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The lighthouse- Short story
Joseph was welcomed with songs and ritual dances.
The small skiff was being tossed among the rocks as the tide lashed furiously. The clouds darkened. The rain started to pour down in sheets causing a fog to cover the sea. Joseph looked high in the misty sky and saw a dove carrying a green twig. Joseph attempted to follow in the the treacherous water. He looked out into the distance and saw a blinking lighthouse beacon. He knew if he could maneuver the small boat in that direction he would make it to shore.
Joseph had caught his quota of fish for that day and he felt good.
Just as he was nearing the shore edge his boat hit a spiked rock that splintered his boat into pieces. He hung on to a piece of the deck which was moving fast out into the deep water away from shore. He looked back at the lighthouse and saw the dove sitting atop the beacon. He frantically tried to turn the piece of wood around but it capsized plunging him to the bottom of the sea. He knew he was going to die. He was gasping for air when a shark swooped under him transporting him safely to the shore. As he climbed out of the water he looked for the lighthouse, it was nowhere in sight.
He was lost on an island that looked uninhabitable. He walked until he could walk no further, than sat down under a pine tree and slept. When he awakened the dove was sitting on his arm. He felt an excitement wash over him. The dove circled his head as if to say, " Follow me. " Joseph immediately began to follow. He soon came upon a small village of American Indians. He was welcomed with songs and ritual dances.
A beautiful bronze girl caught his eye. She put out her hand for him to join her. His heart was overflowing with gratitude and love. The young girl's name was Contessa, which means supreme goddess. She was the daughter of the village chief.
Joseph had been searching his entire life for love and a feeling of belonging. He'd been raised by an aunt after his mother died.
When he reached eighteen he struck out to find whatever was missing in his life. He was now twenty-two and for the first time in his young life felt he'd found his rightful place in this vast universe, and if he had any doubts they quickly vanished when he looked up and saw the white dove circling the smoke from the sunrise pipe ceremonies bellowing toward a rainbow which had miraculously appeared on this clear day of peace and joy.