Peter Pan had never seen a bald girl before. In fact, to him the whole idea of a girl with no hair was ludicrous. Which meant, to him, there was no such thing as a female without hair.
It was Nibs who found the baby that day. It was growing late, the sun was just about to set, and the streets were beginning to darken into shades of midnight blue. Peter, Nibs, Tootles, and one of the twins were in England, one of their favorite haunts. They were on their way home, getting ready to soar back up into higher air, when an unusual sight caught Nibs' eye. A middle-aged woman was pushing an old baby carriage, unaccompanied, down a musty, unlit alley.
"Peter, wait." Nibs called. "Look."
The woman stopped, and peered around anxiously. Seeing no one (she did not look up and see the four boys suspended in mid-air) she quickly took the baby from the carriage and set it on the ground. Taking the carriage, she speedily wheeled around and headed back the way she had come. Only when she was half way out did she pause, and look at what she was leaving behind. But her stop was only for a moment, and she continued on her way again, and was soon out of sight.
Peter frowned. That was certainly an odd thing to do. Then again, most adults were odd.
A cold wind whipped around the streets, shaking the blankets half open on the little bundle. It was too cold for a baby out these days. It was late October, and all ready winter was knocking. Why was this one all alone, and outside at all?
"Maybe his parents are coming to get him." Tootles suggested, knowing what the others were thinking.
"Maybe." Peter said doubtfully. He shrugged his shoulders and started to fly away.
"Wait!" Nibs cried. "He could die out here. I don't think anybody is coming."
"We can't take him," Tootles insisted, "he didn't fall out of his carriage, and it hasn't been seven days!"
"But it'll be too late by then." Nibs said, worried.
Peter groaned, but flew to the ground, landing silently on his feet. He saunter over to the babe, crouched down, and undid the rest of the bundle to get a good look at the babe.
"Are you sure it's a him?" The twin asked (Peter was never sure which.).
"Of course. It has no hair, and have you ever seen a bald girl?" Peter asked.
"Well, no…"
"Then obviously Peter is right." Tootles said firmly.
Peter scooped up the little bundle, wrapped it back up firmly, and handed it off to Nibs.
"Let's go home before he dies." Peter suggested casually, and he took off again, the boys following suit.
