Peter and Wendy

By: June Goddess

Prologue

It has been almost one year since the Darling children, Wendy, John, and Michael, had had their adventure in Neverland with Peter Pan. When Peter and Wendy parted ways, Peter had promised to get Wendy and take her back to Neverland for spring-cleaning the following year. It was now nearing that promised time, and Wendy was so excited she was chastised in class three times for daydreaming.

Upon arriving home she raced up to her room and changed into more suitable clothing. Peter, her dear Peter, would be flying in the nursery window very soon. She was sure of it! No sooner had she finished the thought than a beloved tune from a pan flute softly reached her ears. Her feet carried her to the nursery where she was greeted with the sight of Peter Pan.

"Peter," she sighed happily. A huge smile graced her features.

The boy looked up from his flute. "Wendy!" he cried delightedly. He flew across the room and hugged her. "How good it is to see you!" he said politely, remembering how she liked him to display gentlemanly manners. His own special smile was aimed straight at her.

"How have you been, Peter?" Wendy asked. The boy immediately brought up all of his recent heroic feats.

Wendy only kept half her attention on his stories, as she knew it would be quite a while before he stopped talking about himself. He really was most conceited. But she didn't mind. She discreetly observed Peter with a critical eye. As he was without a mother, Wendy worried for him. As always, he seemed perfect.

Presently, Wendy made her farewells to her parents, her brothers, and the former Lost Boys. Oh! And of course Nana, the children's sweet-tempered nanny-dog.

Peter barely took notice of anyone. He was too busy relating his newer adventures to Wendy. And boasting of his triumphs, naturally.

So then they were off to Neverland, with Peter holding Wendy's hand. Just in case. Everyone watched from the nursery window as the two flew off into the distance. Mr. Darling realized he had work to do at the office still and left. The boys remembered they had their blasted homework to complete. So that left the sweet Mrs. Darling gazing out of the window until Liza, the maid, told her supper was to be served shortly.

Wendy's week in Neverland went by too quickly, and before she knew it, she was entering the nursery window. The hours at the lagoon filled her with happiness as she recalled them. The time with Peter made her giddy. Knowing that she now had to say good-bye and for the next year broke her heart in two. Oh, how she wanted to cry, but she smiled instead. For Peter. She didn't want to worry him.

"Good-bye Peter. I had a truly lovely time," Wendy said softly.

"Yeah, it was fun," he agreed. He gave her his roguish smile. "Well, Wendy-lady, I have to go. I'll see you again."

"Wait!" Wendy cried in alarm. "Won't you say hello to the boys? I think they should like that."

"Hmm? Nah, maybe another time," he said indifferently with a shrug. He hopped to the window sill. "Bye Wendy!" he said over his shoulder. Then he flew out into the sky and became smaller and smaller in the distance, until he quite disappeared.

The next year came and went with no sign of Peter Pan. So did the year after that. And the year after that. And the year after that. Until four years passed. Wendy was now quite a young lady. Four years since she had seen Peter Pan . . .