Tom walked along the big rocks near the sea. The wind was strong and the air smelled of salt. He had been coming to this place for many years. Every Sunday, he visited his friend Ben who worked at the lighthouse.

Ben was an older man with kind eyes. His hair was white and his hands were rough from hard work. The lighthouse stood on the high cliff. It helped ships stay safe during the night.

“Hello Tom,” Ben said with a smile. “Come in out of the wind.”

They sat inside the warm room. Tea cups sat on the table. Outside, waves crashed against the stones.

“How are you feeling?” Tom asked.

Ben looked tired. “My body hurts more these days. I cannot walk fast anymore.”

Tom understood. Ben had watched this ocean for fifty years. He knew every storm and every calm day. Ships passed by, but Ben stayed in his tower.

“I think I will leave soon,” Ben said softly. “The company found a younger man.”

Tom felt sad. Who would teach him about the birds? Who would tell stories about fishing boats in bad weather?

“Do not worry,” Tom said. “You can visit my garden. My wife makes good soup.”

Ben laughed and nodded. “That sounds nice.”

The next Sunday, Tom came back alone. The door was locked. Inside, no light shone. Ben was gone. But on the wall, Ben had painted a small ship in blue. Tom smiled. His friend was still here in his own way.

From that day forward, Tom told his children and grandchildren about the lighthouse keeper. And sometimes, on quiet nights, they would walk to the sea and look at the dark water together.

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Vocabulary Notes

Cliff
A cliff is a high, steep rock face, usually found near the sea or on the side of a mountain. Cliffs are formed by natural forces like wind and water over a very long time.
From the story: “The lighthouse stood on the high cliff.”
Similar words: rock face, precipice, escarpment, ridge, ledge.

Rough
Rough means having an uneven or irregular surface. It can describe things you can touch, like skin or stone, but it can also describe conditions, like a rough sea or a rough day.
From the story: “His hair was white and his hands were rough from hard work.”
Similar words: coarse, uneven, bumpy, textured, rugged.

Crashed
Crashed is the past tense of crash. It means to hit something with force, often with a loud sound. Waves can crash against rocks, and cars can crash into each other.
From the story: “Outside, waves crashed against the stones.”
Similar words: smashed, struck, slammed, battered, pounded.

Locked
Locked is the past tense of lock. It means to secure something with a lock so that it cannot be opened without effort. Doors, boxes, and phones can all be locked.
From the story: “The door was locked.”
Similar words: sealed, fastened, secured, bolted, closed tightly.

Painted
Painted is the past tense of paint. It means to cover a surface with colour using a brush or similar tool. People paint walls, pictures, and sometimes even rocks.
From the story: “Ben had painted a small ship in blue.”
Similar words: decorated, coloured, coated, drawn, brushed.

Story written by Lumo.

Image created by 1min.ai.

CC Music: Drifting at 432 Hz – Unicorn Heads.

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