4. Summer of Five
Swimsuits, sand, and sunglasses for all!
The friends grab a towel and take off for the shore with some sweet snacks and lemonade. It’s the perfect day to be at the beach.
The Waymaker Lighthouse
They meet up under the Waymaker Lighthouse, one of the most amazing structures in the whole neighborhood. It is taller than any oak tree, and its light cuts through the misty morning fogs that drape the mountain tops before the sun clears the clouds away. It can be seen from anywhere you stand in the neighborhood.
To get to the top, you must climb the “Trusting Stairs,” but only the very first time. After you make it to the top once, you can get back up there by simply closing your eyes and thinking about the light. It’s a good thing too, because the Trusting Stairs can be a difficult climb. Some of the steps are creaky, and some look like they’ll fall straight through. The first time any of the friends in the neighborhood went to the top, they had to hold onto the railing very tightly, but it’s definitely worth the work to get there!
From the top of the Waymaker Lighthouse, you can see far and wide. There’s a comfortable bench to rest and for some reason no one can explain, you can always find a box that holds a fresh bottle of water and a loaf of warm, sweet bread. No one has ever seen any of the neighbors add to or replace these things, they’re just always there. No one will ask the others about the things at the top either, because they’ve all needed to take a break up there before and they’re just grateful someone restocks the box.
After the friends drop their sweet treats for the day at the base of the lighthouse, they take off in different directions to do their favorite things:
Mousey likes to stand in the waves. They wash over his feet and he feels like he sinks a little lower into the sand with each swell. As he sinks, he feels more secure standing straight up against any wave that crests against his knees because the sand holds his toes tight.
Clementine Pennyfoot can be found strolling the long stretch of beach with her head down as she searches for bright things washed ashore. Sometimes she finds whole shells that aren’t broken - these she keeps. Sometimes she finds starfish or other living things that get stranded on the sand - these she throws back.
Teddy Bearon loves to sit in one spot and scoop sand while he watches his friends. He builds beautiful sand structures as he regards everything around him. He loves to make castles, but also enjoys taking a bucket of soggy sand and dripping it slowly in the same spot until it builds little trees and spires that get quite tall as they dry.
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