Second Date

Chapter 10: The Chaperone

Chapter 10: The Chaperone

"Caaaaaaan you repeat that again? Ya want Peter Pan...to what?"

Mickey was a busy Mouse. A remarkably busy mouse. As Mr. Walt Disney's successor, Mickey was responsible for the health of Disney World. This included scheduling daily shows, inducting new princesses, recycling leftover pixie dust, selecting movies from the Disney vault for DVD release, regular park appearances, ensuring the happily ever afters of every Disney character, and a boat load of paperwork. Why, he hardly had time to schmooze with Minnie (hardly, but he managed to pencil her in).

Since the 'date frenzy' Mickey now had to brainstorm a safe way to release his Disney characters into the wilds of Orlando Florida, with the added complication of Maleficent's curse on his hands! It hardly seemed fair.

Yes. Mickey was a busy Mouse.

And he did not have time for Captain Hook's or The Darling's complaints.

"Sell him!" Mr. Darling demanded. "Sell Peter Pan to Dreamworks!"

"Bake him!" Mrs. Darling wept. "Bake Peter Pan in a blackbird pie!"

"Tie Peter Pan to an anchor!" Captain Hook roared. "And make him walk the plank!"

Mickey blinked. "Ohhh boy."

Donald, Goofy, and Pluto sympathized with poor Mickey. So, reviving the competition from The Darling's last visit, they awarded Mickey one point. The score was 4 to 3, Mickey takes the lead!

"Now see here." Mickey began. "I'm not authorized to sell, bake, or drown Peter Pan! Come on folks! We've changed Wendy's contract - "

"No doubt you heard the raucous last night?" Captain Hook interrupted. "The Disney brigade?"

"Sure did." Mickey's tail bristled. "I assumed it was a villain. Again."

Oooo! Shot to the chones! Donald, Goofy, and Pluto sniggered. Point Mickey.

"It was Peter Pan!" Mrs. Darling wrung her kerchief. "He kidnapped Wendy last night!"

"After we explicitly told him no!" added Mr. Darling.

Minnie huffed. Well that didn't sound at all like Peter Pan. Oops. NOT.

"The boy is ghost! A terror! A fiend!" Mrs. Darling gasped. "He dissolved through the walls, right through Wendy's nursery window! It was magically locked by Maleficent no less! But Peter Pan penetrated the barrier! He still got through! Oh! Demon child!"

Wow. Dissolving through walls? Donald, Goofy, Pluto nodded. Point Peter Pan.

"Mrs. Darling." Mickey tried to be soothing. "I don't think Peter dissolved through Wendy's bedroom walls."

"But he did!" Insulted, Mr. Darling held his wife. "Peter Pan most certainly did! The window was locked! How else could the kidnapping been done? Hmph?"

"Was Wendy's door locked?"

"What type of parents do you think we are, Sir? Course not!"

"Well." Mickey prompted.

"Well what?"

Mickey rubbed his head. He had no doubt Peter kidnapped Wendy, but he was also convinced that Wendy contributed to the process.

"Well." Mickey continued. "If Peter was outside, and all entrances were locked except Wendy's door..."

Donald, Goofy, and Pluto awarded Mickey two points as The Darlings almost lost consciousness. Mickey 7, Hook 3! The mouse was in the house!

"Are? You? Insinuating?" Mr. Darling puffed. "That Wendy disappeared with that street rat? On her own accord?"

"Well ya know -" Mickey shrugged. Minnie thought he looked so cute. "-it's only a theory!"

Mrs. Darling wavered. Mickey interjected quickly before she could faint.

"But let's not worry, huh? I'll have a talk with Peter and Wendy! No more night time -er - kidnappings. Remember, we have that new contract. During park hours, Wendy and Peter stay apart."

Sniff went Donald, Goofy, Minnie, and Pluto.

"Yes. Wendy's contract." said Captain Hook. "An exceptional segue to the current calamity. You see, master mouse, Peter Pan - in a moment of purest vulgarity - asked Miss Wendy..."

Captain Hook grimaced. "...on a date."

Mickey's jaw dropped. He had to pick it up from the floor! "A date!?"

"Indeed. Poor girl."

"But!" Mickey looked to Minnie for help. Minnie shrugged. This was unprecedented, and extremely out of character for Peter Pan! Why it was so unprecedented, Donald, Goofy and Pluto were forced to increase the tally for Captain Hook. Surprise attack. Always worth a point.

Mickey regained his composure. "Are ya sure?"

"Quite."

"Ya heard it with your own ears?."

"It was disgusting."

"Well..." Mickey thought. Then he quit. It was no use worrying: his hands were tied.

"Well I guess they'll just have to go on the date."

The Darling's cries reverberated across the country from Disney World to Disney Land.

"The date night is open to any Disney characters!" Mickey Mouse darted behind Donald and Goofy. He ducked as Mr. Darling swung his umbrella. "It's only one evening! A few harmless hours they won't remember in the morning! Good golly, if I know Peter and Wendy they'll probably have a blast!"

Mrs. Darling sobbed.

"Folks please!" Mickey attempted to reason. "Please, there's nothing I can do! Aside from tagging along with them - "

"Excellent." Captain Hook hammered his sword. The blade chinked into the floor. "An excellent idea. I accept your offer."

"Huh?" Mickey peeked over Minnie's bow. "Offer? What I made an offer? What offer?"

"I shall accompany Miss Wendy and that rascal Peter Pan, supervising the course of their...dear little date. I shall be..." Captain Hook smiled. "...their chaperone."

"Chaperone?" Mickey said. "Chaperone, chaperone? Captain Hook I'm sorry, but the villains aren't allowed on the dates - "

"Tis not a date." said Captain Hook. "Tis...oh how did you phrase it? Tagging along?"

"But!" Mickey objected. He'd been tricked! "But Wendy and Peter don't need - "

"Are you refusing Lord and Lady Darling?" whispered Captain Hook. "Are you refusing to accommodate the mandate for an appropriate candidate to chaperone Miss Wendy's most inappropriatedate?"

Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhgggg. Donald, Goofy, and Pluto cringed. Play on words? Plus rhyming? And revenge? Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhgggg. Well played Captain Hook. Well played.

Reluctantly, Donald, Goofy, and Pluto awarded Captain Hook a whopping three points.

The score was tied. But Mickey Mouse better hurry up and find his game face.

Because the war had begun.