Chapter 7 : Picking Up The Pieces
Wendy screamed. Peter flew them down, and together they ran to the tree, which was extremely damaged.
"BOYS!" Peter yelled into the boulder. "ARE YOU OKAY?"
No answer. Wendy then kneeled down and began clearing away the pieces of debris, near the boulder hoping that maybe that would help.
Then they heard a voice. "Peter!"
It was Slightly.
"Slightly!" Wendy gasped. "Goodness, are you alright? Is everyone alright? Oh dear!"
"We can't move." Slightly's voice was muffled so Wendy and Peter leaned closer. "We're stuck between the boulder and a wall."
Wendy felt like someone had stabbed her. She locked eyes with Peter who had his thinking face on. "Tink." He then said it into the boulder. "Is Tink there?!"
"No."
Peter turned around. He looked angry. "TINK! TINKERBELL!" Peter's voice filled the forest, while it rained even harder. The ground kept shaking as well, and with every shake Wendy fumbled against the boulder. She hated feeling so helpless. She and Peter were both soaked, and the boys were in danger.
After what seemed like an eternity, a familiar light flew to Peter. It jingled in surprise at the mess, and before Peter could say anything, Tinkerbell flew to around the boulder, sprinkling it with her miraculous pixie dust. The boulder began to float, and Wendy peeked over. Before she could see anything, Peter pulled her back. Wendy looked at him in question and frustration. He replied with, "Wait until the boulder's out of the way."
Tinkerbell stopped. She then looked at Wendy with a mischievous smile on her face. Peter crossed his arms and glared at her. "Just try it and I'll banish you forever."
Tinkerbell turned red with anger, but moved the boulder out of the way. Then Wendy and Peter peeked over, Tink behind them.
Wendy gasped. Her heart broke and fell into the terrible ditch of sadness where the Lost Boy's lay.
They were in an actual ditch of what seemed like the "parlor". The Lost Boys were huddled together, covering their heads. All except Slightly who bravely looked upward. He had been closest to the boulder, and was now on top of what seemed like a mushroom seat, thus to easier communicate with them. The Lost Boys were caked with mud and blood. They didn't seem to have any serious injuries, they were just banged up. But it was still bad enough for Wendy.
"Boys!" Wendy felt tears pour over her cheeks. "Boys!"
Peter immediately flew over to the boys and one by one he helped them out and handed them to Wendy who gave them each a kiss and promised them it was gonna be alright.
Wendy hoped she could keep that promise.
Finally after they were all accounted for, and seated nicely on the ground (despite the fact the storm was still raging on), Peter turned around. He seemed tired, something you would rarely him. "Are there any major injuries?"
They all shook their heads. Peter nodded with satisfaction. Then they went to the other side of the tree where the boulder hadn't crashed into the tree. Peter peeked through the slide entrance. He scoffed when he couldn't see anything. So he took a step.
"Peter," Wendy was hugging Tootles who was sobbing. "Don't."
Peter shook his head. "I've got to Wendy."
"Peter," Slightly cleared his throat. "The boulder only dented the parlor."
Wendy bit her lip.
Peter stepped into the slide. "I'll be fine Wendy." After a skeptical glance to Wendy he went downward. He didn't slide blindly, he edged along the slide until he reached the ground.
Tink noticed and flew down after him, lighting the way.
It wasn't so bad. The parlor was unapproachable. But everything else seemed fine and safe, just rather shooken up. Peter called back up the slide. "Come down!"
First came Slightly. Peter steadied him then caught Cubby, then came Nibs, then the Twins, then Tootles, and the Tinkerbell flew down. Peter looked up and called, "Wendy!"
Wendy slid downward, nightgown flying about. Wendy clutched her sides in an attempt to keep it orderly which caused her to halt at the opening and…
"Oh!"
Peter had caught Wendy, only he hadn't caught her the way he did with the boys, by the arms. He had caught her bridal style the very same way he had on Wendy's very first Neverland adventure after the faithful shooting. Both children breathed. Eyes locked, but then Peter blinked. He lowered Wendy onto the ground. "You okay?"
Wendy nodded her cheeks bright red. Then she looked around at her rummaged house.
Wendy had always looked at the Lost Boy's hideout as her own house, one which she could keep and clean. She fancied it like Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Wendy would keep the house and the Lost Boys kept her company. Of course there was one difference, the Lost Boys had a leader : Peter. Of course Peter backed her up when the boys were being naughty but otherwise, Peter could tell the boys to go hunting when Wendy needed them help her tidy up. Of course Peter tried to be considerate and not to clash with Wendy whose temper was short. Peter and Wendy worked well together but sometimes limits could be pushed and fights could commence. But otherwise Wendy kept the hideout in order and everyone tried their best to help her.
But the hideout was indeed shooken up. All the Lost Boy's weapons were thrust out of their places, landing in places were they certainly were disturbing. Like on a conch shell Peter had given Wendy which now lay smashed to pieces. An axe sliced through one of the straw mattresses. An arrow seemed to have shot through Tinkerbell's room. Tink did not look particularly pleased to see what surprise awaited her.
All the furniture was piled on improper places, mushroom stools, wooden tables, mattresses flung off beds.
It was terrible.
But despite all the horrid mess Wendy didn't care about her "house" current state. She had more important things to worry about.
So Wendy took charge.
"Peter," Wendy strode to where the beds were. "Peter, can you please help me fix the mattresses? We must put the boys to bed first before I can heal their wounds."
Peter and Wendy hefted the mattresses back in place. Then Wendy, as a mother would, tended to the boy's wounds. Then she tucked them in one by one and was about to leave when she heard a small, frightened voice. "Wendy?"
Wendy turned. There were tiny Tootles eyes shining at her fresh with tears. "Tootle darling." Wendy sat next to him. "Dear, you mustn't cry."
Tootles sniffed. "Wendy… I'm… I'm… scared."
Wendy brushed his skunk skin. "Of what?"
"Of the thunder."
Wendy listened. She truly hadn't been paying attention to the weather. It was thundering and it was thundering dreadfully. Soon Wendy realized the other Lost Boys had huddled around her and Tootles. Wendy didn't need them to teld her they were frightened. She could tell.
"Wendy," Nibs tugged his rabbit hood. "Wendy, could you sing to us?"
Wendy paused. Then looking down at the eager yet scared faces surrounding her Wendy smiled. "Well how am I to refuse? After all, a mother tries her best to help her children in times of need. And this certainly applies."
Wendy took a deep breath. Peter was trying to salvage what was left of the parlor and Tinkerbell had retreated to her room. No one except the boys could hear her.
Did you ever wonder why in thunder
Thunder comes in spring?
Once upon a time it seems
All the world was wrapped in dreams.
Playful little fellas, so they tell us
Said Let's have our fling!
Spring is in the air, you know!
It's time to wake 'em up below!
So, when the thunder starts to thunder don't run home and cry.
They're playing ten-pins in the sky.
Little fellas way up yonder make the raindrops fly
While rollin', bowlin' ten-pins in the sky.
The world will wear a new bonnet
Daffodils on it,
Thunder and showers
Wake up the flowers,
Where there are flowers
There must be love.
So, laugh at raindrops, laugh at thunder,
Clouds will soon roll by.
They're playing ten-pins in the sky!
When Wendy finished the Lost Boys had already drifted away into their dreams. Pleased at her simple song written to chase away fears of thunderstorms, Wendy made sure they were all properly tucked in before she walked out of the bedroom section. And she was met with Peter Pan.
The song "Ten Pins In The Sky" is from the 1938 motion picture called Listen Darling, and Judy Garlandsings it.