Second Date

Chapter 9: First Base-ish-ish

Chapter 9: First Base-ish-ish

Peter Pan was just a boy, but even he knew the number one rule in the universe: nothing mixes well with pirates! Pirates stink. Pirates smell. And pirates don't play nice.

Peter scoffed. Abruptly he spun.

"If those grownups think I'm going to give you to Captain Hook -" Peter wagged his finger. "-then they've got another thing coming, Wendy!"

Wendy hardly knew what to say. Thank you seemed inappropriate, and Please don't kill my parents seemed too dangerous an idea to put in Peter's head.

"Contract." Peter marched Wendy across Fantasyland, the northernmost sector of the Magic Kingdom. "Who's afraid of an ol' contract? Not me! Not you! Not anybody! Stupid grownups! Dirty, rotten codfish!"

Peter halted in front of a colorful building. The building had been built to resemble rows of jousting tents. Even at night the striped towers were radiant as rainbows. Wendy read the medieval writing over the entrance: Peter Pan's Flight. It was an amusement park ride. It was Peter Pan's home.

Peter hopped weightlessly over the gates. Expectantly, he held out his arms.

"Come on!"

Wendy mounted the fence. She surveyed the ride's vehicles as Peter lowered her down.

Each passenger vehicle was shaped like a miniature pirate ship. They were squat, single row three seaters with golden frames and bright sails.

"What are we doing?" Wendy asked as Peter heaved a pirate ship to the starting platform. "Hiding?"

"Yup." The pirate ship clicked. Peter dusted his hands. "And sleeping. Come on."

Doubtfully, Wendy regarded the ship. "Peter. Your name is on the sign out front."

Peter boarded. "So?"

"Don't you suppose this is where Captain Hook will look first?"

"That old codfish?" Laughing, Peter extended a hand. "Hook wouldn't be able to find a pixie if it blew up his nose! Come on, Wendy. Get inside."

Wendy swayed. Captain Hook's voice gnawed the back of her mind. Scandalous.

"...together?"

Peter climbed out. He took Wendy's hand. "How else am I going to protect you? Silly girl. In ya go, easy does it. Okay...."

Peter pulled the safety bar. It clanked into place.

"Comfy?"

Wendy nodded. But she hugged the ship's railing, creating as much space as possible.

"All right then!" Peter thumped the side of the ship. Instantly they jerked, and the ride roared into circulation.

"Here we go!" Peter called in synch with the loud speakers. "Off to Neverland!"

They rolled from the loading dock. Wendy knew the sound effects were recorded, the props were plastic, and the ships were suspended from overhanging conveyer belts. But with Peter Pan beside her, they might as well be sailing a magical ship on a cloud of pixie dust. Leaning back, Wendy relaxed into Peter. She let her imagination do the rest.

They did not make it to Neverland, figuratively of course. Shortly after starting, Peter thumped the ship and the ride stopped.

Wendy looked below. They were suspended over a mini, moonlit London. The darkness was a comfortable shade of blue. Lights twinkled. There was an empty ship behind, and an empty ship ahead. Everything was peaceful and quiet.