Key Largo: Chapter Three

It was nearing the noon hour and the wind was picking up again, but Sandy was still asleep in her hammock at the top of the lighthouse. Sherlock saw her stirring and quickly jumped in her lap in hopes of getting something. Sandy pet the orange kitty, picking him up, she set him on the ground and went to the great window at the top. Clouds were heavy and the fog was rolling in from the distance. She rang the bell and checked the time.

Walking back to the house, she turned on the radio inside to hear the weather report.

“Another storm is coming in with great fierceness. Bigger than last night’s, citizens in the Florida Keys should beware. Be prepared for storms to increase as the week progresses.”

Turning off the radio, Sandy let out a sigh.

“Ugg…what do you think Snowy?” she said staring down at the small dog. “I think I need a shower, but kinda late to be doing that right now.” Sandy sighed and set to cleaning up a bit around the house.

Soon, it was time to ring the bell again. She did so and on her way back, she latched down the lobster cage doors to keep them secure. She went inside again and closed up the last of the shutters on the windows. Grabbing her back and her entourage of pets, she locked the door and went back to the lighthouse.

Sandy enjoyed stormy days, with the wind blowing strong, and the thunder roaring. The lightning lit up the inside of the lighthouse and the thunder made it shake. She rang the bell, more often, due to the thick fog. The animals were all snuggled up in a giant ball in the corner, not particularly thrilled about the noisy storm.

Up most of the night, it was nearing early morning and Sandy had been ringing the bell and manning the light constantly. Looking out the window, she could see the palm trees blowing ferociously in the wind and the waves crashing strong and wide along the shore every time the lightning struck. She rubbed her eyes and looked down at the now-content animals, still sleeping.

Sandy grabbed a banana and sat on the stool overlooking the storm. She was tired, but didn’t mind sitting up. There shouldn’t be any boats out on a day like this, but still, it was her duty to keep them safe.

“Besides,” she thought to herself, “I think it brings an air of security when the people in town hear the bell. They like familiarity. I know that Pete would come out if he stopped hearing the bell, he has before.”

Sandy got up and began doing some ballet around the small room. She didn’t really know ballet, but she liked to pretend, and it kept her awake.

The day continued this way through the afternoon and evening with the wind and rain harshly blowing. Sandy had let the pets downstairs, just inside the lighthouse, to let them go to the bathroom. She had set up litter boxes, of sorts, and the dogs were small enough to use them as well.

She finished there and grabbed a sandwich, eating away while she rang the bell and rotated the light. It would be a long night.

#KeyLargo #Sandy #Stories