Young Storykeeper Volume III

102 | STORYKEEPERS VOLUME III AGE NINE | 103
SIMON SALMON’S GREAT
ESCAPE
Once upon a time there was a fish named
Simon, Simon Salmon. He was very skinny
and clever and everybody liked him. One day
four fishermen named John, Scott, Fred and
George went fishing near Hook Lighthouse
in Co. Wexford. They were in Scott’s boat.
It wasn’t big - about the size of a cow.
Meanwhile, Simon Salmon and friends
were having a party where every fish from all
over Ireland came. They were having great
fun. They were singing:
“Baby Shark, do, do, do, do.
Baby Shark, do, do, do, do.”
Meanwhile, the fishermen leaned over
the side of the boat and peered into the
water. Their eyes couldn’t believe how many
fish were there, never before had they seen
so many fish. They cast out their fishing rods
with juicy bait on them.
Lucy Cod fish saw the fishing boat and
swam as fast as she could to find Simon
Salmon and his friends to warn them about
the fishing boat.
Eventually she got to Simon Salmon
and his friends. She told Simon about the
fishermen peering into the water. A fish
named Bob asked, “What will we do?”
Simon Salmon said, “I don’t know.”
All of a sudden - plop! A hook with a big
juicy worm drifted by Simon Salmon’s nose.
Simon was very hungry, he hadn’t eaten
all day. He was even thinking of eating the
WORM! And then there was another plop!
And another and another! There were four
juicy worms, waiting to be eaten. Simon
Salmon, the clever salmon he was, started
to question whether he was dreaming or not.
Then the last worm and hook got caught in
his tail, Simon Salmon realised it wasn’t a
dream and took fright. Simon wondered
where he could be safe, so he headed for the
rocks around Hook Lighthouse. Meanwhile,
the hook on his tail got tighter and tighter
the fisherman in the boat realised he had a
bite on his line and started to pull, Simon
screamed for help. Lucy Cod fish saw what
happened and alerted the other fish at the
party. All the other fish swam to help Simon
Salmon. The fish were pushing and the
fisherman was pulling, like underwater tug
of war. Something had to give!
There was a twang on the line as the
hook ripped Simon Salmon’s tail causing
the fisherman to land on his bum in the
boat. Meanwhile poor Simon Salmon had
a horrible slit in his tail, but he kept heading
for the lighthouse and still today he lives in
the safety of a cave near Hook Lighthouse.
Scott Pringle
Co Wicklow
JOSH AND LEO THE LIGHTHOUSE
Josh loved lighthouses. Whether they were
big lighthouses or small lighthouses, round
lighthouses or crumbled lighthouses, he just
loved them.
On the day our story begins, Josh was
going fishing with his dad. “Look, Dad!” he
shouted. “I caught a big mackerel!”
“Put it in the bucket with the others,”
said his dad. “We will head out to a different
spot on the peninsula and get more fish.”
As they headed out, Josh noticed
something. “Look, Dad! Was that lighthouse
always there?”
“I haven’t seen it before,” replied his
dad, “but I’m sure it’s always been there.”
At dinner time, Josh didn’t eat any of
his food. “Josh. Eat up. Look at your baby
sister Maggie. She’s only two and she’s
already finished her dinner,” said his mum.
“I’m not hungry!” snapped Josh. He
couldn’t stop thinking about the lighthouse
he’s seen earlier that day. Had it always
been there?
That night Josh couldn’t sleep. He had to
visit the lighthouse. He had to see that it
was real. When he heard both his parents
snoring, Josh snuck out of the house and
headed down to the cliffs. Yup, there it was.
The lighthouse.
Josh stayed there for a while admiring
the lighthouse until he turned round to go
home.
“No, no – stay, child,” said a voice.
Josh turned round, startled . It was
nearly 2am. Who would be out
this late?
“It’s me, the lighthouse. I’m
talking to you. I’m Leo, right?
Okay? Don’t be frightened. I just
moved here yesterday evening.
It’s a lovely town, you are lucky to
live in such a fine spot.
What is your name by the way,
young man?”
“Josh, Josh O’ Brien. I love
lighthouses. It’s a pleasure to
meet one that actually talks!”
replied Josh.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you
too, young man,” said Leo the
Lighthouse. “I think you should
run along home now and come
back and visit me tomorrow.”
“Josh! Josh ! Wake up!” said
Josh’s mother the next morning.
“Remember , we are going to the
beach today.” Josh got dressed,
gobbled down his breakfast and
followed his family to the beach.
When they got there, Josh
pointed at the lighthouse. “Dad,
Mum, Maggie, that lighthouse
can talk! Come on, Leo, say
‘hello’ to my family.”
Leo winked at Josh but
roared at his family.
“I can’t hear anything,” said
Dad.
“Me neither,” said Mum.
It took Josh a while to figure out that
only he could hear and see Leo had been
alive. Leo and Josh continued to be friends
forever. When Josh was older, he was Leo’s
lighthouse keeper and his story keeper.
Everyone should have their own
lighthouse!
Kelly-May Cogan Flynn
Co Sligo