The Lantern on the Track

On a windy Saturday evening, Maia and her cousin Georgia were walking home along a bush track near the coast. The sky was turning purple, and rain tapped on the leaves. Maia carried a small lantern to light their way. Near the old footbridge, the lantern flickered out. Georgia tried to relight it, but the wind blew out every match. They could not see the track clearly, and the tide was rising at the beach below. “We could wait under the bridge until the rain stops,” said Georgia. Maia shook her head. “The water might reach the path. Let’s use the reflector on my school bag to catch the light from the lighthouse.” They turned towards the shore. Each time the lighthouse beam swept past, Maia angled the reflector to light a few more steps. Georgia watched for slippery roots and called out directions. They moved slowly, stopping whenever the beam disappeared. At last, they reached the track’s gate and saw the lights of home. Their aunt was waiting there with a torch. Maia and Georgia were safe, and they had learned that working together—and thinking carefully—could help them through a difficult moment.