Peter Pan to the Rescue

Chapter 2
Neverland

Chapter Description: Michael is flying to Neverland with Peter Pan to get a cure for his Age-Regression-Virus. Will the Lost Boys help him to find his heart's desire?

Michael had no idea how long they had already flown through the sky. He had left his cell-phone at home and the dark world below revealed nothing about their position. They could be anywhere and nowhere. Still, Peter seemed to know the way, so the regressed adult pushed the nagging feeling of doubt away.

„Not so slow!“ Peter teased him, diving into a thick cloud. „Come!“

Michael couldn’t see him for a moment and quickly followed, totally expecting another ambush from behind, when surrounded by the fog-like cloud. The ambush didn’t come, instead Michael found himself completely surprised at the sight, which expected him at the other end of the cloud. Instead of the near urban landscape that had been there a moment before, there was a tropical island under them.

Peter grinned, at the look in Michael’s face and even Tinkerbell seemed a bit more relaxed, if only since she was home again.

„How large is it?“ The former man asked.

„Large enough for the biggest adventures and best games!“ Peter replied enthusiastically. „Fun up ahead!“

They descended and Michael could see more details. There were giant mountains in the island’s middle, behind which the sun was just rising. Thick forests, tropical and temperate, surrounded it, its beaches and lagoons looked better than any holiday-prospect could ever describe. For a moment, Michael imagined spending time there with Maria. He grabbed the ring hanging on the necklace around his neck, but the thought of her back home made him waver in flight, so he quickly concentrated on the island again.

There were aspects of it, no one would put in a prospect. There were patches what looked like swamps and some glaciers on the mountains, which looked downright murderous. What really brought a shiver down Michael’s spine was the ship he saw in a distant lagoon. Black sail and black flag, it could only be the legendary Jolly Roger of James Hook. Vaguely the former man remembered having played pirates as a child – a true child – and having fought dozens of imaginary battles. As an adult he wasn’t too keen on it and was happy when the ship vanished behind a cliff.

Peter led him to a wild, clear river, which fell down another cliff in an amazing waterfall. Laughing, the boy flew down in spirals around the water, without getting wet. Michael tried to copy him, but found himself sluggish in comparison, more often than not touching the water. Peter didn’t notice, as he already surfed over the rainbow, dipping his hand in it and pulling it out covered in colors. Michael just knew that this was impossible and so, when he tried the same, his hand came out clean.

After this they flew over the forest until Peter stopped by a large, twisted but still living tree.

„Cocka-doodle-doo!“ He crowed, in the best imitation of a crowing, Michael had ever heard.

A second later, Peter’s call was answered, as boys crawled down from the crown of the tree or out of hidden holes between its roots. They cheered enthusiastically, at the sight of their chief and ran to them, as thus glided to earth. Tinkerbell meanwhile circled one last time around the former man’s head. Her angry bellringing could have meant anything from ‚I don’t trust you.‘ to ‚I’ll watch you.‘ to ‚Stupid adult.‘ Finally she retreated to one of the branches of the tree, watching from afar.

As Michael and Peter touched the ground, they were already surrounded by Lost Boys. The ARV-victim counted six, all smaller than him, looking in part dirtier than Peter, who must have occasionally flown through a particularly wet cloud. They all wore partly furs, partly linen and partly the remnants of clothes, all of which needed a good washing at last as much as their owners in the former adult’s eyes. Looking at his own grey shirt, clean jeans and gleaming black shoes, Michael felt quite overdressed.

„Peter! Peter!“ A slightly overweighed boy whose shoulders were covered in striped fur called him.

„We missed you chief,“ the smallest boy with curly hair, wearing only knee-height shorts said.

„Who is the new one?“ The largest of them, larger than Peter, but still smaller than Michael, asked.

„His clothes look boring,” one boy noticed, dressed frayed in foot-long trousers and a white shirt cut off from the sleeves.

„Did he come from the mass?“ Another said, looking perfectly identically to the former.

„Can I show him around?“ The last one, a thin boy with a crooked smile asked.

„This is Michael,“ Peter introduced him.

„This is Tootles.“ He pointed to the slightly thick one.

„This is Curly.“ He pointed to the smallest.

„This is Slightly.“ He pointed to the largest who had drawn a sharp looking knife he carved wood with.

„These are the Twins.“ He pointed at the identical boys.

„This is Nibs.“ He pointed at the boy with the crooked smile.

„We are the Lost Boys and our only rule is to never grow up and always have fun!“ Peter finished.

This earned him a cheer from the boys and a grin from Michael, albeit a false one. He knew, revealing that he sought the opposite of never growing up, wouldn’t have been the smartest move.

„You look too old to fall out of the pram,“ Slightly noticed.

„I didn’t,“ Michael replied, not wanting to think of this particular vehicle.

„He has the shrinking sickness and will turn into a baby if we don’t help him,“ Peter explained. „So who will be the doctor to cure him?“

All boys wanted. In the end Peter’s choice fell on Nibs.

„Bring him in the doctor’s office!“ The boy exclaimed, his voice having the tone of mock-authority, pretty much as he imagined a doctor to speak.

The other boys laughed and encouraged Michael go behind Nibs who walked to the tree and effortlessly vanished in a hole between two of the roots. The former man tried to follow, but he was still too large and got stuck by the hips. Without success, he tried to wriggle free, until a sudden sharp pain in the butt, made him slip down.

„Hey!“ Michael complained, rubbing the place on his behind where either Peter’s sword or Slightly’s dagger had pinned him.

Wild laughter was heard from the other side of the hole. Ignoring it, Michael looked around. The room in the tree seemed larger than it had any right to be and was still a bit small for Michael. There was a sleep corner with cushions and blankets for a bed, a fireplace and lots of little corners, some of which seemed to lead to holes leading outside to the ground or up the trees. All around was dirt, broken figs and old leaves.

They need a mother to clean up here, Michael thought. At last one.

This was another thing Michael wasn’t going to tell, so he watched how Nibbs searched something in one of the corners, while the other boys crawled in from the hole behind and others. Finally, with his crooked smile, the boy had found what he had sought. Proudly holding a stethoscope for all to see.

„The patient must open his shirt, so I can listen!“ Nibbs ordered.

Michael obeyed, opening his shirt one by one. The boy placed the stethoscope on his chest besides the ring. The touch of the metal felt cool in comparison.

„You heart goes too slow,“ Nibs noticed. „Boys your age should always be excited.“

„I spare my energy for games,“ Michael lied.

Somewhere some bells rang angrily.

Nibs listened on his ribs, telling him to breathe deeply in and out.

„Your lungs take too few air,“ Nibs decided. „Where do you take the air for long games and running.“

„Since I became sick, my mother forbid me long games and running,“ Michael lied again.

„Mothers!“ Nibs muttered, in a pretty good imitation of an old doctor complaining. „We are the experts.“

He listened to the stomach.

„You haven’t eaten properly, young man!“ Nibs admonished sternly.

„We flew to Neverland just before lunch,“ Michael said, oddly happy that at last this was true.

„Could have stolen from birds‘ beaks!“ The other boy noticed.

„Isn’t this filthy?“ Michael asked.

„Who is the doctor here, young man?“ Nibs replied.

Michael was too dumbstruck by this answer, to realize at once that none of them were.

„Mouth up!“ Nibs ordered.

Michael obeyed.

„Too few laughter came out of this mouth, recently,“ Nibs explained.

„There was no reason to!“ Michael explained, again truthfully.

Nibs thought hard.

„What it is Dr. Nibs?“ Peter asked. „What is the cure?“

„A star snatched from the sky?“ Tootles asked.

„A herb from the Indians?“ Slightly asked.

„A mermaid’s kiss?“ Curly asked.

„A Quest!“ Nibs finally declared, looking seriously around. „A quest for a treasure!“

Wild, happy and excited babbling started amongst the lost boys. Michael felt left out, worse, he felt silly for having thought this could help. What could a treasure-hunt possible do him good?

„You don’t know,“ Tootles noticed, watching him rebutton his shirt.

„Know what?“ Michael asked perplexed.

„A treasure is everything you wish for!“ Tootles explained patiently. „Like … like cookies. The one with big chocolate pieces.“

„Or a bow,“ one twin said.

„And arrows,“ the other completed.

“A toy you ever dreamed of!” Nibs said.

„Like a flute,“ Slightly added.

„Or the feather of the Neverbird!“ Curly added.

Michael understood. Would he find treasure, he would find what he wished for. A cure for the age-regression-virus. His adulthood. The boys would be shocked if he took the cure and suddenly transformed back into a man, but this would be a small prize.

„So,“ Michael began, having finished closing his shirt. „Where do we find it?“

Suddenly there was silence. The Lost Boys looked at each other, seemingly no one having a clue, no one but Slightly.

„I captured an Indian in the last battle,“ He explained. „He told me the pirates recently plundered a treasure-map.“

„Why haven’t you told before?“ Nibbs asked angrily

Slightly shrugged his shoulders. „Forgot.“

„Lost Boys,“ Peter addressed them all, jumping on a table. „The course is clear! We will steal the map from the pirates and find the treasure! On to adventure! Cocka-doodle-doo!“

All joined him in his cheer, though no one managed to be quite as good. All but Michael. He wanted the cure oh so very much, still despite his body, he was an adult, so he held a certain responsibility for these kids.

„Isn’t this …“ He hesitated. „Dangerous?“

The boys grew silent.

„Of course it is!“ Peter explained as if it was the most natural thing in the world. „All adventures are dangerous and the best defy death!“

„What should a treasure be worth, you can pick up from the wayside?“ Curly asked.

„He is scared!“ Slightly proclaimed cockily. „Look at him, he is too afraid for pirates. What use helping him? He is practically a baby already!“

Back home, Michael normally ignored boys who felt they were his equal, knowing he was above them. Now he felt angry. More than that, he knew, he couldn’t let this go, if he wanted to be taken seriously by the Lost Boys. With secure stride he rushed to Slightly and built himself up in front of him, starring the boy directly in the eyes which were on line with his.

„I AM NOT AFRAID!“ The former adult pronounced every letter for itself, his voice and more so his body language making clear that he would have let his fists speak for him if he needed.

Slightly seemed unimpressed at first, then he grinned.

„Must have been wrong,“ he admitted. „A baby would have wailed.“

The tension was at once gone and as the other boys talked, Slightly laid Michael a hand on the shoulder. Everything was good between them. Still Michael felt he had to do more to repair his reputation.

„What are we waiting for?“ He asked enthusiastically, if only since he still was pushed up by the near fight.

The other boys cheered and Michael found himself smiling, for the first time feeling – if only temporary – part of their group. He crawled through the opening, still not as easy as the rest, but not being stuck in the middle of it, and stood for a moment on the soft ground in front of the tree. Deciding it would be a warm day, Michael pulled the shirt out of his trousers, tightened his belt and followed the Lost Boys.

***

Over roots and small hills they climbed. The Lost Boys with the enthusiasm of youth and firm knowledge of the surrounding, Michael with sheer determination and fresh hope. They didn’t make it to the pirates at once, though, finding a tree full of ripe fruits, large as their heads. Michael didn’t know them, but the boys seemed happy enough, climbing in the trees to pluck them and letting Peter and Slightly cut them in half. As he sat with the others in the tree, Michael noticed how hungrily the boys ate, the sweet fluid dripping all around their lips, which they cleaned, if they felt so, with their arms. The former adult ate more conscious from the strange, a bit bitter, but admittedly good tasting fruit, taking smaller pieces and pulling the liquid out of the soft flesh, before biting in it.

Concentrating on it, he needed a while to notice Tinkerbell sitting on a bench a bit above, but close by and watching him. By the glimmer in her eyes, she was still angry, seemingly not getting over that he was really an adult.

„What it is?“ Michael teased, offering a piece of fruit. „Hungry?“

The fairy raised her nose and flew off, deeper into the tree, doubtlessly still watching him. Michael turned around and saw Nibs smiling at him.

„Tink sometimes holds her nose high,” Nibs commented. “But she likes children.”

Michael nodded, knowing this was the problem.

Ever heard of age discrimination?, the regressed adult thought, watching the fairies’ light in the tree-crown. Stupid large firefly.

“Where did you get this ring?” Nibs asked. “Stolen from a pirate?”

Michael grabbed the wedding ring around his neck. It symbolized eternal love and loyalty. A life together, not always easy, not always fun, but meaningful. It was the token of his bound with Mary and he would cherish it as long as he remembered himself. Of course, this would be above the understanding of the Lost Boy.

“A gift from friend,” Michael said, being as close to the truth as he could.

“Ah,” Nibs replied satisfied, before continuing to eat.

In the end Michael got a spot on his shirt from a particularly juicy piece of fruit. He didn’t like it, but decided it was better than continuing with an empty stomach. Indeed, despite the latter being full, the former adult had to tighten his belt since his trousers were a bit loose.

***

The boys reached a small hill, Peter made them crawl on. Michael didn’t see the sense in it and getting dirty, until they reached the top. From it, they had a perfect view on the beach. There, between it and the palm forest, was the pirate camp. The pirates seemed busy going here and there, ordered around by a large man in a red coat with a missing hand.

“Hook!” Slightly exclaimed.

“What is he doing?” Curly asked.

“They prepare an expedition,” Michael realized. “They must search for the treasure, too.”

“What took them so long?” Tootles asked.

“Hook likes ordering his men to work!” Nibs noticed.

“Work! Pah!” Peter said with contempt. “Why do adults always things which make no fun?!”

Michael thought of his daily work at a desk. Maybe boring for a child, but satisfying for the adult he was in mind. The joy of earning your own bread. The knowledge of working for a future, you knew came, while children lived in the eternal presence.

“Well …” He began, but a quick look to Tinkerbell, who mustered him with weary eyes, made him reconsider. “Adults are boring.”

“True!” The first twin agreed.

“And liars,” the second added. “Always tell you things are fun which aren’t.”

The Lost Boys agreed to this, while Michael remained silent.

“Tink,” Peter began, “fly down there and see if you can find the map.”

With a last glare to Michael, the fairy obeyed.

The children waited what seemed to be a long while and even Michael found himself growing restless. Despite the fairy not liking him, he did not want to see Tinkerbell in danger. When she came back, she talked directly into Peter’s ears.

“The map is on Hook’s table!” He translated.

“How could we get it?” Curly asked.

“I and Tink will distract them,” Peter decided. “You creep through the undergrowth and steal the map … and everything you want!”

The Lost Boys agreed this was an audacious plan and looked in admiration after their chieftain, who went down the longer side of the hill with Tinkerbell to face the pirates alone. Michael felt there was a line between bravery and foolishness and that Peter crossed it, even if he was the only one mature enough to see this. He didn’t say so, because he knew it might only have motivated the eternal boy to do something even more audacious and – as he had to admit – he himself was willing to take risks to get his part of the treasure. Still, as he followed the boys, he swore to himself to rather stop this adventure, than to let any harm come to them.

As adult he was the one responsible after all!

Yet, it was Michael, who made the loudest sounds. As the Lost Boys crept through the underwood, lithe and silent as does, he was stepping on branches and not really managed to slip through bushes without parts of them hanging on him.

“Go barefoot!” Tootles whispered, after another knack had made the Lost Boys wince.

Reluctantly Michael obeyed, slipping out of them with no effort and letting his socks in them, too. The shoes had cost much, being specially designed to give ARV-victims a dignified look, so he swore to pick them up again on their way back. Still, he quickly noticed, how much more silent he was barefoot. Not as much as the other boys, but adapting more and more, the dirtier his feet became.

They reached the edge of the pirate camp just in time, for Peter either impatient or knowing their speed – as he would later claim – had started to make loud sounds like of drums and gave forth the warcry of the Piccaninny tribe. There could be no doubt, Peter was a perfect imitator. Such, as the pirates, led by their captain, rushed to the supposed attack, the children crept in the deserted camp behind them.

Slightly was the one stealing the map from the table, Tootles took some gold doubloons, Nibbs a telescope, Curly a pipe, the Twins each a dagger and Michael … looked around increasingly afraid he wouldn’t find anything worth stealing. When the other children were already creeping back into the undergrowth, Michael found it. A hat, a true pirate-hat, red and with a white feather – Hooks hat – just a few meters away. It looked like the best thing, Michael had ever seen in his life. Enthralled he went to it, nearly an armlength, ready to grab it.

“Hey!”

Breaking out of his enchantment, Michael looked to his right, noticing the pirate lying in a hammock, his head just half a meter away from his. It was clear from the surprise in his face, that the pirate had just awoken, as it was clear from the bottle of rum under the hammock and the foul smell of his breath, that he had drunken a bit too much. The man pulled out his hand to grab Michael, when the latter saw the pirate’s cutlass hanging close to him. Instinctively he grabbed it, holding the tip to the man’s nose and making him recede his hand.

Behind his back, Michael believed to hear the urgent whispers of the Lost Boys to retread, but he felt liked nailed to the ground. The pirate saw the fear in his eyes and grinned, jumped off his hammock and landed heavily on the sand. As his opponent erected to his full height, Michael believed to see the largest, most muscular and most and most menacing adult he had ever seen in his second childhood.

“Hand the blade, boy,” the pirate told him, grinning down on him, a dirty piece cloth hiding his bald head. “Before you hurt yourself with it!”

The glittering of the gold tooth in the sun, snapped Michael out of his shock. He turned around and dashed for the undergrowth, diving into it, just when he heard the pirate’s heavy steps in the sand.

Michael had never been such afraid in his whole life. The pirate cursing while giving chase, sounded like he was just a meter away. Still the regressed adult dared not to turn around, lest he fell. The Lost Boys were nowhere to be seen and to top it all, he had no idea where he was running to. In the back of his mind, he imagined running in a circle, straight back to the beach and into Hook’s arms.

The sight of his shoes in front of him, made Michael relax enough, that when he had jumped over them, he dared to turn his head back a bit. It seemed he didn’t have to be too worried, for the pirate was still many meters away, struggling to get through the undergrowth too thick for his big body, taking branches and lianas with him where Michael had without effort dived under them. To top it, the muscular adult fell over the shoes, landing with a curse on the wet forest floor.

Have I ever been such inflexible?, Michael asked himself.

He had not much time for wondering, though, as he could see Tootle’s upper body sticking out of a particularly thick bush, gesturing him with his hands to follow. Michael did so and together the two boys raced back to the other side of the hill, catching up with the rest on the way. Reaching the place where they had started, they all collapsed, heavily breathing, but a smile on each face.

When they had gotten breath again, they told each other stories, about their flight through the bushes, one more exciting than the other. Then Peter and Tinkerbell came back and of course their chief had the best story of them all, about how he had fooled the pirates with the sound of war-drums and feathers and about how they were still none the wiser. They all – even Michael – listened in awe.

Then they showed what they had stolen from the camp and Peter liked everything.

„Daring!“ Peter praised on seeing Michael’s cutlass. „But better with pirate blood.“

The regressed adult gave him a slight smile, knowing that the boy would have bloodied the blade, probably with the blood of the pirate who had chased him. Still, he found he was disappointed not to have gotten the hat. It had been a beautiful, imposing one. Turning around, Michael noticed Tinkerbell sitting in a near branch and looking at him in a strange way, but not as hostile as before. He gave her a smile, before joining the Lost Boys who stood around the map.

Michael had to move a bit, before he found an entry in the circle, left of Slightly, who was an inch larger than him and right to Tootles, with whom he seemed to be of one height. A nagging feeling in the back of his mind told Michael something was wrong, but his consciousness was centered on the map.

„Here it is friends and fellow thieves!“ Peter explained in an important-sounding voice. „The map to treasure and adventure!“

All boys were excited, but Michael noticed something when looking at it.

„There is a route, but it got no end!“ He said.

„It will show us the way, when we are there,“ Slightly explained.

„It is a magic map,“ Nibs said with a wide grin, when he noticed Michael’s confusion.

„This makes it an even better one,“ Peter added. „Not knowing the end, makes it an even better adventure.“

„Neverlook Point,“ Michael read out lout, without effort.

„I know where it is!“ Curly exclaimed. „Up the mountain.“

„Adventurers forward!“ Peter exclaimed, rising his sword into the direction of a mountain.

Despite being aghast, by the steep slope, Michael quickly followed the rest.

***

The mountain turned out to be even steeper up close. Sharp stone hurt Michael’s unhardened bare feet and the way up seemed to be party composed out of steps made for giants. Given it was Neverland, they might very well have been, but no giant was seen on the way up, nor anything else which could give them a ride. They did progress though, their hands and feet finding spaces too small to climb for an adult.

It was when Michael stopped a moment to pull up his sleeves, his trouser legs and fasten the belt with the stolen sword fixed on it, that he suddenly had an idea.

„Why aren’t we flying?“ He asked Nibs, looking at Tinkerbell, who flew seemingly effortlessly a bit above them. „Wouldn’t this be easier?“

„Adventures aren’t supposed to be easy,” the other boy replied. „How could they be true adventures if they were?“

Michael still was skeptical.

„The bigger the adventure, the bigger the treasure!“ Tootles agreed. „If it was easy, your medicine would taste like liver. This way it will taste like the best candy.“

For a moment, Michael had no idea which medicine Tootles was talking about, then he remembered. The age-regression-virus! This was why he had gone to Neverland in the first place. How could he have forgotten even for a moment, was past him.

He would find the medicine in the chest, drink it and be an adult again. Of course, he hoped, he wouldn’t be as sluggish as the pirate he had escaped from in the undergrowth, but being big again, would make climbing way easier. And there was Mary. Him returning to her as an adult, would mean make her happy – he knew – and while she would have trouble believing his adventure, they would embrace each other and cuddle and … Michael stopped, there was more, something which had been so much fun as adult, it was …

„Hey!“ One of the Twins shouted from the edge two meters higher up.

„No slagging!“ The second twin added.

Both extended their hands. Tootles and Nibs quickly took it and when it was Michael’s turn, he realized he would miss having adventures, despite how hard they could become. Maybe the medicine wouldn’t make him too big. Maybe just big enough for it seeming like fun for Mary to join him. Smiling he touched his wedding ring, before he let the Twins help him up, feeling clever for such an idea.

There wasn’t much more way to cover to the top. Neverlook Point turned out to be really a special place. Not as high as Neverland’s giant mountains, it still allowed the viewer to see over the vast forest, all the way to the sea. Kites in many forms and colors glided around the boys in the wild winds, as if to invite them to fly with them.

“These are the kites children lost to the wind,” Nibs explained to a stunned Michael.

“They are happier being free,” Peter explained. “Come look to where we need to go next!”

They gathered around their chief, who had sat down, the map laid out on his knees. Michael could see the next goal being an area with many ponds and bogs.

„Cro-co-dile po-nds,“ he slowly read loud.

He was proud that he managed it, but the sudden fear in the eyes of the boys who had a moment before been so brave, made him regret it.

„Do you think it will be home?“ Curly asked, barely managing to fight the fear from his voice.

“At this time, it is out hunting Hook!” Slightly replied. “It still wants more of him.”

„Even if not,“ Peter noticed. „We will hear it long before it is close. Remember Captain Hook’s clock in the stomach?“

All nodded, yet the Lost Boys looked worryingly north, where Michael could see the area shown on the map. It was darker than in the maps, the shadows looking dangerous even from up here. Maybe being able to read wasn’t such a great thing after all.

***

Their way down was easy in comparison. Too easy, for it seemed as if the muddy area was hungry to welcome them. At least something in it was. They already were in sight of some ghastly looking, dead trees, when one of Michael’s trouser legs rolled itself down again and he had enough. Determined the regressed adult cut both of them down to just over his knees, and since his shirt had also seemingly become larger, he cut away its arms and at last a third of its length. Feeling finally a bit better prepared, he quickly caught up to the rest.

At first, Michael felt he didn’t dislike the area as much as he had from the distance. The first ponds looked nice and too clear for any crocodile to hide in. The many ducks and proud swans sailing on them, made him regret, he hadn’t had any bread to feed them with. Still, something disturbed the serene image for Michael, as his image in the pond seemed strangely distorted. He looked younger. No longer a big boy like Peter or Slightly, or even the Twins, but nearly a Kindergartner. He had been bigger before, hadn’t he? Before he could picture himself larger in his mind, the former adult noticed he was lagging behind the other boys and quickly ran after them not to get lost.

Once he reached them, he had already forgotten what had disturbed him moments before.

It were a few dozen meters into the area, that the landscape changed. The ground became muddier, encasing Michael‘s toes and pulling at his feet with each step. Likewise, the ponds became muddier, too, betraying nothing of their content. Peter had said, they would hear the crocodile in time, still Michael looked nervously on each pond they passed, weary of the occasional suspicious bubble, rising from the ground. The way became even darker, as they passed some low hanging trees and thick bushes. Tinkerbell flew low to lighten the safest way for the boys with her light.

Suddenly Michael noticed that Curly – walking in front of him – made a game out of not stepping into each footprint of the other boys, but jumping in the second or even the third. Enthralled, Michael tried it, too, and found he liked it, despite he nearly fell in the mud once or twice and despite the sprinkles which soon covered part of his knee-heighted short. When the smallest of the Lost Boys noticed, what Michael was doing, he grinned at him, something the regressed adult at once shared, feeling a sudden, but strong connection with his fellow adventurer of the same height.

Michael looked at the ground as he jumped. His feet covered in mud even over the ankles.

One jump. Two jumps. One jump. Two jumps. One. Two. One. Two. Tic. Toc. Tic. Toc. Tic …

The group froze like one man, as they all recognized at the same time the dreaded ticking of a clock. Just as that, the giant log of a fallen tree in front of them – easily the length of all of them combined – moved and turned its giant head in their direction. An opening snout revealed countless teeth, as large as their hands and seemingly as sharp as Hook’s Hook.

With a roar and a swing of its enormous tail, the crocodile splashed them with mud. Michael needed a moment to get it out of his eyes. When he could see again, he noticed that the Lost Boys had slithered apart and hoped it would confuse the crocodile in what to attack first. Unfortunately, the monster wasn’t confused, but had its hungry gaze fixed on Tinkerbell, who – hit by mud – had fallen on the ground, unable to get in the air to safety.

If it was its glimmer, that made the crocodile chose the tiny fairy over the fleshier children, or it wanting someone small in his stomach to watch over the clock, no one could say, but when it moved towards Tinkerbell, it couldn’t be swayed, neither by thrown rocks, nor by Peter’s sword, which didn’t so much as scratch the scales on the beast’s back. On and on it moved, as Tinkerbell helplessly tried to crawl backwards. Behind her, Michael realized in this moment, that he still had the pirate’s sword. In one skilled movement he drew it, ran and slithered on his knees forward, the top of the blade pointed at the crocodile.

With the luck of the brave, the blade hit the snout, the most sensitive part of the crocodile’s body. It let out a roar of surprise, pain and fear and fled sideway into a pond, almost running over Tootles and once of the Twins standing in the way. At once, all Lost Boys applauded Michael for his bravery, while Peter picked up Tinkerbell from the mud, as careful and tender, as a queen would a newborn kitten.

„Onwards boys!“ Peter ordered them. „Before the green beast recovers.“

***

They obeyed and after running a bit, they found a small hill, rising above the ponds and bogs, offering the necessary safe and rather dry rest. Michael had just climbed it, when Tinkerbell appeared before his face. Startled the regressed adult saw her kissing the tip of his nose, in a touch as soft as that of a feather. The fairy then flew away to clean herself perfectly, using water gathered in a leaf to this and as mirror. Neither Michael, nor the other boys thought about cleaning, despite being partly bearing more mud than clothes. The adventure was still calling, after all, being all that had place in their uncombed heads.

In all but Michael’s, who found himself thinking of kisses. He didn’t like kisses. Kisses were normally something slobbery aunts tortured children with. This kiss had been different. Tinkerbell hadn’t liked him before, though Michael could hardly remember why. He remembered other kisses though. Mary had used to kiss him, what seemed so long ago. Had he kissed back?

Like the crocodile normally hiding most of itself under water, Michael felt there was more to this sort of kissing, more he had once known, but the water seemed so muddy and it was so hard to search it. Absentmindedly he touched the ring on the necklace around his neck. It was a special ring, he knew this, a ring meaning something to him and Mary. Now mud covered it, like it seemed to cover his thoughts. Were there word hidden under the mud? If only he had fresh water to clean both, he was sure he would find something important.

“Michael?” A voice called him.

He looked up. It was Tootles who had called him, to show him that the other boys gathered again to look at the map. Smiling at the larger boys, Michael let go of the ring and abandoned the difficult search in the dark corners of mind and joined them for fun.

Being the smallest, Michael had a bit of trouble, getting a look at it and once he did, he was confused. The map had changed once again and the small hut it led to, had some scribble over it. Vaguely Michael was aware these were letters, but they seemed very strange. It had to be a difficult word, or from a far-away-country.

„We must go past the witch’s hut!“ Peter explained.

Michael smiled, as he recognized that it were these words on the map, but his smile froze, as he saw the worried faces of him friends.

„It is a mean witch?“ he asked.

„The meanest there is!“ Slightly assured him.

„She has green skin and a long nose,“ Nibs added.

„She has but one tooth,“ Curly said.

„She has a cauldron,“ one twin said.

„She puts children in it and cooks them,“ The other twin added.

„She knows all the children in the world,“ Slightly said, looking from the hill in the direction of a misty rise. „She calls them and if one of them wanders to her …“

Michael didn’t want to know this part. Indeed, he felt already more afraid than at any time before in his life he could remember. The regressed adult had to suppress a shiver.

As usual it was Peter who lifted the mood.

„Bullocks, what does a witch has to be afraid of?“ He asked. „In the end, she is just an adult and I don’t fear adults. Do you?“

Heads were shaken, as this thought slowly got hold in their heads and brains. The Lost Boys didn’t fear any adult and they were led by the bravest child there was. So why the fuss?

„Besides,“ Peter added with a grin, banning their fear completely. „The witch is afraid her cauldron could get dirty, so she only spies for clean children. I wouldn’t want to make an adventure with a boy who still is clean after only one hour of adventuring.“

They all agreed on this, too, smiling looking at their mud-covered bodies and clothes. One by one, they followed their chief.

***

The farther they went, the more mist began to rise from the ground, stealing their courage as quick as it seemed to steal the details of the dead, leafless trees around them. When they finally arrived at the witch’s hut, they walked as close together as possible. They didn’t hold hands, though, as this would have meant admitting they were afraid and adventurers weren’t!

They still definitely weren’t afraid, when they first discovered the witch’s house, suddenly appearing out of the mist and looming above them like an angry giant. It looked sinister, with a rotting wooden ceiling, crooked walls, dark windows which seemed to look at the boys like large eyes. Smoke came out of the chimney and no one dared to ask what the witch might cook.

It was the creaking of the front door, that sent them diving into the next bush. As the door opened, it revealed a witch, which was the epitome of all witches ever having threatened children or princesses in fairy tales. Her thin frame hid by black clothes. The few strains of white hair, hid by black witch-hat. Under the hat there was a face, lean and hungry like that of a hawk and though her eyes were white, she seemed to know her surroundings.

She sniffed.

„I smell tasty children,“ the witch called. „Come out. Come out. I have sweets! Sweets and toys!“

The children in the bush looked at each other. No one, not even Peter, dared to make a run.

„I smell you Garry and Mona, Andy, Johnny. I smell you Anton, Michelle and Christine. I smell you Eve.“ All over the world, children stopped in their games or woke up from sound sleep to suddenly cry for no good reason in their parent’s eyes. She stopped, sniffing again. „Closer. Yes, so much closer. Peter! Slightly. Nibs and Curly and the Twins … and a new child. I smell you, too, Michael. The younger the tastier.“

Michael shuddered, as she mentioned his name. Desperately he tried to find anything he could defend himself with. Some truth. In the back of his mind he believed to see something, the shape of an argument, a sensible argument a little girl called Eve had once thought of first, when the witch chased her through a forest. He tried desperately to grasp it, but his mind seemed to be as dark and misty as the forest around them. He feared it just as much and instinctively he grabbed the ring on the necklace around his neck. Finally, he knew what to do.

Michael removed the very loose necklace, swung it and let it fly to the other side of the witch’s house.

„What shall these noises?“ The witch asked turning to the noise. „Who dares mocking me?“

The children – recognizing their chance – ran out of the bushes and past the hut, ran until the mist started to part, until their feet and lungs hurt and they had to fall on the soft ground. When taking breath was no longer work, the Lost Boys praised Michael again for distracting the witch.

He smiled on this, but in the back of his mind a tiny voice told him, the ring had been too important to let go off. It told of love, different from the one he felt for his parents or for his new friends. Michael pondered on this strange thought, but in the end the boy silenced the confusing voice, deciding it had just been a toy.

***

„How long is it Peter?“ Nibs asked, after their sore legs allowed them to stand again.

Peter was about to look at the map, when he noticed something and grinned.

„Open your eyes comrades and vagabonds,“ he intoned, pointing to the direction of some bushes. „We are there!“

All heads turned into the direction. First Michael thought Peter wanted to make fun of them, then, behind the branches, he could see the outline of a chest. Excited the boys ran through the bushes, until they reached a bright clearing and in the middle of it was a chest. Happy outcries and laughter was heard over the clearing, as they approached the chest. They had done it. They had earned their treasure, whatever it was they wished for.

Michael stopped and let the other children rush by.

What was it he wished for? There had been something. At the start of this adventure he had been so secure about it, had wanted it so very much. How could it have escaped him? Would he find the chest empty, because he knew nothing to wish for? With greatest effort, Michael searched in his mind, in his heart for the one thing he wished most for, he had desired most.

He found it.

With a big smile, Michael followed the Lost Boys. He saw Tootles take a bag of cookies out of the chest, Slightly took a flute, Peter a war drum, the Twins took a bow and arrows, Nibs a toy-car and Curly a beautiful looking feather. When Michael looked in the chest, his smile widened, until he feared his teeth to fall out.

In it lay the red pirate-head with the white feather.

Feeling completely filled out with happiness, Michael took his prize with awe and sat it upon his head. Best of all: the other boys liked it, too. Such they talked about what they found best about the adventure, until Peter grew bored and decided it was time to go. Tinkerbell flew above them and sprinkled them with pixie dust. Such happy were their thoughts, that no one stayed on the ground for even a second.

Their chief led them to the Mermaids’ Lagoon. As they flew over the clear water, they could see their reflections in it. Michael was amazed to see another boy with them, one he had never seen before. He was easily the smallest of them – no older than five – wearing shorts which reached over his knees and a short shirt without sleeves which might once have been grey, but now showed a mix of mud and plantlife, making it more interesting. His innocent, yet dirty face showed confusion. It was only when Michael noticed he wore his pirate hat, that he realized it was him. For a moment, he didn’t know what to think, then he realized how cool he looked and laughed wildly, as he followed the other Lost Boys.

They landed on a soft sand beach, quickly getting rid of their clothes and took a bath in the warm, swallow water. Not to get clean, as a mother would have told them to, but to splash and dive and try to catch each other. Michael hardly managed the latter, but didn’t care, there was just so much fun.

On rocks, not too far away, the mermaids looked at them disinterested. For Michael, they looked beautiful like in books, but also kinda vain, as they looked more at their reflection in the water than at the boys. Their smooth skin showed no signs of them having an adventure for a whole week, which he found a massive waste of time.

They are just stupid girls, the little boy thought, before rejoining the other in play.

***

There were more water-games, until their skin was wrinkled. Then they ran back on the beach. Peter beat his drums and Slightly played his flute, as the rest danced wildly around. Soon they chased each other. Tootles shared his cookies. Next the Twins showed their skill with the bow. Then they built a giant sand castle. Nibs drove the toy-car around it, sharing it with everyone and Curly crowned it with the feather of the Neverbird which glittered in the sun.

It could have gone on forever, but in the end the last of Neverland’s many suns began to set, so the boys gathered up their clothes and went for home. Their toys and treasures, Michael’s hat and sword, Slightly’s flute and all the rest, they left behind on the beach, where the mermaids investigated them for a short while – having only feigned disinterest earlier – before they, too, went home to their houses underwater. Ultimately the tide would come and wash the toys away. Some would find their way into the real world – like toys and treasures from it sometimes found a way to Neverland – and the child finding one would experience a fraction of the fun the Lost Boys had on their adventure.

It would be a happy child indeed.

The Lost Boys had fun on their way back, too, finding a tree with tasty fruits and getting their mouth all juicy from it, knowing there would be no mother waiting on them in their home to call them out. Michael knew it was the same fruit he had eaten at the start of their adventure, but it no longer tasted even mildly bitter, but wonderfully sweet! The little boy smiled over his smeared mouth!

Continuing their way home. the Twins let him hang on their arms and suddenly raised him into the air. The large boys seemed to have no effort with it at all.

Finally, they reached the hollow tree and with no effort slipped into the hidden holes, quickly falling on their perches and blankets. All happy and exhausted of their adventure and all quickly slipping into happy dreams about what adventures tomorrow would bring.

Of all of them Michael had the happiest.

***

When Michael awoke, the dream didn’t quite go away. Everything seemed bigger around him and when he tried to sit up, he found he couldn’t. Looking at his hands he found them to be smaller, pudgier and his legs seemed to obey him only so far, as to rise in front of him and stick out of the giant shirt.

Peter and the other boys were around him, talking big boy words Michael had problems to follow. What he understood, was “too small” and “baby” and “bring home”. He grew agitated. He didn’t want to leave! He wanted to have adventures with the other Lost Boys! He tried to say this, but his mouth didn’t want to obey him and all that came out was gurgle.

Michael was close to crying, when Tinkerbell appeared in front of his face. She rang so lovely and now the former adult had no problems understanding her. The fairy promised him everything would be all right. Peter would bring him to his mommy, but she would check on him and when he was a bit older, she would take him back to Neverland for adventures.

This calmed the little boy. Indeed, so much, that he must have dozed off over this, for the next thing he noticed was Peter cradling him, as they flew high over Neverland. The next thing after that was that they were above a dark landscape, littered with light and the next …

To be continued …