The little light that helps

The Little Light That Helped

Lily loved going to her grandpa's house by the sea. It had a big, tall light, like a giant lamp, that helped ships find their way home. Grandpa Joe took care of the light.

"Every night, Lily," Grandpa Joe said, his eyes happy, "this light shows the ships where to go. It's like saying, 'You're safe here!'"

Lily liked to help Grandpa Joe clean the big glass of the light. It was smooth and shiny. She would climb the stairs, holding on tight, and pretend she was a brave sailor.

One sunny day, Lily and Grandpa Joe were eating popcorn and looking at the sea. They saw a small boat far away.

"Look, Grandpa!" Lily said. "They're waving!"

Grandpa Joe waved back. "They're going home," he said.

That night, a big storm came. The wind was loud, and the rain hit the windows hard. Lily stayed close to Grandpa Joe as the light shone through the dark.

"The little boat," Lily said, scared. "Will they be okay?"

Grandpa Joe hugged her. "The light will help them," he said. "It always does."

But the storm was very strong. The next day, the sun came out, but the little boat was gone.

Lily was sad. "Where did they go, Grandpa?"

Grandpa Joe looked at the sea, his eyes sad. "Sometimes, Lily, even the light can't stop bad things. But we still shine the light, for everyone else."

Lily understood. The light wasn't just a light; it was like saying, "We're here for you." Even when things were sad, the light was still there, like a warm hug.

After that day, Lily helped Grandpa Joe even more. She learned how to clean the glass, how to check the batteries, and how to tell the different light patterns. She knew that every flash of light was a little promise, saying, "You're not alone." And even though she was sad about the little boat, she knew that the light, and her grandpa, would always be there.