creature that left these behind?
They looked and they looked, but there was no sign.

Then a great GRRRRRUMBLE rolled through the air.
It didn’t sound friendly, it gave them a scare.

Soon it was followed by a great ROOOOOAAAAR.
That sounded louder, and scared them some more.

The leaves gave a tremble. The birds left the ground.
Everything shaken by that terrible sound

Voirrey and Juan looked at each other.
HIDE! they both cried, at once, and together.

They jumped to the side and crouched down low,
And peered through the leaves, because they MUST know.

What sort of creature made such a sound?
And left all those strange prints in the ground?

The children just stared, not believing their eyes.
It was hairy and scary and oh what a size!

The monster before them was not cute and not sweet.
It had tusks. It had fur. and enormous bare feet!

But strangest of all, wasn’t any of that.
It was all of the things piled on its back.

A mattress, a pillow, a blanket, stacked up,
A pot and a basket, with a spoon and a cup

The creature walked past, all cautious and slow.
The children were watching, to see where he’d go.

Then out of the silence CRACK went a stick.
And the creature spun round remarkably quick.

It stared at the bushes. Where the greenery shook.
It took a step nearer. It bent down to look.

It slowly reached out, looking to find,
What the bushes were hiding, what was hidden behind.

Voirrey and Juan both gave a yell,
But the creature above them, it did as well.

It jumped back in fright and the weight of its pack,
Nearly pulled the poor creature, flat on its back.

The three of them stared, right at each other,
Not saying a word, or running for cover.

Then slowly at first, an idea in his head,
I know who you are, Juan then said.

You’re the Buggane, in the story they tell,
Who tore off the roof of the church and its bell.

The Buggane looked down and clasped his hands.
Yes, he said softly. But you don’t understand.

And the look in his eyes, was just something so sad,
The children both knew he couldn’t be bad.

They looked at the mattress strapped to his back,
the pillow, the blanket, the basket and sack.

Why, Voirrey asked, do you have all that stuff?
Because, said Buggane, I left in a rush.

But I’m tired of hiding. Staying out of view.
I’m tired of moving. I need somewhere new.

Buggane sat down and leant on a tree,
Pulled up his legs, his arms hugged his knees.

I’ll tell you the story, if you want to hear,
Of what really happened. There’s nothing to fear.

The children sat down eager to listen.
This was some skeet, they wouldn’t be missin’

This is my tale, he began to say,
Of what really happened that terrible day

I already know what is said by the folk
The people who built the church that I broke.

St Trinian’s it was, the place by the hill.
The perfect spot, all peaceful and still.

It was my home, I’d lived there for years,
Wonderfully quiet, no noise in my ears.

But then people came and they started to build.
They hammered and shouted, and I wasn’t thrilled.

And then one day there came such a sound,
Someone ringing a bell, so loud all around.

It rang and it rang and it rang and it rang.
CLANGITY-CLANGITY-CLANGITY-CLANG!

Now for weeks I’d not slept. Not a wink. Not a jot.
So I went there that night to get it to stop.

To lift the bell down and put it somewhere.
Just for some sleep, it seemed only fair.

But when I climbed up, it wasn’t my plan,
The whole of the roof came away in my hands.

I know what I did, I know it was wrong,
But I never knew that I was so strong

And the people who came, they stared at the rubble,
then they all began shouting, I was in trouble.

I showed them the bell, I offered to mend it.
But the more that I tried the more that I bent it.

They chased me with sticks and they chased me with stones.
They chased me away from the place I’d called home.

Nobody asked me what had happened that night.
Nobody asked me which story was right.

They made up those stories of a horrible beast,
in tales that are told, in the west and the east

So I have to keep hiding, to the forests I keep,
Moving around and trying to sleep.

I wandered the island, looking for peace.
Looking for somewhere, somewhere to sleep

But wherever I went, somebody would say,
'A BUGGANE! A BUGGANE!' and chase me away.

I’ve lost my own place and the comfort it brings
I just wander around, bringing my things

So up goes the mattress, the blanket, the sack,
the pot and the pillow all onto my back.

The children looked sad, as they heard his story.
We’ll help you, they said, we don’t want you to worry.

We’ll find you some place, we’ll find you some peace.
We’ll find you a home, just wait and see!

So off went the children, back up the track,
And Buggane went with them, his things on his back.

But if they’d looked back, what would they see?
The footprints they left, not one but now three.

The first place they found was a hollow old tree.
Now THIS, Voirrey said, looks perfect to me.

The Buggane squeezed in, first his head, then his chin.
It isn’t too bad. And it’s out of the wind,

But then from the tree came a CHEEP loud and shrill.
Three tiny birds in a nest that they filled.

Oh dear, said Buggane. They were here first.
And out of the tree he slowly reversed.

They stopped by a river, all peaceful and deep.
Now surely, said Juan, here’s where you can sleep.

Buggane looked around, at both river banks,
This looks quite nice, he said with a thanks.

Then QUACK went a duck flapping its wings
And Buggane quickly grabbed, all of his things.

Up went the mattress, the blanket, the sack,
the pot and the pillow all onto his back.

The children both said, no need to despair
We’ll keep on looking, we’ll find somewhere.

They walked and they walked and they hunted until,
Look there, pointed Juan, a cave on that hill.

The Buggane went in to the place that they’d found.
It seemed so quiet, there was no one around.

Down came the mattress, the blanket, the sack,
The pot and the pillow all off his back.

Buggane settled down, a smile in his eyes
It was a wonderful place, just the right size

He lay down to rest and relax until when,
A drip hit his nose, then it happened again

He squirmed and he shifted, across the cave floor
But DRIP fell the drops, again, and once more.

So up went the mattress, the blanket, the sack,
the pot and the pillow onto his back.

They walked through the evening. They walked up a glen.
They searched through the woodland again and again.

They thought about castles, and towers and wheels
They thought about hills and beaches and fields.

They thought as they walked, and then thought some more
But they still had no answers, just as before

At last poor Buggane sat down with a sigh.
I knew it was hopeless. I really did try.

But Voirrey was thinking…. I’ve had an idea.
I know somewhere, it’s not far from here.

It’s up in the hills, away from the track.
Nobody’s lived there for years and years back.

An old little house, but there’s one awkward truth,
The walls should be fine, but it’s missing its roof.

A tholtan! cried Juan. That’s just the right place.
We’ll show you, he said, with a smile on his face.

They found the old tholtan as moonlight appeared,
half hidden by nature, where nobody neared.

The Buggane stepped inside and looked all around.
He listened and listened. Not even a sound.

The windows were empty, the doorway was bare,
One wall was crumbling, but he could repair.

So down came the mattress, the blanket, the sack,
The pot and the pillow all off his back.

He placed them around him, in his new home
The Buggane was happy, no more would he roam

Then he lay down, in his new bed.
Goodnight, Voirrey whispered. Sleep well, Juan said.

They tiptoed away into the night,
while the moon shone above, all silvery light

Then a thunderous sound came without warning
The Buggane was asleep, but WOW he was snoring!