Molly rolled over on her side with her headphones in, trying to block out the sound of her mother and father arguing. It wasn't the first time she had trouble sleeping due to their constant bickering, and she was ever so jealous of her younger sister, Catherine, who could sleep through anything. She sighed, turned on her nightlight and checked her phone. 02:32. Half past two in the morning already, and she had school tomorrow! At the tender age of 14, Molly was already planning her escape from the place she called "home". She had it all figured out. In 3 months time, in May, Molly would be 15, and even closer to being a grown up, and then she could take on the part time paper route that her uncle was in charge of on their street. She would earn approximately £20 a week plus tips, £15 of which she would save away in the piggy bank she had by her bedside for this very purpose.
"GRRRRUUUUUUUUUUUU" Catherine was a rather loud sleeper, and Molly thought that even if she did doze off she would soon be awoken anyway.
Molly shared her room with her sister. Ever since her father, Martin Alexander Park lost his job at FairRight Industries, the family had had to trade their luxuries lifestyle and move in with Molly's grandparents.
"Oh do be quiet Martin, you shall wake the kids at this rate!" Molly's mother Elizabeth was a kind woman, but had become so exasperated lately that she hardly noticed that Molly had begun failing school, and the bags under her eyes from lack of sleep. Elizabeth had taken up childminding to earn extra money, so the house was in constant uproar between the hours of 08:00 - 16:30. Molly often visited the local park after school, where she would skip stones on the lake, and you could often see her on a swing staring into the sky. This is where Molly did most of her thinking, as it was quiet and peaceful and serene. You see, the children who left primary school would also visit the park just as they left school, and would be so tired by half past three that they would wonder home, leaving the park free for Molly to dream. Molly would think of her future a lot, of the home she would make for herself, perhaps with her best friend Judy, perhaps with a man, or perhaps with the boy from the stories. Maybe she would live with Peter Pan!
"Poppycock" she would sigh, and swing higher as if trying to go over the top of the swings much too fast. "Just kids stories" she would mutter. Molly's mother, and nanny had often fed her and her sister many stories as children, much younger than they are now. When she was 8, Molly found her mother wrapping her Christmas presents, and had decided Santa was a phony. At age 9 she began to wonder why a bunny would want to give her chocolate, and how a bunny could carry so much chocolate around anyway? She concluded this was also make believe. But not until this year, when she really began to think about it, did she start to doubt the reality of this so called boy who would never grow up.
"BAAANG" - "MARTIN! Put that down! … Stop sma-" a smash followed, and Molly turned her music off and put her pillows over her ears instead. Maybe if she left her window open…
"Neverland" she scoffed. "Really, I do believe if one could fly, and such a place existed, they would have been seen through telescopes or by the rocket ships" However, Molly could not help her curiosity. She had left her bed and was standing looking out of her window into the starry sky. "It is rather hot. Perhaps some fresh air won't hurt…" She opened the window, and peered out further, leaning over the window sill. With what she believed was her last thread of hope, she sighed, turned and retreated to her bed. Lying down, she scarcely remembered hearing some music, a lullaby or melody, so soft and as she sank into sleep, the music got louder, and louder, and louder. 'What was this?' She wondered, and before she could say "fairies!" or something else as short, her eyes shot open and she let out a small scream. Her scream was muffled by a hand, and she was face to face with a boy who appeared to be hovering over her. She shut her eyes, opened again, shut, and open, yet there he remained.
"Hey Tink" said the boy, "You woke her up with your light" his tone sounded annoyed. "What have I told ya about waiting outside when I come in to find the story books?"
A small light, which Molly hadn't noticed as of course she was not awoken by this, but music, was darting around the top left hand corner of her room, near the bedroom door.
Molly, feeling the boy above her had forgot he had her pinned down with his hand over her face, resorted to waving her hands in front of his face, attempting to ask "What are you doing?" but it was still somewhat muffled.
"Oh yeah, you" the boy started, "you gotta promise not to scream. You know who I am anyway, what's your name?" Molly stared at him "Oh, right" he took his hand away from her face, and she started up to sit on her bed, and the boy flew back, sitting himself at the end of her bed. "What are you?" Was all she could manage, which made the boy chuckle.
"You know me, you think about me every day! Well, at least you used to. Now it's more like every week. And if it becomes every month, I'm afraid I'll have to let go."
"What on earth do you mean?" She got out of her bed, and stormed over to him. The fairy flew by his side, lighting up their faces. "You… Why you're Peter Pan."
"I knew you'd get there! Eventually." He grinned, and flew over to the chest of drawers by the window.
"I'm Molly Amelia Park…Whatever are you doing? You can't look through my things! That… That's illegal! I'm sure…" She shut the drawer, just in time to lock the small light inside. She watched as the boy looked under her bed, and under her sisters.
"So where do you keep the story books these days?" Peter asked, flying over to a big box beside her sisters bed. "Ah! A treasure chest! Lets have at it matey!" He said gallantly before opening the lid to find old teddy dolls and toys. "Oh, girls stuff" Molly was in a great deal of shock, and by this point was sitting back down on her bed with her head in her hands not quite knowing what to do. She felt a presence beside her and looked up. Peter had sat himself down next to her, and began playing on a set of panpipes. "The music…" she said, as if everything was falling in to place. "The music! Do you know, I've heard that music almost every night of my life so long as I can remember?" Peter didn't look phased, even though Molly was on her feet unable to contain herself. "Yuhuh" was Peters reply. "Anyway, I gotta get going. I'll have to go to another house to find some stories" He made way for the window which was wide open and blowing gusts of leaves inside.
"No!" Molly exclaimed, making a frantic run to the window and catching his hand. She blushed, then grinned. "You know, I know lots of stories, ever so many. I don't need any books"
Peter looked like he was in deep thought over this statement "Wanna come with me?"
"Why, of course!" She clapped her hands together hardly believing her luck. "I'll have to leave a note, and pack some clothes and…"
"No time!" Peter grabbed her hand. "Now or never" he grinned.
"Then lets get going!" she exclaimed. "Wait"… her smile faded. "How shall we get there. And where exactly is 'there'?"
"Neverland of course! You know that! And as for how we get there, we fly! That reminds me, Tink? Where did that pesky fairy go now?" He flew slowly around the room listening intently. "Aha! Open the drawer, Molly" Complying, a small light buzzed out quickly, shaking a lot of sparkly dust everywhere. Before she knew what was happening, Molly was floating around the room with her friend of 10 minutes.
"Ready to go?" He asked, but was already by the window ready to leave.
"Lets go!" Peter took hold of Molly's hand, and out the window they flew, into the night.
"It's not far now" the boy reassured, squeezing her hand, as they approached the second star to the right.
