Total pages in book: 108
Estimated words: 102280 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 511(@200wpm)___ 409(@250wpm)___ 341(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 102280 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 511(@200wpm)___ 409(@250wpm)___ 341(@300wpm)
Lily nodded, but her mind raced beyond his suggestions. She’d sat in Robert’s truck countless times while he fixed broken equipment, never really examining the structure as a historical artifact. She’d never considered the families who had called that small house home, who had tended the light through decades of storms and fog.
The bell rang. Students shuffled toward the door, already complaining about research deadlines. Lily collected her books, organizing research strategies. She’d start with the town library’s local history section, interviewing residents who might remember stories.
“Lily, wait up!” Sarah Whitfield caught up with her in the hallway, blonde hair bouncing as she navigated through the crowd. “Please tell me you won’t actually write about that creepy lighthouse.”
“It’s not creepy. It’s historical.”
“My grandmother says weird things happen out there. Lights in the windows when no one’s supposed to be inside, voices carrying on the wind.”
“Your grandmother also claims the moon landing was faked, and that fluoride is a government conspiracy.”
Sarah laughed. “Fair point. But seriously, why not pick an easier topic? The witch trials—half the research already exists.”
They paused at Sarah’s locker, where pictures of Leonardo DiCaprio and Jonathan Taylor Thomas shared space with class schedules and phone numbers. Sarah had been Lily’s best friend since third grade, and while they’d grown in different directions—Sarah toward fashion magazines and boy bands, Lily toward newspaper deadlines and college prep—they still understood each other’s rhythms.
“Easy doesn’t get you into Brown,” Lily said, leaning against the neighboring locker. “Besides, it has stood there for over 150 years. Think about all the ships it guided to safety.”
“All the ships that wrecked anyway,” Sarah added with a grin. “All the keepers who went mysteriously insane.”
“Did any keepers actually go insane?”
“I don’t know, but it sounds good, doesn’t it?” Sarah pulled out her history textbook. “I picked fashion during the Civil War.”
Lily raised an eyebrow. “Seriously?”
“What? It’s historical. And way more interesting than maintenance logs.”
They walked toward the library, their steps echoing in the mostly empty hallway. Most students avoided the library unless absolutely necessary, but Lily had always found comfort in the smell of old books, the quiet hum of the card catalog drawers, the sense that any question could find an answer if you knew where to look.
“Want to come over tonight?” Sarah asked as they reached the doors. “My mom rented 10 Things I Hate About You, and we could order pizza.”
“Can’t. I want to start research while I’m still excited about it.”
Sarah shook her head. “You know what your problem is? You need to learn the difference between school and life.”
“School is life. At least until I graduate.”
“That’s exactly what I mean.” Sarah headed toward the main hallway. “Call me if you change your mind. And try not to get possessed by any ghosts.”
Lily pushed through the doors, breathing in the scent of aging paper and dust. Mrs. Warren, the librarian, looked up from her desk with recognition.
“Lily! Starting your senior project already?”
“Yes, ma’am. I’m researching the Hawthorne Point Lighthouse.”
“Excellent choice. We have quite a bit of material on local maritime history.” Mrs. Warren stood and gestured toward the back corner. “The local history section is over there, and I believe we have several boxes of photographs and documents that the town’s Historical Society donated. We haven’t catalogued them yet, but you’re welcome to look through them.”
Lily worked for the next hour, pulling books from the shelves, creating a stack of resources on the table. Maritime New England: A Comprehensive History. Lighthouses of the Atlantic Coast. Westerly Cove: From Settlement to Seaport. The thrill of discovery built as she flipped through pages, taking notes on construction dates, shipping records, and storm chronicles.
The microfiche machine in the corner held copies of the local newspaper dating back to the 1800s. Lily loaded the first reel and began scrolling through decades of headlines, squinting at the blurry text.
LIGHTHOUSE CONSTRUCTION BEGINS. FIRST LIGHT ILLUMINATED. KEEPER WILLIAM ALDRICH APPOINTED.
Aldrich. She wrote the name in her notebook. The first keeper bore the same last name as the current mayor. A family connection might open interesting research angles.
More scrolling revealed storm reports, shipping news, and the occasional human-interest story.
KEEPER’S DAUGHTER BORN. LIGHTHOUSE STANDS FIRM AGAINST HURRICANE. ALDRICH FAMILY CELEBRATES TWENTY YEARS OF SERVICE.
The Aldriches had maintained the structure for generations. But when had that changed? When had automation replaced the keeper’s position?
By the time Mrs. Warren announced closing in fifteen minutes, Lily had filled six pages of her notebook with dates, names, and potential research leads.
“Find anything interesting?” Mrs. Warren asked as Lily returned the microfiche reels.
“Lots. Did you know the same family maintained the structure for over a hundred years? I never realized it until now.” Lily shrugged. Until now, she hadn’t really paid much attention to her dad’s job or employer. Likely because she was caught up in being a teenager.