Chapter 2.
Wendy didn't think about the light that woke her up the other night, anymore. Perhaps she even had forgot about it. The days went by as usual. Wendy met Maxwell several times during the week. He tried his hardest to make her notice him, gave her presents and sent her love letters. Any girl would kill to be engaged to a man like that, not Wendy though. She did not love him and she was very surprised that he hadn't noticed that yet. Maybe love is blind after all. Her best friend, Miranda, constantly told her how ungrateful she was. She said that Wendy was very lucky to have a man like Maxwell.
One morning, after breakfast, Wendy was helping her mother with the dishes. They talked about what they should eat at the wedding, or her mother talked, Wendy listened.
Don't you think that salmon would be the perfect thing to serve on the wedding, darling? Mary said.
Oh, please mother! Can't you stop talking about that wedding for one minute? Wendy said angrily.
Mary looked startled but didn't say anything for a while. Wendy put a plate in the cupboard.
Can you do me a favor, Wendy? Mary asked after a while.
Yes, of course. Wendy answered.
Buy some eggs for supper down at the market, please.
Wendy nodded and left the kitchen. She opened the big front door and went out. The neighbor, Mrs. Marshall, waved at her, Wendy smiled and waved back. Mrs. Marshall was a lovely lady. After a five-minute walk, she came to the market. It was almost like all people in London were there. They weren't, but there were a lot of people! Wendy struggled hard to get her eggs and she almost dropped them because she bumped into several people.
Oh, I am so sorry. she said when she accidentally stepped a young man on his toes.
Don't worry about it, miss. he said and walked past her.
That voice. She had heard it somewhere. But where and when? It didn't sound exactly as she was used to hear it, but it was no question about it! She had met that man before! If she only could have seen his face. He rushed past her so quickly that she didn't have any chance to see what he looked like.
Later that day, Wendy sat as usual in her bedroom and looked out the window. Raindrops kept falling and they clattered against the glass. Wendy was bored, oh so bored. She got up from the chair and went to one of the lost boys room; Tootles. She knocked on his door and opened it. His window was open and the floor closest to it was wet from the rain.
Tootles, the floor will be ruined if it gets wet! Wendy said.
Oh, I did not think about that.
Tootles closed the window, but kept staring out on the sky.
You miss it, don't you? Neverland? Said Wendy softly.
Sometimes. It was my home for many years. But I miss Peter the most… Tootles answered.
Peter. She missed him to. Not a day went by without her thinking about him. It had been four years since Wendy saw him. His sterling eyes and big smile. What energy that boy had!
Tootles was still focusing on the sky. Wendy said:
He will not come back. You know he won't.
But I can at least dream about it. Hope that one day he will return. Tootles looked at her. Then he opened the window once again. He whispered, mostly to himself:
The window shall always be open for him.
Wendy turned around and went out in the hallway. There it was again! The light! It was not big; it looked like a flying ball. It flew into her bedroom and Wendy followed it.
It can't be…? Wendy whispered.
The light came closer. Wendy saw it now. It was a fairy. Not just any fairy.
Tinkerbell?
The small fairy nodded. She flew even closer to Wendy's face. Tinkerbell started talking, but Wendy couldn't understand a word. She called for Tootles and he came running. When he saw Tinkerbell he looked very surprised. But happy at the same time. He rushed towards the young woman and the fairy. He said:
Tink? Is it really you? What are you doing here?
Tinkerbell started talking again and Tootles nodded once in a while.
I see… he said.
What? What did she say? Said Wendy.
Well, she says that she has come here from Neverland to visit us, the lost boys.
Oh, I thought… Don't she have any news from Peter? Wendy said eagerly.
Tootles asked Tinkerbell something and the fairy instantly looked sad. She said something.
She says that she hasn't seen Peter for a quite a while.
Both Tootles and Wendy looked at the fairy with big eyes. Peter and Tink were inseparable.
How long ago…? started Wendy.
Tinkerbell held up four of her fingers.
Four years… Tootles whispered.
Tinkerbell flew out from the room, then in to Tootles room. Since his window was opened, she could get out from the house.
Oh dear God...! whispered Wendy.
She fell to the floor. She had fainted.
