Young Storykeeper Volume III

90 | STORYKEEPERS VOLUME III AGE NINE | 91
IMAGINING THE PAST
MACKEREL’S GREAT ADVENTURE
William Salter was the keeper of the
lighthouse. He lived with his wife Betty
and their tawny cat Mackerel. Mackerel
loved his life with William and Betty at their
cosy lighthouse. The lighthouse made him
feel safe and warm. Every day, Mackerel
waited for the fishing boats to come into the
harbour. He miawoed as annoyingly as he
could until the fishermen gave in and threw
him a fish. Mackerel was a well fed cat. He
was also a happy cat - most of the time.
There was one problem. There were no
children at the lighthouse and there was no
one to play with. Mackerel dreamed of fun
and games. When he was feeling lonely, he
would go to the top of the lighthouse and look
out to sea. He loved to look at the passing
ships. He was even more interested in the
seals who appeared to be playing games in
Oscar Cholbi-Walsh
Co Cork
the waves. Mackerel had a fantasy of being
able to join in the ocean games.
The next day, Mackerel felt stuck on
land as he watched the family of seals have
the time of their lives out in the surf. Mackerel
climbed down the lighthouse stairs, quaking
with excitement. His dream was about to
come true. His heart was pounding. He
took a running start and sprang off the rocks
into the ocean! CRASH! Mackerel hit the
salty, freezing water! Being wet and cold
wasn’t fun at all! He tried to swim to shore
but the current was too strong. Mackerel
was scared his adventure would cost him
his life. He was beginning to think that cats
didn’t have nine lives after all.
Just then a speckled seal with big brown
eyes popped up beside him - his friend had
come to the rescue! She used her pointed
nose to nudge him through the waves and
up onto a fisherman’s boat. The next thing
Mackerel remembered, was waking up in his
basket next to the warm fire. His brindled
fur began to fluff up again. He was so tired
he dozed all day and slept all night.
The next day Mackerel lay in his basket,
thinking about his adventure. He thought
about his seal friends and decided that in
future he would watch their games from
afar. He mostly thought about how lucky he
was to be alive.
Mackerel also thought about how lucky
he was to live with William and Betty in their
lovely light house.
Neasa O’Neill
Co Wicklow
JIMMY AND BRIAN’S ADVENTURE
Bang! Crash! went the stormy waves on
a cold winter night at Valentia Lighthouse.
The bright stars were glimmering in the
moonlight. The frightened seals were being
thrown against the craggy rocks. The next
day it was foggy.
Patrick Ruane
Co Mayo
Jimmy was the keeper at Valentia
Lighthouse. He had two dark blue eyes and
peach skin. He wore a woolly cloak every
day. He had bought it in Penney’s two years
ago. Ha also wore a big black bulky hat and
black trousers. Jimmy had a bad temper.
He once tried to break a chair over a friend
Paul’s head. Jimmy had adopted a son
called Brian. He was nine years old. He
looked the same as his dad.
Just then, there was a loud honk. That
meant that a ship was in trouble. Jimmy
rushed to turn the light switch on in the
lighthouse. Then he raced to fetch his rescue
vessel. Suddenly, Brian appeared.
“Can I come?” asked Brian.
“Yes,” replied Jimmy. They legged it as
fast as they could to the lifeboat and rushed
off to the sinking boat. On board, they
discovered five petrified people.
The five people raced over to Jimmy’s
rescue vessel. Four people had boarded
by now. Unfortunately, the fifth person got
his leg stuck in the motor. Brian leapt onto
the other boat with his axe and chopped the
motor in half. Soon, they were all boarded
safely.
Now they call Brian ‘Brilliant Brian.’
The next month they received €100,000. It
turned out they had rescued millionaires!