CHILDREN OF THE LIGHTHOUSE ©

this is a made up story about a brother and two sisters who died when a storm came.

CHILDREN OF THE LIGHTHOUSE ©

 

By Dot Sutton© Moon

1-jan-00

 

PROLOUGE

 

The children were playing on the beach, they were brother and sisters.

They were playing next to the old lighthouse on a little island not knowing the tide had turned.

The little girl ran to them saying, the tide is coming in and we cannot get off the island.

Then she screamed, “WE’RE GOING TO DIE”.

There was no way into the old lighthouse as the door was jammed, there was no way they could even swim back.

Over on the beach, people were standing around talking and gathering their belongings, and getting the children together, they saw how the weather changed so quickly.

The storm came nowhere and the rain came down fast, then a child saw the three children and cried out, they’re going to die mom.

The people looked up in time to see the high tide washed over those children; they knew no one would stand a chance in that.

An old man ran to the water edge intending to swim out to them but a few people grabbed him and held him back saying, you will never make it in time, he cried out NOT THE CHILDREN.

LOOK! A woman called out, the light is on in the lighthouse.

That has never happened all the while I was a lighthouse keeper another old man told them, I had to do it all.

The storm passed over and one woman said, oh those children, to die so young.

 

FIVE YEARS LATER.

 

It was a beautiful sunny day; the children were playing and looking for crabs and other things on the beach.

An old man sat watching them then he turned away, he knew why he was here, and why those children were there too.

There must be a way to stop all this he thought to himself as he stood near the edge of the water, he knew what was going to happen but couldn’t move because he also knew that they would stop him.

Let’s build a sand castle little Jan said as she threw a stone into the water.

I wonder why this door won’t open Jane called out, as she tried time and again to open it.

It never has since the old lighthouse keeper retired Jack answered.

Looks like a storm coming again Jane told them, I hate storms.

There’s a boat coming Jan shouted, we must stop it or it will crash into the big rocks that no one but us, can see.

A man saw it first then shouted, what is that light for over there?

Steer the other way the captain cried, the light wouldn’t come on without a good reason, then they saw the rocks after the tide went back out.

But how can they come on when no one is there anymore? A woman asks.

I know the captain answered, the only time they were lit, was when the lighthouse keeper use to live there.

I took notice of it as that light has saved many a lives and ships he added.

It is a job you did take notice captain; we’d have hit those big rocks that we couldn’t see one of the crew men said.

The children began to cheer them as they went sailing by, but none of them on board saw them clapping and heard them cheering.

People began to notice how the light would come on once a year on a certain day and stay lit all through and night, they knew the real reason of why.

The years began to pass by and it is now eighty years since the three children drowned.

The little girl who saw them first is now an old woman, she never forgot them, she knew they would have been about her own age, had they have lived.

One day, a big ship that was built in the shipyard not far from the lighthouse,

Was sailing for the first time as the people stood waiting for it?

A strong wind came from nowhere and was blowing, the man did his best to keep it steady, then cried out he couldn’t hold the steering wheel as the wind is too strong.

Another mate held onto the wheel with him then he too cried out, we cannot hold her sir as this wind is blowing us towards those big rocks.

Then they felt the ship moving slowly in the other direction.

What is going on here? Cried the captain as he saw neither of the two men were holding the wheel, they had been thrown on the deck with the force of the strong wind.

That was one heck of a miracle captain, I could see those rocks and believe me sir, and we’d have stood no chance if we’d have hit them the engineer told him.

I cannot understand how the lighthouse lit up; when I heard no one has lived there for years, the captain answered.

The old woman named Lucy stood watching all this, along with other people; she saw the old man standing alone and couldn’t think where she has seen him before.

The children were playing when they decided to go over to the old lighthouse; they were running around laughing and playing jokes on each other when one of them saw the waves rising high.

NOT AGAIN, the little girl cried out, will we never be free from all this?

The old man stood there as old Lucy realized who he was, you were here when those children were drowned near the old lighthouse, am I right?

He turned to her with such sad eyes saying yes I was, but people keep stopping me from going to them and that is why they keep coming back every five years, they have to go through this each time.

But why is it you, who keeps trying to swim out to them when you know you, cannot make it in this weather, with this bad storm she ask.

Because I am their grandfather, he answered and they were with me that day and I cannot rest until I reach them.

If I don’t get to them, they will have to go over and over this every five years, and I too, will have to go over trying to swim to them.

Today is the day they will drown again and we’ll all be back in five years time, it is the children who has made the light come on in the old lighthouse and has saved many of lives he told her as their spirits cannot leave the island of the old lighthouse.

I MUST get to them he told her, we are getting tired of coming back.

I will find a way to help you she replied.

Oh wow, look at the high water dad a little boy shouted.

Everyone looked to see the tide coming in fast and how high the water was rising.

OH NO, NOT THE CHILDREN, the old man cried out then ran to edge of the beach, but a man stopped him from going in the water telling him it was far too dangerous and he’d never make it.

LET HIM LEAVE, Lucy shouted, he needs to try it.

There was something in her voice that the man let go of the old man, who stood there.

Swim to your grandchildren she called out, and good luck.

Thank you so much he called back as he went into the water.

He began to swim towards the children.

They stood watching him as he battled against the strong storm, they could hear the children calling out to him crying come on granddad, you can do it.

He made it to the island then stood next to the children just as the waves washed over them.

They are gone now old Lucy told the crowd, he has been trying every five years to swim to them but was always stopped from do it, that’s why I shouted for you to let him leave.

As they all turned to walk away as the storm passed over as quickly as it came, they saw them all standing there.

He called to old Lucy saying, thank you for helping me as if that man had have stopped me, we would have to come back in five years time to go through all this again.

Before we leave granddad, there is something we wish to do Jack said.

They all stood with their hands held out in front of them, the people saw the giant rocks lift up from the water and settle down on the beach, well away from the water.

The old man then called over, your children can play on those rocks without being hurt and the ships can pass safely through, we must go now.

Then they all began to walk away and disappeared into thin air.

The End