I only wish to own the plot of this story, and the characters. My second
wish is for you to read and review! Enjoy.
Past - Neverland
Chapter 1
The old woman shown greatly. Although she was not capable of doing what used to come natural to her she still had her young essence in everything else. Her hair was gray, her wrinkles were like prunes that had been in the sun too long, old and ruined. Yet even with these setback looks and baggy, soft blue eyes, she stood with pride, never slumping. As she sat in her familiar corner she remembered, as all who grow old do.
"Joseph," she called out.
Joseph Randolph Weamer had been a close friend to hers for such a long time, they went a ways back. He was part of her memory:
"Friends forever, in a pact, outside a box, inside a box, no way to separate, friends forever," this was their promise.
"Charity Roan Coey!" a voice cried out from over the fields.
They could see her mother in a distance next to the old house where she lived.
"Coming mother!" Charity replied, then turning to Joseph, "Race ya there, you petty, little boy."
"Like you could beat me," he replied.
"Ready," she started, "set, go!" As she said the word go she bolted off, running towards the old house, her long, thick brown hair flowing back in the wind."
"Hey, Cheater!" Joseph cried, running after her.
"It's about time you got here girl! Come on inside and give your poor, old mother a hand in getting ready for dinner," Sarah exaggerated as her daughter arrived.
"Hurry up Joseph!" Charity yelled back, "Sorry mother."
"Look at you, you're filthy..." she paused, "Well come inside and let us get you cleaned up."
"Good afternoon Mrs. Coey," Joseph said, out of breath and finally arriving.
"Well, I guess that you have nothing better to do than follow my daughter around," Sarah sighed, "all right then, lets get ya all cleaned up for supper, boy, now, don't doodle." She looked at him with her stern, green eyes and he knew right away to start moving along.
"Percy," Sarah called, Percy was the farm servant, "Now go along and let young Joseph's parent know that he will be having dinner at our place."
"Yes, ma'am," he replied and was then off to fulfill his employer's orders.
As they entered the rickety, old house there was a certain smell that filled the air. Mrs. Coey had gone to the store around 10:00 that morning and returned around noon with a handful of groceries including all things necessary to make a cake. She made the best cakes in the county and sold her recipes and cakes to friends, family, and anyone else interested. All day long she had worked hard for dinner. The meal would consist of turkey and ham along with corn, mashed potatoes and gravy, and fresh vegetables. Cooking was a joy for her and she hoped to pass that happiness to her daughter.
"Would you set these dishes on the table, Chary?" Sarah asked her daughter.
"Mother, these are the good dishes," Charity said as she took the dishes from her mother and headed for the older, more casual table that was in the corner of the kitchen.
"No, no, darling, we're eating in the dining room tonight. We mustn't forget the special event which shall be happening tonight."
"Yes, mother."
"Is everything ready, Mrs. Coey?" Joseph asked as he entered the kitchen.
"Yes, Joseph, all is ready. Now go and sit down and I'll be in there in a moment," Sarah told him.
"Surprise!" everyone yelled out as he entered the dining room.
"Happy Birthday, Joseph!" Charity cried out.
The table was covered with delicious food that made him drool, and in front of the only chair not occupied was a two-layered cake covered with frosting and topped with 16 candles. The guests included his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Weamer, Percy, the farm boy and house servant, and, of coarse, Charity and her mother.
"Make a wish boy," his mother said.
"All right," Joseph replied, taking in a deep breath and blowing the candles out.
After they had all eaten, the adults began to talk and Charity and Joseph went out into the fields to talk.
"It looks like rain," Charity said, "I can feel the mist in the air."
"Come on!" Joseph said, beginning to run.
"So, what did you wish for?" she questioned.
"Look at the moon, Chary, what do you see?" he asked.
"A simple light that never stops," she replied.
"Like you," he remarked, "here, stop running, relax, and know what the moon is."
Joseph sat down and laid back, "Now," he said, "feel the rain."
At that moment small drops of water came down, and to Joseph it was all in slow motion.
He closed his eyes and imagined all things, past and present, perhaps even future.
"Shouldn't we go back home, they'll be worried," Charity suggested, "I'm a bit worried myself."
"Chary, will I ever be good enough to be your Peter Pan?" Joseph asked hesitating.
"What do you mean?" she replied.
"You know what I mean," he answered.
"No..." she started.
"You mean?" Joseph sighed.
"No, I don't know what you mean. Now, you had best be goin' home, or should I dare call you a man?" She stood up as she said this, although she knew well what he meant. "He lives in my dreams, Joseph, no one can be my Peter Pan," she told him.
"But why?" Joseph pleaded.
"I know you, Joseph, we are friends and no more than friends, you have already grown up and I, I..." she paused, "I fear that, as I grow old, I will never be able to let go of that dream, of him that lives in my head. And who are you to be, my Peter Pan, he is just a fantasy character whom I imagine to be mine, he is not real, and I know this! If I ever were to fall in love, I tell you Joseph, it would not be with you!"
"I would die if we can't be together forever," he cried out as she started to walk away.
"We are together forever, as friends," Charity said turning around, "goodness, Joseph, we're only 16."
"And such a good age that is to fall in love!" he yelled.
"I'm me, Joseph, my love is my childhood, we are joined together, it and I, I shall never forget it. Go home, Joseph, we'll always be friends, but I don't have any belief in love at this point, I want always to be young and have fun. I doubt I will ever leave my past behind me," she finished.
"Wait!" Joseph cried out as she started to walk away.
"Joseph," she said, "what did you wish for?"
"You...I mean your happiness," he answered as he caught up with her, "Please!" he grabbed her hands and stopped her.
"Happy Birthday, Joseph," she managed to murmur and then ran away.
"I love you, I always will!" he yelled.
Charity didn't stop, and she did not hear his pleas. She just kept running until she reached home, stumbling and falling on her way.
"Charity, are you all right?" Sarah asked as Charity came bursting through the door.
"She's hurt!" cried Percy, who had been playing a game of chess with Sarah.
"Boy, Percy, you had best go get Nina," Sarah told him.
Nina was the house maid, she was more of a cleaner and errand servant compared to Percy, who did the heavier, harder jobs, mostly outside in the barnyard.
"Yes, ma'am," Nina said as she came in.
"Do you not see that my daughter is hurt and not well? Come here and tell me what is needed. And Charity, do sit down," Mrs. Coey finished.
Charity sat down and Nina took a look at her wounds. It was determined that she had a few large scratches on her legs and that her foot had a minor fracture.
"Nina, go get the doctor and tell him what has happened," Sarah commanded.
"Yes, ma'am," Nina answered, putting on her coat and grabbing an umbrella, then leaving to do what she had been told.
"Now, Percy, would you help my daughter into her bedroom, she can't stay out here you know. And I will go and write to her father of this," Sarah said.
"My father! He does not care about me, all he cares about are his precious groups of people who come to hear his sermon in China. Why would he leave for me?" Charity questioned.
"Because you are his one and only daughter and he loves you, he even came to visit you once when you were out playing in the fields with your friends," Sarah replied.
"You never told me of this before...am I still to trust you if I ever needed to hear the truth and it is not given to me?" she angrily questioned.
"He had also written to us, not too long ago, he has told me that he will be near by as a guest speaker next weekend. However, I wrote back to him and told him not to bother coming and to continue to write his nice letters to us; but now that this has happened I feel compelled to tell him the opposite," she finished.
"When did you last hear from him on this subject?" Charity asked.
"Just last Saturday afternoon, I received a letter from him telling me of this matter. But there is another matter.." Sarah said.
"What is that matter? Why have you been keeping this from me all this time?" Charity questioned anxiously, she did not know what to believe.
"A long while back he wrote to me asking to take you with him, he wanted to take you away from me to places that I would never be able to reach you and other places where you would be in danger, I couldn't let him take you away from me! I love you, Chary!" She finished.
"I love you too, mother, but now that I know this how am I to trust you when trust is the thing that is needed most to be let out?" Charity asked.
"I'm sorry, Chary, really, I am, I was just so afraid that I would never see my baby again if he came here and swept you..." she paused.
"Mother, what do you mean?" Charity asked.
"You don't know your father like I do, and if you did," she paused and sighed, "he would sweep you off your feet and off to that Neverland place that you wish for so much." Mrs. Coey answered.
"Ma'am," Percy said, interrupting the conversation, "the doctor is here."
"Oh, I guess we got caught up in ourselves for a time there, very well, help Chary into her room while I great the guest. Don't be discouraged, Chary, everything will be fine. I will write to your father," she finished.
"This way Doctor Hill," Mrs. Coey said, motioning to show the way through the hallway to Charity's room.
The doctor told them that Charity would have to stay in bed for about a month, which would include Christmas, but at the end of that period of time she would be able walk a little and he suggested that she save that time for Christmas Day. He also gave her some medicine to take for the pain and also to help with the wounds on her leg.
Their guess had been wrong, Charity had only sprained her ankle but her other wounds needed to be treated and made her very week, which gave due to the length of time she had to stay off her feet. Overall, however, she was just fine.
When Joseph found news of this a day or two later he was not sure what to say. He merely made a comment on the fact that it was all his fault and knew that he had to visit her.
"If only I had not been so stupid, we're only 16," he said to
himself, "We are friends, that is all. No one can be her Peter Pan."
Well, that's it, the first chapter. You have read it so now review, that's
the routine. I hope you liked it.
wish is for you to read and review! Enjoy.
Past - Neverland
Chapter 1
The old woman shown greatly. Although she was not capable of doing what used to come natural to her she still had her young essence in everything else. Her hair was gray, her wrinkles were like prunes that had been in the sun too long, old and ruined. Yet even with these setback looks and baggy, soft blue eyes, she stood with pride, never slumping. As she sat in her familiar corner she remembered, as all who grow old do.
"Joseph," she called out.
Joseph Randolph Weamer had been a close friend to hers for such a long time, they went a ways back. He was part of her memory:
"Friends forever, in a pact, outside a box, inside a box, no way to separate, friends forever," this was their promise.
"Charity Roan Coey!" a voice cried out from over the fields.
They could see her mother in a distance next to the old house where she lived.
"Coming mother!" Charity replied, then turning to Joseph, "Race ya there, you petty, little boy."
"Like you could beat me," he replied.
"Ready," she started, "set, go!" As she said the word go she bolted off, running towards the old house, her long, thick brown hair flowing back in the wind."
"Hey, Cheater!" Joseph cried, running after her.
"It's about time you got here girl! Come on inside and give your poor, old mother a hand in getting ready for dinner," Sarah exaggerated as her daughter arrived.
"Hurry up Joseph!" Charity yelled back, "Sorry mother."
"Look at you, you're filthy..." she paused, "Well come inside and let us get you cleaned up."
"Good afternoon Mrs. Coey," Joseph said, out of breath and finally arriving.
"Well, I guess that you have nothing better to do than follow my daughter around," Sarah sighed, "all right then, lets get ya all cleaned up for supper, boy, now, don't doodle." She looked at him with her stern, green eyes and he knew right away to start moving along.
"Percy," Sarah called, Percy was the farm servant, "Now go along and let young Joseph's parent know that he will be having dinner at our place."
"Yes, ma'am," he replied and was then off to fulfill his employer's orders.
As they entered the rickety, old house there was a certain smell that filled the air. Mrs. Coey had gone to the store around 10:00 that morning and returned around noon with a handful of groceries including all things necessary to make a cake. She made the best cakes in the county and sold her recipes and cakes to friends, family, and anyone else interested. All day long she had worked hard for dinner. The meal would consist of turkey and ham along with corn, mashed potatoes and gravy, and fresh vegetables. Cooking was a joy for her and she hoped to pass that happiness to her daughter.
"Would you set these dishes on the table, Chary?" Sarah asked her daughter.
"Mother, these are the good dishes," Charity said as she took the dishes from her mother and headed for the older, more casual table that was in the corner of the kitchen.
"No, no, darling, we're eating in the dining room tonight. We mustn't forget the special event which shall be happening tonight."
"Yes, mother."
"Is everything ready, Mrs. Coey?" Joseph asked as he entered the kitchen.
"Yes, Joseph, all is ready. Now go and sit down and I'll be in there in a moment," Sarah told him.
"Surprise!" everyone yelled out as he entered the dining room.
"Happy Birthday, Joseph!" Charity cried out.
The table was covered with delicious food that made him drool, and in front of the only chair not occupied was a two-layered cake covered with frosting and topped with 16 candles. The guests included his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Weamer, Percy, the farm boy and house servant, and, of coarse, Charity and her mother.
"Make a wish boy," his mother said.
"All right," Joseph replied, taking in a deep breath and blowing the candles out.
After they had all eaten, the adults began to talk and Charity and Joseph went out into the fields to talk.
"It looks like rain," Charity said, "I can feel the mist in the air."
"Come on!" Joseph said, beginning to run.
"So, what did you wish for?" she questioned.
"Look at the moon, Chary, what do you see?" he asked.
"A simple light that never stops," she replied.
"Like you," he remarked, "here, stop running, relax, and know what the moon is."
Joseph sat down and laid back, "Now," he said, "feel the rain."
At that moment small drops of water came down, and to Joseph it was all in slow motion.
He closed his eyes and imagined all things, past and present, perhaps even future.
"Shouldn't we go back home, they'll be worried," Charity suggested, "I'm a bit worried myself."
"Chary, will I ever be good enough to be your Peter Pan?" Joseph asked hesitating.
"What do you mean?" she replied.
"You know what I mean," he answered.
"No..." she started.
"You mean?" Joseph sighed.
"No, I don't know what you mean. Now, you had best be goin' home, or should I dare call you a man?" She stood up as she said this, although she knew well what he meant. "He lives in my dreams, Joseph, no one can be my Peter Pan," she told him.
"But why?" Joseph pleaded.
"I know you, Joseph, we are friends and no more than friends, you have already grown up and I, I..." she paused, "I fear that, as I grow old, I will never be able to let go of that dream, of him that lives in my head. And who are you to be, my Peter Pan, he is just a fantasy character whom I imagine to be mine, he is not real, and I know this! If I ever were to fall in love, I tell you Joseph, it would not be with you!"
"I would die if we can't be together forever," he cried out as she started to walk away.
"We are together forever, as friends," Charity said turning around, "goodness, Joseph, we're only 16."
"And such a good age that is to fall in love!" he yelled.
"I'm me, Joseph, my love is my childhood, we are joined together, it and I, I shall never forget it. Go home, Joseph, we'll always be friends, but I don't have any belief in love at this point, I want always to be young and have fun. I doubt I will ever leave my past behind me," she finished.
"Wait!" Joseph cried out as she started to walk away.
"Joseph," she said, "what did you wish for?"
"You...I mean your happiness," he answered as he caught up with her, "Please!" he grabbed her hands and stopped her.
"Happy Birthday, Joseph," she managed to murmur and then ran away.
"I love you, I always will!" he yelled.
Charity didn't stop, and she did not hear his pleas. She just kept running until she reached home, stumbling and falling on her way.
"Charity, are you all right?" Sarah asked as Charity came bursting through the door.
"She's hurt!" cried Percy, who had been playing a game of chess with Sarah.
"Boy, Percy, you had best go get Nina," Sarah told him.
Nina was the house maid, she was more of a cleaner and errand servant compared to Percy, who did the heavier, harder jobs, mostly outside in the barnyard.
"Yes, ma'am," Nina said as she came in.
"Do you not see that my daughter is hurt and not well? Come here and tell me what is needed. And Charity, do sit down," Mrs. Coey finished.
Charity sat down and Nina took a look at her wounds. It was determined that she had a few large scratches on her legs and that her foot had a minor fracture.
"Nina, go get the doctor and tell him what has happened," Sarah commanded.
"Yes, ma'am," Nina answered, putting on her coat and grabbing an umbrella, then leaving to do what she had been told.
"Now, Percy, would you help my daughter into her bedroom, she can't stay out here you know. And I will go and write to her father of this," Sarah said.
"My father! He does not care about me, all he cares about are his precious groups of people who come to hear his sermon in China. Why would he leave for me?" Charity questioned.
"Because you are his one and only daughter and he loves you, he even came to visit you once when you were out playing in the fields with your friends," Sarah replied.
"You never told me of this before...am I still to trust you if I ever needed to hear the truth and it is not given to me?" she angrily questioned.
"He had also written to us, not too long ago, he has told me that he will be near by as a guest speaker next weekend. However, I wrote back to him and told him not to bother coming and to continue to write his nice letters to us; but now that this has happened I feel compelled to tell him the opposite," she finished.
"When did you last hear from him on this subject?" Charity asked.
"Just last Saturday afternoon, I received a letter from him telling me of this matter. But there is another matter.." Sarah said.
"What is that matter? Why have you been keeping this from me all this time?" Charity questioned anxiously, she did not know what to believe.
"A long while back he wrote to me asking to take you with him, he wanted to take you away from me to places that I would never be able to reach you and other places where you would be in danger, I couldn't let him take you away from me! I love you, Chary!" She finished.
"I love you too, mother, but now that I know this how am I to trust you when trust is the thing that is needed most to be let out?" Charity asked.
"I'm sorry, Chary, really, I am, I was just so afraid that I would never see my baby again if he came here and swept you..." she paused.
"Mother, what do you mean?" Charity asked.
"You don't know your father like I do, and if you did," she paused and sighed, "he would sweep you off your feet and off to that Neverland place that you wish for so much." Mrs. Coey answered.
"Ma'am," Percy said, interrupting the conversation, "the doctor is here."
"Oh, I guess we got caught up in ourselves for a time there, very well, help Chary into her room while I great the guest. Don't be discouraged, Chary, everything will be fine. I will write to your father," she finished.
"This way Doctor Hill," Mrs. Coey said, motioning to show the way through the hallway to Charity's room.
The doctor told them that Charity would have to stay in bed for about a month, which would include Christmas, but at the end of that period of time she would be able walk a little and he suggested that she save that time for Christmas Day. He also gave her some medicine to take for the pain and also to help with the wounds on her leg.
Their guess had been wrong, Charity had only sprained her ankle but her other wounds needed to be treated and made her very week, which gave due to the length of time she had to stay off her feet. Overall, however, she was just fine.
When Joseph found news of this a day or two later he was not sure what to say. He merely made a comment on the fact that it was all his fault and knew that he had to visit her.
"If only I had not been so stupid, we're only 16," he said to
himself, "We are friends, that is all. No one can be her Peter Pan."
Well, that's it, the first chapter. You have read it so now review, that's
the routine. I hope you liked it.
