At the Lighthouse – Part 2

 Hello!

This is late, I know. But I promise I have a good excuse. 

Last night I had gone to bed at the normal time around 9:40. But around 11:30 I was awakened sort of by hearing someone calling out. Then they shouted "Someone please help!" But it wasn't nearby, and while I could hear what sounded like some boards crashing, I wasn't fully awake.

Then I heard sirens. Not unusual since we live a few blocks from the Police station, the Fire station, and a few blocks farther from the METS station. However, these sirens turned down our street. My sister and I got up and looked out the windows. It was a fire truck, another fire vehicle, and a police car. We thought they were heading to Freddy's since he'd had a few heart attacks this year. As my sis headed back to bed, I noticed a strange orange/yellow glow behind Freddy's house.

"There's a fire!"

"Where?" Sis wanted to know. I told her and then we both headed to the back room to look out the windows. The house to the south of Freddy's was almost fully engulfed! Flames were shooting from the roof, the widows, the back. It was crazy! A police car parked in the middle of the road near our house to block traffic. It was an hour before they had most of it knocked down. There were still some stubborn parts that refused to die and kept flaming back up. But after an hour we decided to head back to bed since we really couldn't see much.

After all that excitement I wasn't tired and was having difficulty settling down. The flickering lights of the police car on our ceiling let me know that they were still there. Now and then I could hear voices. Around 1:30 the firemen started up a chainsaw to cut part of the wall away. And that make me wake up more again. I'm not sure when I went back to sleep, but it was probably around or after 2.

[If you want to see the news video, you can go here.]

So, we slept in some this morning. :)

This week I've not done much writing, but I did get two short stories ready to publish. One will be free when I send out my newsletter, so make sure you are subscribed to my Read Another Page newsletter. I've also been working on the Christmas play. It was approved, and now I just have to copy the play for each of the cast members.

But enough of that. Here's your story.

 

At the Lighthouse

Part 2

    Great was Mr. Sullivan’s astonishment when he was awakened and saw his only son standing before him. For several minutes he could only hold on to him and whisper, “Marshall, my son, my son.”
    “I’m home now, Father.”
    “But what about college?”
    The story of the unmailed letters was repeated and then the three reunited Sullivans fell to talking.
    It was growing late when suddenly Mr. Sullivan started up in his chair. “The light. I must go light it now.”
    Marshall rose at once saying, “No, Father, let me. Please, it will be like old times. Leigh can go with me to make sure I still remember how.” And, without giving his father time to object or protest, Marshall started for the stairs calling behind him just as he used to do when a boy, “I’ll race you to the top, Sis!”
    It wasn’t until the lights were lit and the brother and sister were standing on the balcony below the light, watching its beam flash far out to sea, that Marshall spoke his thoughts. “Father doesn’t look very well, Leigh. What’s wrong with him?”
    Leigh didn’t answer right away and her brother turned to look at her. “Has Dr. Armstrong seen him yet?”
    Leigh shook her head. “No, Papa won’t let me call him. I think he’s overworked and tired. He needs to get away from everything for a while and rest.”
    For a moment Marshall looked thoughtful, then he spoke. “Invite him for supper on Tuesday.”
    “Papa?”
    Marshall snorted, “Dr. Armstrong. I’d like to see him again. I’ll have to make sure I see all my old acquaintances, you know.” He smiled, and Leigh gave an answering smile in return. It was good to have Marshall home.

    Marshall hardly gave his father time to do anything other than relax in his chair, for he took complete charge of the light, laughing when his father protested and running up and down the steps declaring that it was keeping him in shape. Leigh watched with delight, for she saw that with Marshall home the two of them could run the light. Then she would grow grave. If only they could persuade their father to take a vacation.
    When Tuesday came, Marshall casually remarked at the breakfast table that he would like to see Dr. Armstrong again and Leigh said she would invite him to supper if that was all right. Mr. Sullivan nodded. Dr. Armstrong was a good friend and he would enjoy a chat with him himself.
    Supper was a pleasant affair with Marshall telling about life at college, and afterwards Mr. Sullivan and Dr. Armstrong settled themselves in armchairs in the living room while Marshall tended the light and Leigh washed the dishes. As soon as the light was lit, Marshall joined his sister in the kitchen remarking, “It looks like a storm is blowing in.”
    Leigh sighed, “Did you mention it to Papa?”
    “No.”
    “Well, if it comes Ted and Henry will be over.”
    Marshall stopped drying the plate in his hand and looked at Leigh with puzzled eyes. “The Larson boys?” he asked. “Why?”
    “All the men around here have been taking turns coming over when it storms, to help whenever they are needed, because Papa just can’t do it all anymore,” Leigh explained.
    “Well, I’m home now,” Marshall declared, “and this is my lighthouse.”
    His sister didn’t reply.

    There was a storm and, as Leigh had predicted, Ted and Henry came over. Both were glad to see Marshall again and left most of the work in his capable hands. Mr. Sullivan tried to help, but he tired so quickly that Dr. Armstrong, who had been there when the storm broke, insisted that he let the boys take care of things.

    “Marshall, Papa must have a rest,” Leigh repeated as the two of them strolled along the sandy shore. “Even Dr. Armstrong agrees with me.”
    “I know,” Marshall agreed. “You don’t have to convince me, it’s Father. Did you write Kathryn?”
    Leigh nodded. “I hope I hear from her soon. A few more such storms as we’ve had will send Papa to bed for a long time I’m afraid.”
    The brother and sister walked on in silence for several minutes before Leigh spoke once more. “Marshall.”
    “Hmm.”
    “If I ask you a question, will you give me an honest answer?” She had stopped and stood looking up into her younger brother’s eyes.
    “Of course I will,” he replied, wondering what was coming.
    “Do you want to spend the rest of your life living at a lighthouse and keeping the lights burning?”
    Marshall’s voice was quiet but firm when he answered, “Yes, Leigh, I do.”
    Smiling as though a weight had been lifted from her shoulders, Leigh said, “That is all I wanted to hear.”

    The letter came the next afternoon and even with its plea for a visit, it took Leigh’s passionate appeal to rest for her sake and Marshall’s keen logic and firm assurance that the light would shine every night before Mr. Sullivan was convinced that a trip away from his life at the lighthouse was for the best. But, at last all was settled.

    Standing at the door of the lighthouse, Leigh and Marshall waved good bye to their father as Dr. Armstrong drove him away to the train station. Leigh sighed, she would miss her father, but he must get a rest. Besides, she thought, glancing at her tall brother, Marshall was home and they would together, take care of the light until the rightful lighthouse keeper returned in health.
 

Did you enjoy the ending of this story?

Have you ever seen a house fire near you?

How was your week?