Young Storykeeper Volume III

224 | STORYKEEPERS VOLUME III AGE ELEVEN | 225
THE LAST SPLASH
THE LIGHT OF THE LIGHTHOUSE
The lighthouse light is on,
All of the darkness is gone.
We turn this light on,
Before morning dawn
So all boat captains can see.
It’s as bright as the sun
Before Monday’s done
When all of the children are having fun.
The lighthouse light is on
All of the darkness is gone,
We turn this lightning before morning dawn,
So all the boat captains can see.
The light is all bright,
Which goes all through the night
The lighthouse light will light the way
Through all dark times throughout the day.
The lighthouse light is on,
All of the darkness is gone,
We turn this light on,
Before morning dawn
So all boat captains can see.
Lauren Meacle Murray
Co. Westmeath
As I clasped my mum’s long coat, thoughts were racing through my head.
When we arrived at the huge engraved double doors, I walked quickly behind my mum.
I was scared in case someone would see my bad leg.
We were greeted by the headmaster, a messy man, and small in size, with a big long
beard.
He introduced himself as Mr. Holkun. “How are you?” he said, as he held his hand out
ready for me to shake it. I took a step closer to him and shook his hand. When we entered
into the school, he showed us around and led me to my classroom. Mr Holkun knocked on
the door. About a millisecond later, the door swung open. A tall woman with her hair in a big
bun and a dress that was touching the floor walked me into the classroom.
The second I looked around at my class, I knew I was not welcome in the school.
I had only just moved to this seaside village a few months ago because my mum got a
job here. I missed my old friends. I waved goodbye to my mum.
The day started with maths, then English, and, after that, it was finally break. I tried
not to limp, so no one would look at my bad leg, but that didn’t work! A tall kid, who looked
like the leader of a big pack, walked up to me. “Hey new kid, what happened to your leg?
It looks all shriveled up?” he asked. Then his pack laughed and he walked away.
I tried to forget about that, but it was hard. The day passed slowly until the bell rung. I
got my orange school bag and swung it over my back.
When I was about to leave school, the tall kid came up to me again.
“Littl kid, are you up for a challenge or are you too scared?” he asked. I didn’t know
what to say, but the words flew out of my mouth.
“You bet I am ready,” I said. I totally regretted saying that.
“That’s the challenge, you need go in there,” the tall kid said. He was pointing at a blue
and white rusty lighthouse with smashed glass. The lighthouse was on a number of rocks
and there was no real path to get to it.
I took small steps until I finally reached the lighthouse. The front door opened with a
squeak and I walked in. I climbed the stairs to the top. As I got to the final steps, I fell. My
bad leg was so weak, but I had to keep going.
After a few attempts, I reached the top. The view was spectacular; you could see the
horizon, a total different colour to the sea. I was so amazed, I sat there for at least an hour
watching the seals and boats go by.
All my peace was broken when I got a message from my mum that read: “COME.
HOME. NOW.” She only uses all caps when she is angry.
I stumbled to my feet and walked down the stairs. When I opened the door, a fresh
breeze blew my hair and the tide had changed. The water was washing my feet. I was
terrified. I grabbed my phone. My hands were shaking so much that the phone slipped out
and into the water.
I knew I was doomed. The only protection was the lighthouse!
Erin Brennan Conte
Co Dublin