The Littlest Lighthouse Keeper

Barnaby Buttercup was a kind, if a little lonely, lighthouse keeper. He loved his job, making sure the light shone bright for all the ships at sea, but he wished he had a friend to share his days with. One day, a small, scruffy seagull named Pip landed on the lighthouse railing. Pip was a bit of a grump, always talking about his dad, the bravest and fastest flyer in all the skies. Barnaby, who had always wished for a little one to care for, offered Pip a warm place to stay, a soft bed made of old sailor's rope and a bowl of yummy fish stew.

Barnaby loved sharing stories of the sea and showing Pip how to keep the lighthouse shining bright. But Pip just missed his dad and would often sulk, saying his dad did everything better. He wouldn’t even try Barnaby’s yummy fish stew!

Barnaby, however, never gave up. He would patiently show Pip the different sea creatures that swam by, teach him about the importance of the lighthouse beam, and sing funny sea shanties. Slowly, Pip started to crack a smile. He learned to help Barnaby keep the light polished and discovered that Barnaby’s fish stew was actually quite tasty. They would often watch the sunrise and sunset together and talk about their dreams. Pip started to see that although his dad was a great flyer, Barnaby was a great friend and a caring companion.

One stormy night, a small boat lost its way in the fog. It was Barnaby and Pip’s light that guided the boat to safety. Pip, who had learnt the importance of the lighthouse from Barnaby, helped shout out the boat's coordinates. For the first time, Pip felt a sense of pride not about his own father, but about what they had achieved together. He knew then, that he didn't need his dad around to have a family. He had Barnaby and they were both very special. From that day on, Barnaby and Pip became the best of friends, a family, always watching over the sea and each other, from their little lighthouse home.