Young Storykeeper Volume III

276 | STORYKEEPERS VOLUME III AGE TWELVE | 277
THE LIGHTHOUSE ON THE ISLAND
Everyone on the island where Meara lived were very superstitious.
They believed that, depending on the way you were facing when you were born, they
could tell things about you. For instance, if you were born facing north you would be a wild
child, hard to handle but very creative. If you were born facing south you would be calm, really
helpful and very friendly.
Born facing west, someone to be relied upon and always trusted. Finally, born facing
east adventurous, keen to be outside, exploring and having fun. Meara was born facing east.
Meara’s father was the lighthouse keeper. Meara, her two brothers, three sisters and
her parents, all lived in the lighthouse keeper’s cottage beside the lighthouse.
Her father was often gone all night and day to the lighthouse, so Meara’s mother had to
stay at home to mind all the children.
Being the second eldest child after her brother Aiden, Meara often had to help her
mother with baking and bringing everyone to school.
Every day after school Meara brought her younger brother and sisters home from
school, then she ran to the cove to meet her best friend Meabhe. They had found the cove
accidentally last summer, when Meabhe’s dog Murphy went missing. They had found Murphy
down in the cove looking at some seals.
When she reached the cove, Meabhe was standing beside one of the cliffs that towered
up on one side. There was a small gap between two rocks, big enough for them to squeeze
through.
“We should come back tomorrow,” said Meabhe, adding that they should bring a torch
to explore with.
Being born facing east, Meara always brought a torch everywhere. “Let’s explore now
and we can come back tomorrow if we find anything interesting,” she said.
“I don’t know Meara, I’m scared,” whispered Meabhe.
“Just for a minute,” Meara pleaded.
“Fine, just for a minute though,” said Meabhe, giving in to her friend.
“Yes!” Meara shouted as she ran into the cave. Meabhe followed, a little bit more hesitant.
Once through the first part of the cave, it widened out into a much bigger space. There
were stalagmites and stalactites around the edge of the cave.
“Wow, this looks amazing,” Meara said, her voice echoing all around the cave.
“I don’t know, maybe we should go back,” Meabhe said. “You don’t know what could
be down here.”
“Okay, fine,” Meara replied, giving one last look around the cave.
“Wait, what is this? It looks like a door,” she said as her eyes swept over the back of the
cave.
Meara ran up to the door and opened it. There were steps going upwards. Before
Meabhe could stop her, she was running up the steps.
“I’m going home,” Meabhe shouted.
“Okay,” replied Meara, and she continued on.
When she got to the top, she realised she was in the old basement of the lighthouse.
“I wonder why these are here,” she said to herself before looking at her watch and
rushing home. I’ll come back another day, she decided to herself.
Natasha King
Co Galway