The lamp faced inland, away from the steps it was meant to illuminate. June turned it toward the water during her first inspection. By the next morning, someone had turned it back. She left a notice asking residents not to interfere with public equipment.
An elderly neighbor brought the previous caretaker's maintenance book. The lamp had been redirected temporarily while a woman recovered from an injury in the house opposite. Its light marked the entrance for evening visitors. The woman died, but her husband continued hosting the neighbors who had cared for her.
The arrangement had never been reviewed. June explained that the steps also needed light and arranged a second, lower fitting for the entrance. The husband gave her the original request, written by his wife on the back of a grocery receipt.
On the first evening with both lamps working, June watched a visitor reach the house without leaving the steps dark. She filed the receipt with the old maintenance note. A promise had survived its author; keeping it now required changing the equipment rather than endlessly turning the same lamp back.