The sun shined in through my window that morning, making me blink very rapidly. I turned over, rubbing the sleep out of my eyes. Porthos was lying beside me, which was a rarity, because he usually slept with Father or downstairs with the housemaids.
"Good morning, Porthos." I scratched him behind the ears, grinning.
I suddenly heard a knock on my door. "Wendy?"
"Yes, Father?" I began to get dressed.
"We're going to the park. Get dressed quickly, dear. I have some work to get done and I want to see your picture you are sewing me."
"I'll bring it with me." I pulled it out from my skirt from last night, finishing buttoning the last button on my white shirt.
After carefully braiding two plaits in my hair, I smoothed out my pale pink skirt and walked out of my room, Porthos following me.
"Good morning, Wendy."
"Good morning, Father."
"Are you ready to get going to the park?" He was holding a fishing rod, which was rather curious. I had never gone to the park with him before, however, but I was always awake to say goodbye to him.
It was going to be an interesting day with my father…I knew that for certain.
"Yes, I am definitely ready to go to the park. I have not been able to get sunshine in days."
Father smiled. "That's my Wendy. Now, get your sweater and let's go."
I walked along the street, taking in every new scent, new sight, and every new sensation hitting my face. The wind was something of a mystery to me…I usually didn't go outside, and I only could tell what the weather was like if I opened my window and let the wind blow in. But today, the wind was very light, gently blowing upon my face. It felt like Porthos breathing on me in the morning if I didn't wake up to take him outside to play.
"Are you having fun back there, Wendy?" Father grinned.
"Oh yes, lots of fun. I love the park…"
"You've never really been to the park much…you should come with me more often." Father threw out the line, Porthos chasing after it. "That a boy. Get it! Come on! Good boy! Now bring it back!"
I loved watching Father play with Porthos. He was so gentle with him, as if he was his own child…as if he was the son he never had.
"Father? May I throw the line out for Porthos?"
He nodded, handing the fishing rod to me. I reeled it in, watching Porthos follow it. I then threw it back over my shoulder and brought it forward, the ball on the end flying out in front of me.
Porthos ran for the ball, making me grin. "Get it! Go on, Porthos! You can do it, boy!"
Father stood behind me, watching me play with his dog. Unbeknownst to me, Father was seeing me as a young girl, surrounded by fairies and spinning around, looking at them in amazement.
After awhile, Father called to me and we began to walk again, Porthos walking at Father's side. He was so protective of Father…I was surprised by the next event.
"Father…don't you have writing to get to?"
"Wendy… do you see someone you know?"
I blushed slightly. "I see someone I saw the other day at the play…'tis all."
"I see. Well, I'll let you get to know this young gentlemen."
"No!" I was very shy on my own with boys. "Can I…can I work on my picture for you? I won't bother your work…"
"Yes. I would like to see this picture." Father sat down on a forest green bench, pulling out his notebook and his fountain pen. I wished I had a pen just like Father's every time I saw it.
I carefully took out my picture, my thread, and my needles and began to work. Father watched me for a few moments, admiring my work. "Have you been reading over my shoulder?"
"No, no…not at all. I just heard you talking about this scene to yourself and decided that it would be a very nice picture to sew into fabric, so I sketched it out, drew it on here, and now I'm just adding the color."
"It's very beautiful. I don't want to ruin your concentration, so I'll just read the news." He opened up the newspaper, seeing that the place where the reviews were for his play was cut out.
I'm afraid I am the criminal this time. I saw that it was a horrible review for the play, so I got up late at night and cut it out myself. Emma saw me do this, but she kept her mouth shut.
Father was looking through the hole at a woman who was petting Porthos. The look in his eyes told me everything.
Father thought she was beautiful.
"Wendy…is that the young gentlemen whom you saw?" He pointed at a young man with mud brown hair and dark brown eyes. The very same boy I saw at the play.
"Yes. I think he was there with that woman there." I pointed to the young woman Father thought was beautiful.
"I think that's his mother." He leaned forward, trying to listen and hear what they were saying.
Suddenly, a little voice muttered. "Excuse me sir, you're standing on my sleeve."
Father and I looked down to see a little boy with sandy blond hair and big brown eyes lying beneath the bench. "Am I? So sorry. I might point out that you're lying under my bench."
I giggled. I loved when Father played with me.
"I have to, I'm afraid. I've been put in the dungeon by the evil Prince George. I'm sorry if it bothers you."
I loved this little boy already…he was so cute. And he spoke so properly for being so young.
"Well, if you're trapped in the dungeon, then there's nothing much I can do to help you. Perhaps I can slide you a key through the bars."
"I wouldn't risk it, sir. The evil Prince George has captured many men."
Father looked at me, grinning. "Well, is there much I can do then?"
"No. There's really nothing left for you to do."
Just then, a young man ran up. "I'm sorry, is he bothering you sir? My brother can be an extremely irritating sort of person."
Father looked up. "Ah ha, Prince George, I gather? I understand that you have imprisoned this unfortunate brute."
"Not horrible really? But a fair bother yes. Kind, and tolerable."
"Then what precisely is...er…what did you say your name was?"
"Michael."
"What precisely is Michael's crime?"
George grinned. "He's my younger brother."
Father nodded. "Ah. Sorry lad. I can't free you."
Michael's little voice said back, "That's all right."
Just then, my Prince Charming…ah…the young man I saw at the play, ran up with Porthos. "D-Do you mind us playing with your dog?"
Father shook his head in reply, cueing me to get to my feet. "May I come with you?"
George told Father. "This is Jack, second in line to the throne."
I turned to Jack. "Hello. I'm Wendy Barrie."
Jack bowed. "Jack Llewelyn Davies. Nice to meet you, Wendy."
I blushed slightly. "Nice to meet you too, Jack."
"Do you…wish to join us?"
I nodded, smiling once more. And with that, the two of us walked off together to play with Porthos.
A/N: I'm sorry! I've been so awful in updating this and all my other stories…I'm going to be like writing like an insane person…I'll have to go get all my cds and start writing again! Please don't fail me with your nice reviews…AHH! I have so much to write! All right guys, enough here from me. Talk to you later!