Where Are the Light Switches?

1291 Words3 Pages

The task before Dad, Deb, and me was to gather the essentials necessary to scratch out an acceptable existence in this hostile Comfort Island environment. One more night as a family at the Maple Crest and then we’d move to our respective residences. I realized, as did Dad and Deb, that we had important preparations to make. We needed to get kerosene for the oil lamps, gas for the water pump and ice for the icebox. The prospect of using the coal stove anytime soon was not a serious concern.
Dad had made a list and after he returned from taking the plumber back to shore, we scouted around to see what we had and what we still needed. We conducted our search together. In the storage room beyond the kitchen I spotted two tongs that resembled a giant pair of scissors with circular hand grips and two curved hinged pieces with pointed barbs at the lower end of each steel shaft. “What are these for, Dad?”
“Those are ice tongs, Tad, and we’re going to need those to fetch ice for the ice box.”
Dad was making important discoveries of his own. Tucked into a drawer in one corner were wicks for the kerosene lamps. A couple of old miner’s lamps were sitting under a table as well.
In a rare display of exuberance and vitality, Dad was up and ready to go by mid-morning of the following day. The plan was for Mom and Betsy to take the car and their luggage to the TI Club and to get settled in there. In the meantime Dad, Deb, and I would get supplies then proceed to Comfort where we’d get settled in too. Our clothes were already at the island after I loaded them into the Buzz the previous day and then hiked them up to the house while Dad and Gerald Slate got started solving the water pump and plumbing problems.
“See you tonight at seven.” Dad said as...

... middle of paper ...

...ht.
Dad, for his part, was focused on getting some of the kerosene lamps operating. The lamps and wicks hadn’t been used for decades and a few wicks crumbled in his hands and had to be replaced altogether. Other wicks were okay and only needed trimming. Most of the lamps were designed for indoor use. A few fit into brackets suspended from a convenient post or panel while others were strictly table lamps. Our discovery of the mining lamps that would function in windy or rainy conditions would be a welcome convenience going forward. During our pioneering summer when we ventured out to dinner or to attend a social event, we placed one of these mining lanterns on the edge of the dock to assist our return after dark. The lantern not only showed us where to land, but it also made it easier to find our way through the underbrush to the main walkway that led to the house.

More about Where Are the Light Switches?

Open Document