The Upside Down Lighthouse

Meara and Grandad were in a boat on the wide, open sea.

Meara was feeling lost as a thick fog was hiding everything.

‘I can’t see where the sky ends and the sea begins,’ she said.

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Then, Meara saw something in the fog.

‘Look, a light!’ she shouted. ‘Let’s go there!’

Meara and Grandad’s pet otter, Cara, peered over the edge of the boat into the dark water.

But the light was the only thing that they could see.

Grandad kept on rowing ...

All of a sudden, a fantastic flock of birds flew over their heads.

Meara almost fell out of the boat!

When she looked into the water, she thought she could see birds, but down there they were … upside down!

‘There are so many precious things all around us,’ said Grandad, ‘and lots of gold.’

‘Was that a penguin? Grandad asked.

‘I don’t think so,’ said Meara. ‘They can’t fly!

Can they?’

Grandad just smiled.

Before long, Meara and Grandad reached the light.

Meara couldn’t believe her eyes. ‘It’s a lighthouse,’ she said, ‘but it’s … upside down! It looks like a giant has turned it the wrong way up!’

‘Let’s have a closer look,’ said Grandad, and he rowed their boat towards the beach.

‘Come on,’ said Grandad. ‘We can shelter on the island until the fog clears.’

‘Can we visit the lighthouse, Grandad?’ asked Meara.

‘Of course we can,’ said Grandad. ‘And how about counting stars along the way?’

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‘Stars?’ asked Meara. ‘But you can’t see stars during the day!’

‘Sometimes you can,’ said Grandad. ‘Just look down.’

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