Chasing The Compass Song

20250523

Prompt from DailyPrompt.com

“When the storm comes, my compass always points to the old lighthouse.”
“Aye?” Todd said bemusedly. “Well, that’s useful.”
“No, it’s not.” Wilma frowned down at the battered brass compass. “I’m talking about the old lighthouse. The one on the island.”
“Ahh.” Todd pushed his cap back and squinted across the bay. “So that’s why you want a ride.”
Wilma nodded. “Storm’s due about seven. You’ll have plenty of time to row back.”
“Leaving you stranded on that rock?” Todd frowned. “Lass, a storm out on the water is a whole ‘nother beast from what you’ll be used to.”
“Yeah, yeah.” Clearly she’d discussed her plan with someone already, and clearly she wasn’t minded to listen to naysaying. “The buildings there are built to stand up to the weather.”
“Mouldering and frigid, too.” Todd puffed through his moustache. “And what if the storm lingers? Three days out there and a snip like you’ll freeze to death!”
Wilma scowled. “Fine. I’ll ask someone else.”
“Anyone with a brain and a conscience will tell ya the same.” Todd caught her wrist as she started to whirl away. “Listen. The compass reacts to every storm, yeah?”
“…Yeah?”
“So let this one go, and prep proper. You’ll need far more’n that-” Todd waved to her backpack “-for this. You’ll want camping gear. A tent you can set up inside one of those buildings. Oil stove and fuel for at least three days. Clean water for the same. And food. A set of spare clothes, so you can change if you get soaked.”
“Just one set of clean clothes?” Wilma quirked an eyebrow, her nose wrinkling.
“Tsk! If sleeping in dirty clothes puts ya off, you’re not ready for adventure.” Todd laughed, and after a moment she ruefully joined in. “Nah, lass, more’s fine. But you need at least one set spare. Yeah?”
“I… ok.” Wilma’s shoulders were drooping, but her mouth was set in a determined pout.
“Now. You know your first aid?”
“Um. Yeees?”
“Pfft, that doesn’t sound like someone who could set their own broken arm on a rock in the middle of the water.”
Wilma cringed.
“Aye, not a nice thought, is it? Which is why you oughta take a friend. Two people means packing more, sure, but it also means being able to look out for each other. On your own, one slip and…” Todd gripped his throat and gave the gurgling whimper of a drowning man.
Wilma’s shudders redoubled.
Finally, she grasped what she was getting herself into. Todd nodded approval. “You come back with all that, and I’ll get one of my friends with a powered boat to ferry you over. But I don’t want innocent blood on my hands. And that’s what I’d have if I took you over like this.”
“I… ok.” Wilma tucked the compass away and turned - then looked back. “You wanna come? When I get everything?”
“Me? Pff, don’t you think I’m too old for adventure?”
Wilma grinned. “No. I think you’re qualified.”

Prompt was “When the storm comes, my compass always points to…”