Peter and the Starcatchers
Chapter 4: Off to Neverland…or not
"But Peter, how do we get to Neverland?" Wendy asked.
"Fly, of course!"
"But we don't know how," John said, tilting his head.
"Right," Peter replied. "First things first." He looked at the two boys. "Which one of you is Michael?"
The shorter of the two raised his hand. He had light brown hair and hazel eyes. In his hand he clutched a teddy bear. Peter nodded.
"That makes you John," he said pointing at him.
John was taller and skinner than Michael. His hair was a darker shade of brown and he had, like Wendy, blue eyes. He wore thick, rounded glasses and a black hat to match them.
"Mm hmm," John replied.
"Where are we going?" Michael asked.
Wendy grabbed Michael's hands and spun him in circles in the air. "Neverland!" she cried.
"Neverland? Like in the story?" Michael planted his feet on the ground and looked at Peter. "Peter Pan!" He turned to Wendy. "It's really him!"
"Yes," Wendy said taking a side-glance at Peter. It was the first time she noticed how cute he was.
Then they heard footsteps on the stairs. Wendy pulled her brothers close and whispered something in their ears. When she let them go they ran to their beds and pulled the covers over themselves. She rushed to Peter and put her head close to his.
"Come back tomorrow!" she whispered. Then she kissed his cheek. "You look better up close too!" She smiled and turned to run to her bed.
A huge St. Bernard bounded into the room barking hysterically. Peter jumped to the window and pushed off, his shadow trailing behind him. The dog lunged at it and grabbed the boy's shadow between its teeth. Peter was pulled back towards the window, which he landed on. The window shut with a bang, separating him and his shadow; Peter groaned.
Two people, a man and a woman rushed into the room as Peter leapt from the window. Wendy grabbed the shadow from the dog and scolded her.
"No Nana! Give that to me!" she said as she yanked on the shadow. When she finally pulled it out she fell onto the floor. She pushed the hair from her face aside and looked up at her mother. "Hello Mother!" she said calmly.
"What have you got there, Wendy?" her father asked.
"Nothing Father." She got up and walked to her dresser. After shoving the shadow inside she walked to her bed and jumped inside. "Goodnight Mother! Goodnight Father!"