Young Storykeeper Volume III

216 | STORYKEEPERS VOLUME III AGE ELEVEN | 217
LEGENDS OF THE LIGHTHOUSE
So here is how it all began. It was just another
ordinary boring day. Bus, school, bus, home!
I walked wearily through the door, kicked off
my boots, laid on the couch and turned on
my favourite film, Annie.
I looked away from the dancing orphans
on the screen as I could overhear my
parents. They were discussing something
that sounded important. Roisin, my twin
sister, was eavesdropping for a bit and told
me everything she heard.
Eventually they came out. Dad said
excitedly, “Roisin, Ciara, we’re going to
move!”
“Yes,” I interrupted. “Wait, where are
we moving to?”
“We’re going to… drum roll please…”
he said, as if he were a host on a game
show. Mum went along with it; Roisin and I
just stared.
“Dad, please,” said Roisin, annoyed.
“We’re going to live in one of the Galley
Head Lighthouse cottages!”
A few weeks later we arrived at Galley
Head lighthouse. Roisin and I chose the
best room - the attic! Surprisingly, it was
bright and very clean. Dad rearranged our
bunk beds while Roisin and I unpacked our
clothes.
Suddenly there was a loud knock on
the door. It was Gerald Butler, the lighthouse
keeper! He marched straight in.
“Hello! Here’s your key, I forgot to give
it to ye,” he said guiltily. “A word of warning.
Don’t go out at night. They’re my final
words.” He skipped out and winked at me
before he left.
“Why can’t we go outside?” I asked my
parents nervously.
“Probably because… as the Irish
say...’tis cold!” Mum said, basically imitating
herself. “It’s almost 8:00pm so you two best
toddle off to bed.”
“Hey, Roisin, do you think there’s
another reason Gerald Butler doesn’t want
us to go outside?” I asked, hugging my
slippers.
“Like what?”
Roisin joked, “The Cookie Monster
stalks the night and he might eat… your
cookies!”
She laughed but I didn’t laugh with her.
I said, “Hey Roisin, let’s be detectives and
stay up late tonight and see what happens.”
“Fine!”
I gathered torches, extra clothes,
swimsuits! You never know when you might
want a midnight swim.
It was one minute till midnight. I was so
excited but nervous. PING! PING!
“Spiders, goblins, dragons, trolls or
devils - take this!” said Roisin, furiously
whacking her hurley everywhere.
“Calm down, silly! It’s just my alarm,” I
said, laughing. We tiptoed downstairs to the
kitchen through the old-fashioned hallway
right to the front door. Roisin tumbled down
the stairs wobbling, bobbing everywhere.
“Finally,” I said. “Let’s go!”
I pushed the door open; Roisin
immediately fought the air. I walked away
and she followed, realising how stupid she
looked. I heard a distant noise. I closed my
ears.
“Mmm mmm,” said the voice.
I’m not sure whether I could hear it, but
it sounded like singing.
“The water!” screamed Roisin.
“Someone’s there!” She sounded terrified.
“Maybe they’re sick. We should leave!”
“No!” I paused. “No way, it’s a mermaid!”
“A what?!” Roisin blinked endlessly. It
had beautiful greenish blue scaled tail and
her blue face shone in the moonlight. “Ciara,
that’s not the only weird thing!”
Roisin pointed to the sky, which was
covered with unicorns and pegasuses. The
hills were alive with white wolves, fauns,
leprechauns and many more mythical Irish
creatures.
“Awesome!” I said, jumping.
“This is crazy!” said Roisin, almost
crying. Unexpectedly an ear-piercing
screech filled the air.
“Everyone, cover your ears!” said the
little faun ducking into the bush.
“What?” Roisin and I said.
The mermaid yanked us in and kept
us there until someone yelled that the coast
was clear.
“What’s your name?” I asked eagerly.
“Aoife,” she said elegantly spinning.
“Mine’s Ciara and my sister is Roisin.
What about you, little faun?” I asked, seeking
answers and totally forgetting the danger.
“Sean,” he said, prancing about.
“Well, Sean, Aoife - what is happening
here?” asked Roisin.
“Well, we come out at midnight but
must return to our homes by sunrise,” said
Sean, collecting little bluebells. Aoife stared
at him sadly nodding.
“Or ask the light keeper to point the
light of the lighthouse at those crystals,” she
pointed toward the rocks near the edge of
the water. “It guides us to our homes.”
“What crystals?” I asked excitedly.
She snatched the torch from my hands and
shined it on the rocks which now appeared
to look like crystals.
“Don’t ask, it’s just magic! However,
try not to listen to the dragon song or you’ll
fall into a deep sleep,” Aoife said.
I forgot all about Roisin and ran toward
the lighthouse. I shoved the door open and
called Gerald Butler’s name. “Gerald, we
need you! There are mythical creatures
and…” Gerald cut me off.
“Yeah, I know. It’ll all stop in the morning,
just go back to bed,” he said, turning over on
his other side.
“What if the dragon or the goblins run
off to other parts of Ireland and everyone
falls asleep!” I cried.
“Fine!” Gerald said grumpily. “I’ll go to
the lighthouse while you distract the dragon,
But tell me, did you bring anyone with you?”
“Well…” I said, looking down at the
ground.
“Ciara!” yelled Sean and Aoife. “Come
quick!”
“No!” I yelled.
“It’s your sister! She forgot to cover her
ears and now she’s frozen to stone,” said
Sean crying. “The only way to save her is to
kill the dragon.”
“Wait, I brought my headphones with
me. They’re in my bag,” I said, relieved.
“And they’ll help…?” Gerald said,
annoyed.
“They’ll block out the dragon’s singing!”
I said, frustrated. I sprinted but Gerald
grabbed me.
“Take my pocket knife, you could use
this to kill it,” he said.
I scrambled up the hill whilst listening to
the song “This Is The Greatest Show.”
ran up the dragon’s tail and dug the knife
into the dragon’s throat.
“This is the greatest show!” I sang
whilst sliding down the dragon’s back.
Roisin gradually opened her eyes. “I’m
alive,” she said, running awkwardly that she
almost toppled over me.
“I was so worried!” I said.
“Well, that was one great adventure to
tell to our kids someday!” she said.
“Never forget us!” said Sean.
“We’re always here in case you want to
party at night!” explained Aoife. She floated
away whilst scuba dive dancing, wiggling like
jelly.
“We won’t forget you!” I shouted. “This
was the best night of my life! How could I
ever forget it!”
Saoirse-Joy
O’Sullivan
Co Cork & Bahrain