Chapter 4: Peter's Arrival
After unlocking the window, Harper hurried down to where Jane stood in the foyer. She was on the telephone, apparently talking to Harper's grandfather. Jane laughed a little and then hung up.
"Oh, there you are. Dinner is ready. Let's go and eat and you can tell me all about what you like to do" Jane said leading the way to the dining room. Harper took the seat next to Jane who sat at the head of the table. It looked so very lonely in the formal dining room that there were only two place settings. "I had a family that filled this table" Jane said as if reading Harper's thoughts. "They live in America now. My daughter…and my granddaughter don't much care for Peter Pan and the stories of him. They escaped at the first possible chance." Harper looked at her plate. Why would anyone want to escape such a magical world? "But enough about that, tell me about yourself dear" Harper proceeded to tell of her family, her hobbies, her storytelling. "Ahhh… you are the continued generation. A storyteller are you? Peter will love that…" Jane whispered to herself. You see, it was time for Spring cleaning and as Peter had not been back for many years, Jane expected this year was as good as any for him to come back. And if he did come back, Jane and Harper's grandfather wished for nothing more than for Harper to accompany him. Going with Peter was always an adventure, one that every person should have at least once.
"I love telling Peter Pan stories to my brothers. They're all so interesting…" Harper said. There was a lapse of silence and yet both were comfortable in it, each remembering Peter Pan. One remembering the stories and one remembering the adventures.
"Would you like to hear mine?" Jane asked putting her fork down.
"Oh, yes!" Harper said placing her napkin on the table. "Would you tell them to me? I want new ones to tell my brothers." Jane laughed and stood up.
"Let's go to the nursery and I'll tell you in proper fashion, in the rocking chair near the window." Jane led the way up to the nursery, Harper following closely behind. Jane lowered herself slowly into the old rocking chair and gestured for Harper to sit on the edge of Wendy's bed facing her. Harper grabbed a pillow and held it in her lap while leaning forward intently waiting for the stories to begin. "It all started one day as I was washing the bedclothes. They were very dirty and a good washing was exactly what they needed. Being foolish, I took them all down to the lagoon- where the mermaids reside. I was humming to myself and washing the second or maybe the third sheet when I heard a lovely, haunting melody from the water. I got up on my knees and bent to look down in the water and came face to face with a mermaid! She was beautiful… I'll never forget her face as long as I live. Her hand slipped out of the water and caressed my own. Her song brought images of swimming around and being beautiful to my mind. I barely noticed when she pulled me in. Luckily Peter did, or it all would have been over for me.
He had been coming to tell me of his latest adventure involving the Redskins. Tiger Lily wanted to meet me, as she had met all the "mothers" before me. Tiger Lily was now an old woman, a crone of her tribe. She was still the bravest, and still held a special place for Peter in heart. However, Redskins age, though slower than we do here, as that is their lot in the Neverland. No longer did she need rescuing, as she was quite capable of handling any pirate on her own. Sometimes though, one of the children would wander off and Peter would help rescue it. The pirates didn't like the Redskins and vice versa. It was a constant battle…it probably still is today. But I got off track. Peter was coming to get me to meet Tiger Lily. He had just landed behind me when I was pulled off the rock.
Immediately, he dived into the water. He grabbed me by the hand and pulled me away from the mermaid, baring his teeth and hissing as they do when angry. The mermaid hissed back but retreated back to where the rest of the mermaids were. Peter pulled me back up and as though it had never happened was describing the Redskin adventure. I will never forget him diving after me. I thought it was the most romantic gesture. It was however to Peter's mind just another short adventure. Now… what else can I tell you about? Ohh… I can tell you about the time Smee came back with a ship of his own and tried to be Hook. Peter thought it was great fun…"
As Jane continued her stories, Harper laughed at Peter's antics and gasped when the pirates made their appearances. The stories brought another side of Neverland out for Harper; The real and tangible side. The side in which Peter made friends and did amazing things that didn't require fighting pirates. He built houses out of twigs and helped the Redskins hunt. Neverland was full of magic and Harper wanted desperately to go and see the places both her great-grandfather and Jane described. They were so wrapped up in the telling and hearing of the stories that neither Jane nor Harper noticed it getting dark out, or the shooting star that flashed across the sky.
Author's note: Sorry, no quote this time. Couldn't find a fitting one. I must tell you this story is writing itself. I planned Peter to enter the nursery in this chapter yet it seems the story is telling me he's only just arrived. Rest assured the other chapter is well on it's way to being written and that this chapter would have been posted sooner if I had not worked a double! Enjoy and as always, review?? *puppy eyes*