The Mysterious Light
April regarded her reflection in the mirror as she raked her comb through her soft hair. She had always liked the way her golden blond hair cascaded down her back like a yellow waterfall, and how it framed her soft face and green eyes. She liked the way her freckles dotted her nose like little angel kisses. She was average height for a girl at the age of eleven, but she was anything but average. She loved adventures and being outside. She could spend all day exploring the coast by her house or the woods nearby. She didn't always like to do what she was told because she thought breaking small rules made for guaranteed fun. She also loved maps and compasses. She knew the area around their town like the back of her hand. In her room she even had maps on the walls so she could study the area. For as long as she could remember she had liked the outdoors.
A big gust of wind blew through the open window in the bathroom knocking aside her water glass, as if to get her attention. With a sigh, she snapped out of her daze and grabbed a towel to clean up the mess, as wind continued to blow around the small bath-room. It was unusually cold for September on the Washington coast, nonetheless she still loved it. She stood on the toilet lid and leaned out the bathroom window to close it. As she looked out she saw the woods to her right and to her left, she saw the ocean and the old lighthouse off in the distance. She loved looking at the woods in the dark and imagining what kind of creatures prowled its perimeter at night. She leaned her head further out the window to look at the moon reflected on the ocean like a silver oyster. It looked so bright and beautiful in the dark sky. The wind whipped her hair around her face so that it obscured her view of the moon. April loved the feeling of nature all around her in the night air; it almost reminded her of a painting. As she shut the window she thought she heard a sound behind her and turned to see Aden, her brother, in the doorway with a small smile that barely turned up the corners of his mouth. He looked slightly amused.
“Is there room for me in here to brush my teeth?” he asked as he ran a hand through his messy brown hair. He was tall for fourteen, with his mother’s dark brown hair. They both shared their father’s green eyes and span of freckles on their noses. Though their hair was a different color they resembled each other quite closely in the shape of their faces.
“Of course there’s room. I don't own the place, so you can come and go as you please,” April said, “and don't get that funny look; you know how much I like the outdoors.”
“I was only smiling because you’re the only person I know who likes to hang out of second floor windows at night,” Aden said as he made his way to the sink and lathered his toothbrush with blue toothpaste.
April joined him at the sink as she put her toothbrush in her mouth. She made a funny face at her brother in the mirror which made him laugh. In return he stuck his tongue out which looked quite strange with toothpaste dripping on the end. They did this a few more times before rinsing off their brushes. Making faces was something they had done since they were young. Each of them tried not to laugh while they attempted to make the other one laugh. They hadn't acted like that in a while so it was nice to remember the fun times.
As April crawled into bed later she could hear the waves crashing on the shore just on the other side of the road. She loved to listen to the waves as she fell asleep. Its soft rhythmic sound always lulled her to sleep without much effort. The waves brought the serenity of nature and her love of outdoors inside her room. In minutes her eyelids fluttered closed and she was gone.
***
April’s eyelids flicked open as her vision came into focus. She sat up in bed and shook the sleep from her eyes. She glanced at the clock on the bedside table as it blinked 12:07. She groaned and with a sigh mumbled to herself, “I’ve only gotten two hours of sleep.” She started to lie down and go back to sleep when she saw a yellow light come through the window and span across the room. At first she thought that she had imagined it, but soon the light ran through her room again illuminating the maps on the wall. Puzzled, she climbed out of bed and strode across the room over to the window and gently pushed the curtain back just enough so that she could peek out the window.
At first she didn't see anything through the dark, but for a third time the light swept through the room lighting up the area outside her window. Up the coastline, she could see the light house perched on the shore like a bird on the end of a branch and she was surprised to see that the light was coming from the old light-house. The lighthouse was very old and it hadn't worked in about fifty years. The entire time April’s family had lived in their house on the coast, they had never once seen it work, but the light was clearly coming from the lighthouse. April remembered that a few years ago she and her brother took a tour of the lighthouse and when they were in the top, the tour guide had said that it no longer worked. Immediately April’s mind started racing with reasons why the light house light was now working. Was there some supernatural activity? She pushed the thought aside as she closed the curtains. She sat down on the edge of the bed and thought about going to sleep but her curiosity took over. As quietly as she could, she pushed her closet doors open and slid on a pair of jeans and favorite t-shirt, and slipped on her jacket. She shoved her feet into a pair of outdoor boots and headed across the hall.
She pushed Aden’s door open with a creak. He didn't seem to hear because his back was to the door. She went around the bed and kneeled on the floor beside him and with a small hand she poked him until he seemed to stir. With a groan he opened his eyes and sat up, looking right into her face.
“Gosh April, what could you possibly need at 12:10 in the morning? And why are you dressed?” Aden said as he glanced at the clock on his bedside table.
The words tumbled out of her mouth in a jumble, “The lighthouse up the coast, its light has been shining through my window. It has started working all of a sudden. Oh, and I got dressed because we are going to go up the coast and figure out why the light is working.”
“First of all we are not going to hike several miles up the coast in the dark for some stupid light house. It’s just not happening. And second, you probably just imagined it so you would have an excuse for an adventure,” Aden said in a harsh whisper.
“Ohh we’re going,” April said, “You’re going to get dressed and then you will come to my room, I will show you the light, and then the adventure will begin. Plus, what if there’s supernatural activity?”
She knew she had him then because Aden had always been interested in anything haunted or that involved supernatural creatures.
She quickly got up and crossed the room. As she pulled the door closed she said, “Make it quick because we have a long night ahead of us, and don't forget to pack a bag.” She closed the door quickly before he had a chance to protest or change his mind.
Once she was back in her room April pulled out her army green canvas backpack and tossed it on the floor. She went over to her dresser along the left wall and opened her top drawer. This is where she kept all the things she used on adventures. She grabbed the flashlight, compass, small knife, multi tool, and matches. She grabbed her bear whistle off its hook on the wall and put it in her bag along with a small notepad and a few pencils. She loved packing for adventures, the rush and excitement of the possibility of finding something new, even though nine times out of ten she didn't end up using anything she brought.
She heard a soft tap on the door and looked up as Aden came in. He had on jeans, a t-shirt and jacket. His bag was swung over his shoulder and his eyes still looked tired from sleep. His hair was ruffled and slightly messy, and she couldn't help but laugh.
“What’s so funny?” Aden asked.
“Sorry,” April said in-between giggles muffled by her hand, “It’s just that your hair looks so funny.”
“Well,” Aden shot back “You said to go as fast as I can so I didn't have time for things like brushing my hair.” But he was grinning in the dimly lit room.
The light from the lighthouse circled through April’s room again. April made her way to the window and waved for Aden to follow.
“Look! That was the light. Now do you believe me?” April said in a slightly annoyed tone.
“I do,” Aden said, “But I'm still not sure we should go.”
“If you would just quit worrying about everything, we would probably be there already. Let’s go.” April said in an exasperated tone as she grabbed Aden’s hand and dragged him down the stairs after her.
April held a finger to her lips to signal to her brother that they had to be quiet as she unlocked the front door, and they slipped out into the dark night.
“So, what’s your plan?” Aden asked as April locked the front door behind them and slipped her key into her backpack. It was dark outside now that they were not on the second floor and they didn't have the moon to light up the path. The shadows cast dark patterns on April’s skin as she smiled down at him from the porch steps, making her look slightly evil.
“We don't really need a plan,” April said with a sigh, “we will just walk there and figure out why the light has started working. It’s simple but I think it will work.”
“Whatever you say,” Aden said but April could tell that that he was smiling.
They made their way down the winding, tree-lined driveway to the street. April looked both ways before crossing the street but Aden didn’t.
“Why did you look both ways before crossing the street?” Aden asked. “It’s the dead of night. No car is going to be driving by at this hour.”
“I don’t know, it’s just a habit. You know, it’s just ingrained in me,” April said.
They cut across the street and headed down a steep dirt trail that would lead them to the rocky cliffs of the coast and then it would be a straight shot to the lighthouse.
They walked in silence for a while. The sound of the waves crashing on the cliffs was peaceful and the way the moon reflected on the waves made it look like a painting. April had been born on the Washington coast, and loved the area with all her heart. The area consisted of oceans, mountains, and forests. These were her favorite things in nature, and to have them all so near and in walking distance was like living in a dream. She and her brother would spend all day in the summer in the woods behind their house or at the beach. April would explore and make notes of the area or climb a tree, while Aden would lay on the ground and read a book on pretty much anything. She loved those afternoons spent in nature.
Snapping her out of her reverie, Aden said, “So what are we going to do when we get to the lighthouse?”
“Well, I hadn't really thought about that,” April answered. “We can climb in that broken window and head up to the top and see who or what is scanning the ocean with the light.”
“Well, I guess that will have to work,” Aden said. “I don't know how well it will work, but it’s a start.”
They were almost to the lighthouse, all they had to do was climb up some rocks and then they would be on the hill where the lighthouse was located. The climb would probably be hard for most in the dark, but Aden and April had done it so many times that they hardly had to think about where they were putting their arms and legs.
Within a few minutes they were both standing with no scratches or injuries next to the lighthouse.
“So do you remember which window was the broken one?” Aden asked, “because I sure don’t.”
April laughed and nodded her head, “Of course I do. Do you really think I would come all this way and then not remember how to get in?”
“To be honest I do,” Aden said. “It’s not bad; it’s just that you get so excited and ambitious that you sometimes forget to be practical. It can be a nice quality to have but other times not so much.”
“Well, I remember it, so I’ll lead the way,” April said but there was a small smile plastered to her lips.
“Go right ahead,” Aden said as he gestured his hand that she could go first.
They circled the lighthouse several times before finding the window that didn't lock. Luckily, April had remembered that there was the one window that didn't have a lock. She pushed on it a few times before it became unstuck. She put her hands up onto the windowsill and crawled through. It was dark in the lighthouse, but she could make out the shape of a narrow, iron staircase that wound up several stories before landing in the top of the lighthouse.
About half way up, April paused and whispered, “What do we do when we get up there? We are really not supposed to be here, and I don't think whoever is here is expecting two kids to come storming into the lighthouse.”
Before Aden had a chance to answer there was a sound of heavily booted feet walking across the floor and then the sound of old metal squeaking. April turned around to smile at Aden as he opened his mouth to say it was definitely a person up there, but he never got the chance because April darted up the stairs, her long hair shining as it swung behind her. Aden rolled his eyes. Only his sister would be excited to explore a lighthouse at night, and he ran up the stairs after her.
When they got to the top, there was a man around the age of seventy-five staring right back at them. His skin looked worn as if he had spent hours in the sun. He had on an old pair of jeans worn at the knee and an old white shirt with a few stains. His hair looked like it might have once been a beautifully rich shade of blond, but now it was mostly washed with gray. It hadn't been cut in a while and hung roughly around his ears. He squinted at them as his dark eyes scanned them.
April made a surprised sound and crossed her arms giving him a stern look as she said, “I didn't expect to see you here.”
“Wait - you two know each other?” Aden asked, a surprised tone creeping into his voice.
April turned to face Aden as she spoke, “You know him too Aden, he is the man who lives up the hill and down the road.” Turning back to the older man April spoke again, “So, why are you here? And what are you doing working the lighthouse?”
“April, you shouldn't be so harsh. Try and be more polite,” Aden said as he touched her arm.
The old man chuckled, “Don’t worry, it didn't come across that harsh. But to answer your questions, I came up here to look across the ocean for something I lost.”
“Ohh,” April said, “What is it? We will help you look for it.”
The old man smiled a sad smile, gestured for them to sit down and said, “Sit down and let me tell you a little story.”
Aden frowned and said, “I don't know if we really have time to listen to your story. We should get going April.”
April grabbed Aden’s hand as he turned to go and said, “Just sit down and be quiet and listen to his story. You can’t tell me you’re not the slightest bit interested.”
He made an annoyed sound but reluctantly sat down next to April on the wooden planked floor.
Now that the man had their full attention, he began to speak in a hard voice that sounded like he hadn't talked to anyone in a long time. “It was a long time ago, about fifty years,” began the man, “One day my wife and two lovely boys decided they were going to go on a whale watching trip. There was a huge storm forecasted for that day and I told them that I wasn't going to go and that they should not go, but they refused to listen. It was towards the end of the trip and the storm hadn't come yet, but then all of a sudden the sky erupted.”
“I waited for a long time, but the boat that they rode on never came back,” he wiped the tears from the corner of his eyes and then continued, “I was grief ridden. I couldn't understand why they had died and left me behind to live in this world without them. I would sit down here on the coast for days on end without moving, waiting for them to come back but they never did. I have tried to move on, but for the last fifty years I have never had a day where I haven't thought about them.
“So finally, trying to deal with my grief I thought if I came up here and looked for my family I would find them somewhere. I knew that I wouldn't see them ever again, but if I could just see the empty ocean I might be able to finally realize that I had to move on. What it comes down to is that I just miss my family and I want a family in my life because I don't want to be alone for the rest of my life.”
After a few minutes of silence April finally spoke, “That is just so terrible, no one should have to live that way. Is there anything we can do to help?”
The man smiled and said, “I’m not really sure what you could do but the fact that you offered to do something is very sweet.”
“Wait, I’ve got an idea! What if you could come over on special occasions or holidays and we could get to know you better? That way you might get the satisfaction of having a somewhat family.”
Aden opened his mouth to tell April that they hardly knew this man and that they should perhaps talk to their parents before they invited someone to be sort of family. But he never got the chance before the older man spoke again.
“Would you really do that for me?” The man asked.
“Of course,” April said. “How about you come over tomorrow afternoon? I will tell my parents and I’m sure they will be more than happy to help any way they can. Ohh, and what should we call you? Now we have to head back home before our parents realize we are gone.”
“You can call me Lonnie. That would be great, and thanks again for offering to invite me into your home,” said Lonnie.
“Of course,” April and Aden said in unison as they turned and made their way down the iron stairs.
As Aden stepped out into the night and turned towards their house, he thought it felt so good to help someone. At first he had been hesitant to invite a stranger into their life, but everyone deserves a family and if he could be that for someone he was more than happy to.
He turned and smiled at April saying, “Doesn’t helping Lonnie out feel so wonderful?”
April turned back towards him with an enormous grin on her face and said, “Better than you could imagine.”
***
April looked out her bedroom window and grinned. She rushed down the stairs and threw open the front door. “Happy Thanksgiving Lonnie,” she exclaimed as she gave him a hug.
“Yes, Happy Thanksgiving Lonnie. I’m so glad you could come.” Aden said as he joined in on the hug.
As Lonnie was being hugged by April and Aden, he thought how wonderful people could be. In the past few weeks he had been welcomed into their family, and had come over every weekend to spend time with them. Their parents had been just as welcoming as the kids. He put his arms around the kids and smiled down at them. He had finally found his forever family and he couldn't be more pleased.
