Chapter 2.
"Margaret?" Mother's voice rang through the small house as gaily and jovial as any woman completely content and satisfied with the blessings bestowed upon her life. "Margaret Anita Maurice!"
"Why call you so early?" I trumpeted, rubbing my eyes and scratching the mess of dark tangles atop my head. "You know well I am not half in my sanity at this hour of the day."
"Suppose you got up earlier to help out the house more?" Jeanette suggested. "Perhaps then you should understand the responsibilities and duties that await you?"
"That is only if I am willing to accept them," I grumbled at my older sister, the perfect model of the ideal housewife, waking up at the crack of dawn to kiss all good morning and serve breakfast dressed as if everyday were a celebration. "Rummaging about the house cleaning and being prim and proper all the time might seem quite agreeable to some, but to me, I would rather be out in the fields exploring and having a jolly good time."
"Wendy was not half as difficult."
"God forbid you mention her name to me. You cannot compare me to that twit, who allowed herself to be tamed with the first stroke of the whip. I am not as feeble and easy to break."
"That is only because Wendy is being sensible," Jeanette's hands found their way to her hips in a saucy habit she had yet to be rid of. "She realizes her place as a woman, and is willing to accept it. In due time, dear Margaret, you shall as well."
"How my name plagues me so!" I groaned. "Far too proper, even if I am to someday be so. It seems as a name ready to wash dishes until they shine back with all the luster of the world and I know I will have not a mite of concern as to the condition of such ridiculous fancies."
"It was your grandmother's name, dear, and a lovely name it is." Mother kissed my forehead tenderly before refilling the cup of cream for my sake. "Now please eat your breakfast and be done hastily, for we will soon be having callers, particularly Miss Wendy herself, and I would much like to show all the blessings bestowed upon me in my children."
"And I shall make Margaret presentable," Jeanette stepped in. "First, I shall do something to that hair. Such a gorgeous glow about it, and with tints of auburn within its dark color. It would be becoming to curl it, rather than braid it into the same childish plates you constantly have them in. And I shall have you wear a lovely cream silk to bring out the light hues in your chocolate eyes, so it does not appear so black. How fun it shall be! Just like dressing up a doll."
"Only you gave up such childish joys long ago." I pouted at my reflection in the cup of cream and proceeded on with my eating. "If only Wendy had not grown up quite so quickly, I might have anticipated her arrival. However, it seems as if I am dressing much rather for a group of prissy old ladies who have nothing better to do than gossip and sip their teas with their nose against the ceilings. It's a surprise they are not bleeding from such high altitudes."
"Please stop your boyish rambling," Jeanette scolded. "Sit up straight right now… and that is far too much cream for a meal and will ruin your figure. I cannot have you acting like such a vixen, with you constantly throwing back your head in boisterous laughter and doing what pleases you that instant no matter how lackadaisical it may be. You have such lovely speech and a fine vocabulary, but it is hidden behind all your talk of nonsense. Why fight to be a child when you know that everyone grows up eventually, love?"
"Why indeed."
The mention of his name brought a smile to my lips until Peter had broken the silence by letting out a loud crow that made numerous creatures stir in their slumber. Had his laughter not followed, I would have given in to the fear that surrounded me and let out a cry of horror at how the cold night air had managed to become thick and suffocating.
"Please tell me we draw nearer," my grip on him tightened. "I can feel the night watching us. I cannot stand it! Protect me, Peter."
"I'll never understand you girls," Peter grumbled as he pulled his hand away. "You get the jitters over the silliest things."
"The audacity to say that to me!" I opened my mouth wide as I stopped walking. "I care not if you would wish to remain a child all your day, but even children know when to be respectable. Any young lad would know they are assist a lady when time calls upon it."
"And I suppose I shall, if I ever am in presence of a lady."
"You make it near impossible to bear being with you!" I stomped my foot. "If you treated Wendy as you do me, I blame her not for deciding to grow up. For if my fate is to be an insensitive fool for the rest of eternity, then I would rather deal with the boredom of teatime and titter tatter for even that comes to an end all in all."
"Hush up, or they shall hear you!" Peter hissed, jumping behind a tree and swinging his body upon a branch with as much skill and agility as a forest elf.
"What reason have I to hide? You certainly did a fine job of making our presence know when you began crowing like a lunatic only moments ago."
"Michael and Nicholas are coming," Peter put a finger to his lips and grinned mischievously. "They have not been in my domain for years. I shall give them a fright so they have known what they are missing."
"Lord almighty, be that a girl!" Michael's eyes went wide when he saw me standing amongst the trees, clad in my nightshirt with my eyes still aflame from Peter's effrontery. "Nick! You must come and see who decided to be owl food for the night!"
"Margaret?" Nicholas's eyebrows, as light as sunshine as they may be, went up as he approached me. "What are you doing out? If your mum found out… if Jeanette found out. Why, you would be folding handkerchiefs for the rest of your life!"
"As if I am the only one out tonight," I crossed my arms. "I would like to see you explain how you came to find me in the woods at the middle of the night. It is not as if you live so close as to see my sneak through the front door, and if you had any sense, you would realize I would never risk going down the stairs and waking Jeanette up to hear a lecture of why I should be sleeping and maintaining the youth I have."
"Gee, Margaret… you are getting mighty old!" Michael exclaimed with all of the innocence a twelve-year-old could possible possess. "I had thought I nearly caught up to you in height, but then you go and sprout up even more."
"Give it time, Michael, and you will be walking amongst the clouds." I smiled, surprised at how I could somehow find mother's maternal tone in my own. "I remember not long ago you were staring at my waistband. Now you are nearly not so small."
"It isn't that he's small, but rather you too big." Nicholas teased.
"Aww… but Margaret is mighty grown-up." Michael said as he looked up into my face. "You be getting prettier by the day. Wendy thinks so too."
"Cuffaw! Cuffaw!" Peter jumped from where he was standing and landing on all fours like a cat.
"Peter!" Michael ran towards him in excitement. "Golly, I haven't seen you in sooo long! I had thought you left us behind."
"I never leave anyone behind," Peter stood up and looked at him grudgingly. "How is John?"
"He is courting Patricia McKenzie and going off to college," Michael pouted. "He doesn't have time to play anymore."
"Grown-ups never do," Peter frowned. "I expected better. He seemed like the smarter of the bunch. And Wendy?"
"Trying to fight away all of her suitors and callers," Michael replied as if he was constantly giving such an answer to someone. "She has a beau for every day of the week."
"How about you, Michael? Are you growing up too?"
"Yes, but it seems everyone else grew much faster than I. Sometimes it seems I am getting younger while everyone else gets even older."
"Everyone has to grow up someday," Nicholas stepped in, resting a hand on Michael's shoulder.
"Only if they wish to," Peter looked at Nicholas with pure loathing. "I don't even have to ask. I can smell the old that lingers on your body."
"You talk like growing up is a disease and a curse." Nicholas turned to me. "Margaret. Come, and let us go back before your mother wakes to find her daughter missing in the night. What ludicrous, to think getting older be the worst thing in the world."
"I do not wish to leave quite yet," my eyes went to Peter, who looked up and locked his emerald ones with my chocolate ones. "You promised me adventures, Peter."
"You do not mean to go off with this… boy… do you?" Nicholas did not attempt to hide his disapproval. "He is bound to get you in more tomfoolery than either one of you can handle."
"I have waited long enough for my own story," I went to Peter's side and grabbed his hand. "Wendy got her turn of the fun, and I intend to get mine. Perhaps childish games is just the thing I need in my life."
"Annie, it is more fun than you can imagine!" Peter's passive face broke into a blissful grin. "No work and all play! Not a worry in the world!"
"Then I shall come with you," Nicholas ordered. "I cannot leave you with him, Margaret. I cannot face your dear mother knowing you are off gallivanting with the likes of Peter Pan."
"Be glad you never called to me in the night, for I would have left you in the woods for you to mend for yourself." Peter retorted immaturely.
"No doubt I would be safer than if I allowed my fate to rest in your hands."
"Can I come?" Michael asked. "Oh Peter, I have not been on an adventure with you for so long, and how I often wish I could!"
"I can't turn away a friend," Peter smiled at Michael. "And perhaps you could save me the bother of explaining about Hook to our fellow swashbucklers."
