I was lying down on my cushioning bed, with my headphones strung around my ears, blasting E.L.O as I slowly slunk away from the world. The words swirled around me, engulfing me tightly, all my thoughts, worries, stressors striped away from me. As I relaxed back into my soft quilt, my shoulders un-tensed and my eyes encouraged the dark to cover the world, as though a blanket of quietness could throw away everything that tied me up.
"Wendy! Wendy who are they?"
I sat up suddenly, my eyelids fluttering open to be greeted by the sight of Michael sitting precariously on the edge of my bed. I grinned wide before leaning forward and falling onto my hands, enveloping Michael in a hug.
"Aaarrgghh, germs!" Squealed Michael as I squeezed him and laughed.
He wriggled out of my grip and jumped off the bed. He turned around and grabbed my wrist.
"Come on, you need to tell them to leave before James comes"
I shook my head in confusion.
"What…what are you talking about Michael?" I asked
He hesitantly started wringing his hands.
"Michael, who is there?" I asked
I grabbed his shoulders and squared him against me. His face turned against the ground steadily.
"Please, Michael tell me"
"There is a group of kids from school I think, I don't know who they are but they need to leave before James comes home", he pleaded
I hurriedly threw off my covers, ripped out my headphones and tossed them on my bed as Michael grabbed my wrist and pulled me down the stairs into the kitchen. I stood struck at the end of the stairs, Michael's hand slowly slipped into mine, as his face suddenly became the small innocent child deep down which hides behind his eccentric excited face which usually greets everyone and thing he comes across. Peter and a small group of boys crowded around the coffee table, feet stretched across couches and across each other. Each of the boys looked so young and adventurous, as though younger versions of Peter have been scattered around the Lounge. Peter looks over and notices me, before slapping each of the boys and gesturing them to stand up. Each of the boys hastily stands and from a line in front of the couch. I look at Peter confused, Michael's hand closes around mine even tighter. Peter just smiles and stretches out his arm across the chest of the boy next to him, he leaned out and looked down the line of the boys. They all stood up, straight as beans with their hands by their sides and their faces straight ahead. The boy to the far right of Michael and I stepped forward and bowed.
"I am Curly ma'am"
The boy next to him stepped out next after Curly had stepped back.
"I'm Max", said the next boy.
"Slightly…" Whispered one of the other boys.
Peter's head thrashed towards the two boys and harshly stared at them, before returning to his original straight edge position.
One after the other introduced themselves, Nat (always known as Nibs), Tom (who is missing a few teeth and is more commonly known as toothless) and the twins Benson and Jenson. Each boy stepped out, bowed and stood back in line, like young soldiers under command.
"And I, am Peter Pan", Peter stepped out, standing tall and monumental. As he bowed, a smile slipped his lips as he lifted his head up. I blushed and looked down at Michael who was staring at me curiously, before looking at Peter and smiling himself.
"What are you all…?"
But before I could finish my sentence, there was a knock on the door. Peter walked through the lounge room and opened the old wooden door, which guards our house.
"Tink!" I heard him exclaim.
I watched a slender young girl with long blonde hair enter the room.
"Peter!" I heard her shout.
She ran over and Peter enveloped her in a hug, her legs wrapping over his hips as they embraced. He slowly lowered her down, his look of surprise still plastered on his face as he introduced her.
"Tink this is Wendy, Wendy this is my girl Tink"
She gingerly looked up at him before extending an arm out to greet me. I reluctantly shook her hand, before noticing her eyes. They sparkled too; maybe it was cause of Peter. I noticed the two of them looking deep into each other's eyes, exchanging long hugs between the two of them. Who is she? I looked up at Peter who eyes were bright and shinning, not a cloud of sadness covered his eyes. Tink walked further in the house, staring gleefully around the house.
"You haven't answered me yet, what are you and her doing here?" I asked
Peter and Tink turned around, with a look of distaste graced on Tink's face.
"Excuse me? Her?" She asked
"I'm sorry but I don't usually invite strangers over to my house!" I said, slightly raising my voice in frustration.
She turned to Peter in confusion. She reached over to his shoulder to turn him around, guiding him away from me.
"I thought you said she knew?"
Tink looked over Peter's shoulder, looking me up and down before turning her head back towards Peter.
"So what if she doesn't, doesn't mean it will be a problem staying here".
"Yes it kinda does Peter, if she doesn't know, who are we going to be ourselves. You were meant to find a house we could stay at where we could…"
Tink's head turned around again and faced me. She bit her lower lip. She turned back to Peter and rolled her eyes.
"Besides, I already found another place, some Penny girl and her brother SJ, remember him?"
Peter's face scrunched up, it showed revulsion towards even the name.
"No Way! Don't you remember him?"
Tink shook her head slowly. He squinted curiously at Tink before placing his hands in his face in defeat.
"Excuse me!" They both turn around bewildered.
"Peter come on".
Peter turns his head towards the door. All the boys were waiting outside the door; distraught looks strewn across their faces. Peter looked at me questioningly, but I simply pointed towards the door in disgust. How could he think he could just come here as though I am OK having eight strangers in my home!
"Hey, you can't just…" Tink stood in protest but Peter grabbed her upper arm and dragged her away. She pulled and tugged at his fingers wrapped around her arm but he won't budge. I slammed the door on them hard, sliding down the solid wood, which barricaded me from the strange and frightening feelings that crept from upper the door, seeping into my fingertips from the cold wooden floor below.