Chapter 2

Questions flooded my head. Who are you? Where are you from? Where are we going? But once he started to soar into the clouds with me clutched to his chest, all thoughts were forgotten. I felt as if I was made of air, as if I wasn't surrounded by the boundaries of my skin, as if I was a spirit floating around in nothingness, not knowing where I came from or where I was going. I threw my head back (accidentally striking the boy in the face with my hair) and imagined myself one of the city pigeons that I would gaze at for hours from the windowsill. But my emotions were too big for those small, one-minded birds, and I thought about the majestic eagles I had so admired from the pages of a worn book. It ended too soon, but I refused to open my eyes or bring my arms back to my side, hopping to prolong this blissful moment. I did not have a choice, though, when my rescuer dropped me to the ground.

It was probably only a distance of three feet, but still, he should at least given me a warning. I brushed myself off, watching the sand and pebbles I had collected in my nightdress fall into a neat little pile at my feet. A loud, booming roar filled the air, causing me to jump back in surprise. I cautiously raised my head, feeling a strange, yet welcoming warm breeze caress my face. I let out a gasp of wonderment at the sight before me. Crystal blue as far as the eye could see, shimmering and sparkling, the greatest jewel of all. The ocean.

I breathed deeply, drawing the moist salt air into my lungs. Stepping forward, I felt the wind pull on my nightdress, billowing it behind me. When I gently placed my foot in the water, I felt it creep slowly up my leg, begging me to play. I took another step forward mesmerized by the slow lapping of the waves. Come, it beckoned, feel my warmth, see my wonders, be part of me and my power. The water was up to my waist by now; all it would take was one more step, one small step. I raised my foot in anticipation, the ocean growing stronger. I shrieked in pain as something yanked my hair, pulling me up and away from my doom.

This time I landed safely on the ground, far away from the ocean. Trees clustered around me and animals skittered through the branches. I turned around, only to stare into a pair of dark brown eyes.

"Who are you?" I blurted out.

"Peter Pan, who else?" the boy asked, surprised.

"Peter, who?" I could instantly see the hurt in his eyes, as if I had hit him.

He recovered quickly and smiled, all traces of self doubt gone, dispersed into the canopy of trees that sheltered of heads. "Why, I'm the great, the magnificent, the all powerful protector of the lost boys." He said, grinning like a Cheshire cat.

"Well", I said, trying to think of a title for myself that was just as conceited as his. "I'm the just, loyal, and caring mother of the children of St. Mary's orphanage on 15th street, also known as Felice Marie Collins."

His face perked up when I said the word "Mother", as if it held a special power over him and at once leaped toward me and took my hand. "Felice Marie Collins, will you be our mother, I mean, the lost boys and I, we have so been longing for one."

I was left speechless. He, this boy right in front of me, starring at me with such innocence, was asking me to be his mother? He couldn't be any younger than I was, could he? "Peter, how old are you and the lost boys?"

"Well, let me see, I'm the oldest, which would make me about thirteen years old."

"Exactly" I smiled gently, as if telling a child that their favorite toy had been thrown out because it was too old. "I'm fourteen, one year older than you are. Don't you think it would be a little strange?"

"Strange, not at all. You're fourteen and I'm fifteen, which makes it just perfect." He explains, a triumph smile beginning to show.

 I gaped at him. One minute he says he's thirteen, the next fifteen and then he says that its fine to have a mother be younger than her child! It made no sense; maybe flying affected your brain.

I turned my back to him and tried to walk away, but his hand remained on my arm. I looked up to tell him to get lost when my gaze met his. I was captivated, and something told me that he felt it too. He cautiously raised his hand and brushed it along my check, causing me to shake uncontrollably. He did not notice and brought his face close to mine. For a second I thought he would kiss but then…

"Please", he whispered, his warm breath on my face, "be our mother."

Still captivated, all I could do was nod stupidly. His face at once brightened and he lifted a few feet off the ground, pulling me with him.

"I can't wait for you to meet the lost boys. You'll get along swell with them. And  then you'll have to meet the mermaids and the savages and I'll take you to see the pirates, hopefully they're in a bad mood."

"Peter", I screamed, my wrist being wrenched from its socket.

Finally he gave me a glance and frowned, dropping me on the ground. His smile soon returned, it seemed never to be far from his face.

"You wait here", he called, and disappeared into the dense forest, leaving me utterly alone and bewildered.