The Light House

For those who do not believe, are foolish.

For those who do believe, are foolish.

For those who know, are wise.

Prologue

(Pensacola, 1876)

The stairs, they go ever on and on, winding, up and up. They never stop. It’s too far up, even farther down. I look up, let me see the light. Dear Lord, let me see you! Save me! I hear the Devil below me. His heavy footsteps echoing around me, louder than my pounding heart, urging me to go faster even when I feel weak as the blood drains from my heart, dripping to the stairs where my hands rest. I can’t scream. I can’t breathe. I’m cold.

The journey to heaven, a sinner’s absolution, this is my last test. I reach up, pulling myself towards the place where I know the light to be. I hear his laugh. I dare not look down for I know it will be his eyes staring up into mine. I would be paralyzed and that would be it. I will not die until I see it-

I choke.

I cough.

He laughs.

I reach.

I fall.

There is no light. There is no relief. No heaven. All there is, is a Light House, and that’s all it will ever be.

(Pensacola, NAS Base, Present Day)

Who would want to work at a Lighthouse?! I kicked the gravel from under my feet, hearing it scatter over the others in a wide arc. I looked up at the top of the Light House and glared at it sullenly. Why here of all places?

It was getting late.

Dad said the Dinner Rush would start at 7:00 and to get there with enough time to get settled down.

Mr. Cossa owns the Light House Restaurant on the Naval base and he’s an old friend of Dad’s when they were in the Navy together. He had turned the Old Light House into a Restaurant and now needs more employees. Who did Dad volunteer? Me! And I hate him for it. Mr. Cossa didn’t even come up with a good name for it.

“Jacqueline, you need to learn to help those who need it even when you don’t want to!” My Dad, an old retired Admiral said when I brought this up with him, furious that he did this without my knowledge. What else could I do?

So here I am. Miserable.

The restaurant looked to be an attachment to the Light House, but it wasn’t as old the original foundation. The paint job of the light house was old but not chipped like normal old paint. Even though the sun had already gone down, I had to squint to fully see the whole lighthouse. It was so dreary. Why would anyone want to come eat here or even work here?

“Jacqueline?”

I look back to the entrance of the restraint. A man was looking out the door at me, his graying hair swept back into an old fashioned ponytail at his nape. I forced a smile and waved, “Hi Mr. Cossa!” I went to him, still scattering the gravel in all directions without meaning to this time.

Mr. Cossa smiled warmly and beckoned me inside, “Come on now,” he said, making room for me to sidle past him, “Bart said you would be here at seven. You’re early.” I nodded and looked around the restraunt. It was dark, but comfortable. Like walking into one of my Grandparent's dining room almost. There were a few customers already seated, picking at the salad in front of them and talking animatedly.

I look them over, seeing that none had been served their full meal.

“Mr. Cossa?”

“Yes?”

“What exactly will I be doing here?” I see the first waitress: a lunch-lady with a makeover. Am I the youngest here? I wondered.

Mr. Cossa sees the waitress and waves to her. She smiles amiably and takes the order for an elderly couple.

Mr. Cossa brushes some lint off from his shirt and looks down at me good-naturedly, “You will be a waitress as well. You will make tips and the hours will be quite flexible.” He leads me into the back room to get me my work clothes. They weren’t too bad. I wouldn’t wear these things on any other day but they would do. I tied the apron on, the strings wrapping about me twice.

"Perfect." He said when I came out. I made an attempt to smile for him. It wasn't his fault that I didn't want to be here...

Mr. Cossa motioned me over to the waitress I had seen before. "This is Linda. You will bve her shadow until you get the hang of it. Your father says your a fast learner?"

I nodded, going along with it. I said hello to Linda and that started off my first day at LightHouse Restraunt.

I hope this story works out. I live right next to the light house in this story. I'm doing my own twist off the legend. lol. I'm looking at it now.