Young Storykeeper Volume III

210 | STORYKEEPERS VOLUME III AGE ELEVEN | 211
Hannah Shanahan
Delaney
Co Dublin
THE MERMAID OF SAPPHIRE
ISLAND
As the night grew, Mum was finishing up
Oliver’s bedtime story.
“One last one, please, Mum!’’ Oliver
pleaded.
“Just one more, then lights out,’’ Mum
told Oliver.
Oliver pulled his duvet towards him and
looked at Mum.
“On a cold winter’s night on Sapphire
Island a man named John was working in the
lighthouse. The island got its name because
the water surrounding it shines like sapphire.
John was doing some light reading when he
heard someone singing beautifully. He could
not believe his ears. It was most the beautiful
singing he had ever heard in his twenty-five
years on Planet Earth. He froze in shock.
Then he turned the lighthouse light in the
direction of the singing. He could not believe
his eyes! He saw a breathtakingly beautiful
mermaid. She had wavy, brunette hair, with
dark skin and lips, and when she opened her
eyes to look at her audience, it could make
anyone feel dizzy, with teeth like pearls. She
had a green tail, with a matching shell top
and tiara. She was sitting gracefully on a
rock. John felt a strange, yet strong urge to
get closer to her.
“With no more thought, he climbed
down the lighthouse ladder, tore off his
heavy clothing and boots and dove into the
sea. He was freezing but her singing and
beauty numbed him. As he was approaching
the rock, her song came to a graceful end.
“’Hello, I am Princess Oceania of the
Sapphire Sea,’ the mermaid said in a voice
like an angel. ‘I can give you what your heart
desires. You may not know what that is, but
I truly do.”
John opened his mouth to speak but
she put her soft finger to his lips before any
words could come out of his mouth.
““Shhhh, my dear. Just take my hand
and your own paradise awaits.”
“She grabbed his hand and they floated
into the air. John opened his eyes, and he
saw that they were in a rainbow tunnel.
“Suddenly, he was on a tropical island,
wearing a Hawaiian shirt, shorts and flipflops.
He was drinking from a coconut, with
a little umbrella and straw in it. In his other
hand was the woman of his dreams. She
had blue eyes, pearly teeth, an angelic smile
with shiny golden hair. She was so beautiful.
It was their wedding tomorrow. He was
surrounded by friends and family.
“John was even happier when he saw
his dog, Django. Everyone, including himself
and his fiancée, Sophie, lived on the island.
They did not have to go to work or pay taxes.
John looked up into the cloudless sky, and
Princess Oceania was there.
“Legend has it, anyone lucky enough
to work on Sapphire Island Lighthouse got
to meet Princess Oceania and receive her
amazing gift.”
As Mum finished the story, she looked
up to find Oliver was already asleep.
“Well, it was fun in those days when
I was a magical mermaid princess,” Mum
sighed. “Goodnight Oliver.”
THE MYSTERY AT BOATSTRAND
LIGHTHOUSE
The school bus pulled up outside Boatstrand
Lighthouse. Libbie, Bobby and Dale jumped
out. They were finally home after a long day
at school. They ran up to the lighthouse
door and pushed against the old wood. They
skipped up the swirly stone steps and burst
into the kitchen.
“Kittens?” called Libbie, looking around.
“Where are the kittens?”
“How am I supposed to know?” shouted
Bobby.
Bobby was Libbie’s old brother and
was always in a bad mood.
“Now, now. No need to panic,” said
Dale, pushing in between Libbie and Bobby.
Just then, two little fluffy faces peeked
out from behind the fridge.
“Everest, Crystal!” cried Libbie.
She pushed Bobby out of her way as
she ran to rub them.
“Ow!” Bobby rubbed his arm.
“Guys, have you started homework?”
asked Mum, walking into the kitchen.
“Erm… no,” said Bobby, trying to hide
his school bag behind his back.
Mum pointed at the stairs.
“I’m going. I’m going,” he said as he
dragged his school bag up the stairs.
“You too, Dale. I expect homework
done by the time I get back from the shop,”
Mum said as she pointed at Dale.
“Mum! Teacher says it’s RUDE to
point,” said Dale, disappearing up the stairs
after Bobby.
“Boys these days,” laughed Libbie. “I
was SOOO good, Mr Pender gave me no
homework. So, I’m going to play with the
kittens instead.”
Libbie ran off grinning.
As mum was leaving, she heard Bobby
shouting,
“Libbie! Don’t throw the kittens’ wool
out the window and onto the grass!”
“I didn’t! Everest did. Go grab it,
kittens,” said Libbie.
The kittens ran out the door, following
the ball of wool.
Bobby started unpacking his school
bag and sighed. He hated homework. He
picked up his schoolbooks and threw them
out of the window, hitting the garden shed
with a bang.
Libbie came into the room crying, “I’ve
looked everywhere for the kittens. I can’t
find them anywhere!!”
“Come on, let’s go find them,” said
Dale, putting his arm around her.
They looked all through the house.
Libbie started screaming, “We’ll never
find them! They’re lost! Lost forever!”
“When was the last time you saw
them?” asked Bobby.
“When Libbie threw their wool out of
the window!” cried Dale at the thought that
the kittens were lost.
“Oh, I’m bored. I’m going to play football
outside,” said Bobby, running outside.
Libbie and Dale followed, to check the
garden for the kittens. Libbie’s face was
soaked from crying and her eyes were red.
“They’re not here,” cried Libbie.
Dale walked on the sand, dodging
Bobby’s ball coming towards his face. As
he ducked, the ball flew past his head and
hit the shed window. There was a shocked
silence as the glass shattered. A minute of
silence passed until a paw appeared at the
broken window. A second paw appeared,
then two more.
Libbie laughed in joy.
“Guys! Everest and Crystal were in the
shed. Bobby’s ball saved them!”
ANGEL OF THE SEA
Black sea
Cold
Frothing with anger and rage
I’m terrified
I can’t see anything
The wind and the crashing waves drown out
all the sound
White robed
Warm
Dependable bright halo of white light
I’m saved
The rocks are not so menacing when you
know where they are
The light will guide us - no words are
necessary
It’s like a traffic light in the sea
An angel
The big pulse of bright light
A symbol of hope and strength
The tall tower that saved me
How many over lives has she saved?
The unsung hero
Where land and sea meet.
Alannah Richards
Co Waterford
Lola Meyer
Co Antrim