Young Storykeeper Volume III

98 | STORYKEEPERS VOLUME III AGE NINE | 99
Aidan McElligott
Co Kerry & Co Cork
AIDAN’S LIGHTHOUSE STORY
Aidan got up at 6am. It was a beautiful sunny day in Asdee. Aidan and his
dog Ted were going to work on the lighthouse.
The lighthouse was down on the rocks by the sea. It was painted red
and white and the light shone brightly to warn ships and their crew to keep
away from the rocks. In the summertime tourists would come from all over to
walk along the path to the lighthouse.
During a bad storm, the sea had swept away most of the path and
now the lighthouse was cut off from the mainland. Jackie, the lighthouse
keeper, was worried that he wouldn’t have any visitors if Aidan didn’t fix
the path. Aidan’s job today was to repair the path so that the visitors could
visit Jackie and enjoy this lighthouse.
After a good breakfast of eggs for himself and dog sausage for Ted,
Aidan jumped in his mini-digger. With Ted behind him, Aidan switched to
fast track and was off to the lighthouse. In no time at all the path was
mended and Aidan went to have a cup of tea and a chat with Jackie, who was
polishing the big brass bell that warned ships to stay away when the weather
was foggy and they couldn’t see the light.
Aidan and Jackie sat and had tea and chocolate biscuit cake and talked
about how busy it was going to be during the holidays and what a good job
Aidan and his mini-digger had done. Jackie gave Ted a bone for being the
best dog ever. It was getting dark when Aidan and Ted said goodbye and
woof woof to Jackie and jumped in their mini-digger and headed home.
That night there was a big storm. The wind
howled and growled, the rain lashed against
the lighthouse and lightning struck the top
of the lighthouse and the light crashed into
the sea below. There was no light to warn
the ship and so it foundered on the rocks
and the sailors all had to scramble up to
the lighthouse for safety.
Next morning Aidan and Ted went to see
if the path had held up during the storm. They
were very surprised to see a ship on the rocks
and even more surprised to see that the light
on the lighthouse was gone. No wonder the
ship had ran aground, the lighthouse could
not do its job properly without it light. Aidan
was very worried and made his way towards
the lighthouse to see if he could help.
Much to his delight he saw Jackie
the keeper and the crew making their
way along the path that he and Ted had
made.
“Good job, Aidan,” said Jackie.
“Yes, good job,” said the sailors.
THE UNUSUAL PIRATE
Once upon a time there lived a pirate named Peg Leg Sam. He was tall, evil and
a bit of a genius. He was also rich and wore very nice clothes. Peg Leg Sam lived
on his pirate boat with his parrot named Polly. He hadn’t any crew but he did have
ten guinea pigs.
One day he saw a big ship going to London, so Peg Leg Sam and his crew
of ten guinea pigs sailed very sneakily up behind the ship. Peg Leg Sam got on
and stole the Ruby of the Nile, which was a present for the queen of England,
Queen Victoria. Peg Leg Sam got back on his boat and they made their escape
with the ruby.
George, the eldest guinea pig, was at the wheel of the boat trying to navigate
the Atlantic Ocean, but, as he couldn’t see over the wheel (because he was only
thirty centimetres tall), he couldn’t see where they were going. They crashed into
rocks off West Cork, under Galley Head Lighthouse. The Galley Head Lighthouse
had been built in 1875 and had the most powerful lighthouse light in the world.
When Peg Leg Sam discovered where they had crashed, he decided to climb
up the rocks up to the lighthouse. It was really difficult climbing the rocks as he
had a wooden leg, but he was helped up with his guinea pig crew.
Eventually they got up to the grass and climbed over the wall surrounding the
lighthouse. They made their way silently to the lighthouse and the cottages beside
it. It was the middle of the night and the only thing that shone was the light from
the lighthouse, even the moon was covered over with cloud.
Peg Leg Sam decided they might try to see what there was to steal at the
lighthouse and see if they could fix their boat. They saw a man, the lighthouse
keeper, walking over to the lighthouse so they decided to go and speak to him. He
seemed a kind man, and Peg Leg Sam changed his mind about stealing and he
asked if he could borrow some tools to fix his boat.
The lighthouse keeper began talking to him and asked Peg Leg Sam if he
would like a job, helping him work the lighthouse. Peg Leg Sam decided robbing
wasn’t for him anymore and decided to become good and work for the lighthouse
keeper, of course with his crew the ten guinea pigs. Peg Leg Sam became Sam
the Lighthouse Keeper, his guinea pig crew became the best keepers of the light
and Polly the Parrot became known for her warning calls in the fog.
THE END.
PS The ruby was returned to Queen Victoria but are the corgis - large guinea pigs?
And does Peg Leg Sam have all his guinea pigs?!
THE END END.
William Pringle
Co Wicklow