Young Storykeeper Volume III

270 | STORYKEEPERS VOLUME III AGE TWELVE | 271
SOLDIERS IN THE SUNKEN SHIP
Lizzie hurried to the library, dragging young Maisie behind her. Lizzie’s mother,
however, had let them go. After all, it was her last day in Manchester.
As Lizzie approached, she saw the library was still intact after last
night’s bombing and gave a sigh of relief. She was surprised at the solemn
state of the library. People were moaning as they moved around the building
in worn-out sooty clothes. For them, it was a warm building that they could
call home after being victim to the Luftwaffe. Lizzie grabs a book from the
highest shelf and bravely approaches the lady sitting at the desk.
“I would like to borrow this book!” she exclaimed.
When they got home, Lizzie read the book aloud to Maisie. She was
only four and was unable to read. Lizzie, who was ten, had been learning to
read in school, until it fell due to the blitz.
“Clare Island is an island off the coast of Ireland,” she read to her sister.
“That’s where we are going tomorrow, Maisie!” she said excitedly.
After they read the full book, they went to sleep that night, knowing that
tomorrow would be when they would leave and possibly never come back to
the same home ever again.
The next day was a long journey, starting with a train to Blackpool, a
boat to Dublin and an even longer train to Clew Bay, where Clare Island sat.
As they approached the end of the journey, Maisie felt travel-sick and Lizzie
felt tired. However, Lizzie, knowing she was the bigger sister, decided to
put on a happy face and take responsibility. She took Maisie to the tall and
wonderous lighthouse.
For the two girls, who had never left the city, these were beautiful new
surroundings. They approached the door and knocked loudly, just as Mother
had instructed them. A young man of about sixteen came running down the
stairs in a hurry.
“You must be the evacuees,” he said. “Raymond, he owns the lighthouse
and is currently helping out on the coast. There has been a boat crash not
far away.” The girls were shocked at this information. Maisie was completely
dumbfounded, while Lizzie held it together. “Well then, we must help too.”
The three of them ran to the coast. The young man, Duncan, found
Raymond and they all came to him.
“Are these the evacuees?” he asked.
Duncan nodded his head in response. “They can help with supplies,”
said Raymond. “Girls, we need four lifejackets and we have some bags of
food. Can you get them?”
The girls said yes and started running back and forth from the
lighthouse. It took them four runs and after number three, their legs grew
tired. However, they persisted and after the fourth run, they had finished.
Raymond and three other men used the lifejackets to rescue the soldiers
that were in the ship.
After they handed out food, Raymond, Duncan, Lizzie and Maisie
headed home.
Jonathan Allen
Co Antrim
THE BOY AND THE LIGHTHOUSE
She sits atop the sharp rocks
Looking out into the raging sea.
Her light guiding all in need.
Hoping it will make her feel better.
It doesn’t.
She is damaged.
She needs someone to heal her.
To help her.
But there is no one around.
Not for miles.
A boy sits in his little blue boat.
He wishes for a family.
He has been searching the whole world
But has found nowhere to call home
No mother
Or father
But he keeps searching.
He has hope.
But not much.
He is scared and tired.
He searches for somewhere to rest his head.
But there is no land around.
No for miles.
What is this?
A boat?
A boy sits in his little blue boat.
He is sound asleep.
His boat hits against her rocks and she fears it is going to break.
But all she can do is watch.
The lighthouse fills the sea with her tears.
And as she weeps the sea rises until the sleeping boy is level with her eyes.
She looks at him.
He looks so peaceful.
She stops crying as the boy begins to wake.
He looks at her.
She looks back.
He is scared but also filled with more hope than ever before.
And as the sea begins to return to its normal level,
the boy runs to her and wraps his arms around her.
Freya Fallon
Co Dublin