The Chicken, the Aunt and the Lighthouse

The Lighthouse – Sofie Smith Ayden stood before the lighthouse, eclipsed by its shadow. The sky was grey, overcast. The ocean was grey, too, and the bay. He shifted anxiously, feeling out of place in his neon green Velcro Skechers and matching bandana. Casting a final glance over his shoulder towards his parents’ disappearing Holden ute, he sighed. Ayden had spent the entire drive complaining and pouting, and frankly he was exhausted. His parents were angry. According to his mother, he cared more about his double contrabass flute than her. According to his father, he spent more time in the band room than at home. And so, they confiscated his sheet music, told him to pack his bags and brought him here. To the edge of the civilised world. To stay with his antiquated Aunt Helga in her run-down old lighthouse. To study and self-reflect. Ayden raised his fist and knocked on the door. He winced; several splinters wedged in his skin. “AUUUUUNTIE!” he wailed, cradling his hand. The heavy door swung open. Ayden stared up at his Aunt Helga, who smiled heartily. She was a broad-shouldered woman with muscled arms and tanned skin, from a lifetime of hard work. Her face was square and freckled, with a scar traversing her cheek. She would always claim it was from a shark, but Ayden had his doubts. Aunt Helga held the door open and ushered him inside, chattering politely. Ayden shouldered his bag, looking pained. His double contrabass flute was especially cumbersome – he grasped it with both hands and limped inside. The lightkeeper’s house was bleak, small in comparison to the imposing lighthouse. The floors were cold wood, the walls either cobbled stone or beige plaster. It was cold, the windows were stained with salt and the house smelt of the ocean. A slow, high pitched whistle rung throughout the house. Ayden knew he couldn’t live here. Where would he practice the double contrabass flute? He looked around despairingly – no TV, no phone, no PS4 to play The Virtual Orchestra: Step inside the Philharmonia Orchestra (conducted by Esa-Pekka Salonen). Aunt Helga pointed out his temporary bed – a collection of blankets and pillows tossed upon an ancient couch. Ayden abandoned his bags and rose, dashing outside. His aunt stared after him, confused. Ayden sat in the shade of the lighthouse, beside a small chicken coop and yard. He sighed, wiping tears from his eyes. 14-year-olds don’t cry! As he sat and composed himself, something shifted in his peripheral vision. He jumped and turned, only to be met by a blinding light. A muscular chicken strutted from behind the coop, feathers glistening red in the sunlight, blue eyes shining. “That… is one attractive chicken” he muttered. “How you doin’?” asked the chicken, voice deep, smooth and utterly bogan. Ayden was disturbed, needless to say. But once he introduced his pet rock and engaged in a thrilling conversation about the double contrabass flute, he felt much more at ease with the concept of talking chickens, particularly handsome ones named Drumstick. By evening, Ayden left Drumstick and returned to the house, prepared to face his doom. Chapter 2 – Anika Lu As Aunt Helga was telling Ayden his chores for the week, he began to shout and scream “What the in the world is a chore‽” Helga let out a deep sigh and explained. “It’s something you’ll be doing every day from now on, good luck!”. He slowly inspected, in pure frustration, the list that was thrown at him. “I HAVE TO WASH DISHES?” he screamed, indignant. “DON’T YOU HAVE A DISHWAHER?”. “No Ayden, do you think I have a spare $700 just sitting around?” she responded, genuinely impressed at the boy’s arrogance.