Luscious Bight was the foggiest place on earth. Moses Pike kept the lighthouse there. He was tall and thin but his voice was almost as deep as the foghorn that bellowed across the water.
One cold, windy night he heard a call from the black foggy ocean, so down he went to the dock and called out.
"Hallllooooo!"The muffled thumping of oars came in reply and a dory appeared out of the darkness rowed by a fat man in a red slicker.
"Well then," Moses said, "Come to the house for mug up. I have two biscuits left and you are welcome to them." He helped the fat man out of the boat.
Moses sat his visitor down in the chair and pulled the blackened teapot from the back of the stove.
"I'd ask if you want a cup or a mug, but I only have a mug." He poured the strong tea into the chipped mug and put the two biscuits on a plate along with some butter.
"Won't you join me, Moses?"
"Tis the last of my stores until the wind drops."
"Take a look in your cupboard," the stranger said, "I'm sure I saw a box of biscuits there." Moses shrugged and looked. Sure enough there was fresh box of biscuits. He put them on the table.
"You aren't going to have any tea?"
"Tis only one mug." said Moses, "I broke the other one last month."
"Only one mug? That is a strange thing. I would swear I saw one on the shelf over the sink.” Moses didn't shrug this time but went and fetched the mug from the shelf. It was a fine sturdy china mug. He poured himself a half cup.
"Don't tell me you're out of tea? Have another look in that cupboard of yours." Moses nodded and fetched the tea. He put more water on to boil.
"Is there anything else I can offer? Moses asked.
"Thank you, but no. Tea and biscuits and cheese is fine for me." Moses saw that a great slab of yellow cheese had appeared on a plate beside the butter. He cut himself a slice and nibbled at it.
"It is nice to have a guest," he said, "Thanks for dropping in. I have a bed for you to sleep in if you be needing it."
"I know, and I know it is your own bed too," said the stranger. "But I would be glad of some shut eye before I get on."
Moses showed him to his room then propped himself in a chair in the kitchen and cut himself another slice of cheese and savoured its sharpness.
He slept deep and well in the chair.
Moses woke in the morning to find the dishes clean, the food put away and the cupboards full.
There was a note on the table.
"Tis a fine man who will share his last biscuit with a stranger. Merry Christmas. S."