Second Date

Chapter 21: Close Your Eyes

Chapter 21: Close Your Eyes

Wendy Darling was a smart girl. Of course she had suspicions. Given all of Peter's hints, Captain Hook's insinuations, memories of Peter Pan's Flight, and her own secret desires, Wendy believed that Peter Pan wanted to give her a kiss. At the very least he was curious; curious enough to explorer the idea like an adventurer exploring a mysterious treasure map.

However, Wendy Darling was also very prudent and demure. A proper young lady, she suppressed her suspicions under the guise of first-date flutters. After all, Wendy had always been a little smitten with Peter. Her feelings were only natural.

However, since their first meeting Wendy had amended her feelings; she learned to love Peter as a best friend. Nothing more. Nothing less. Just a silly best friend to share adventures, tell stories, and play pranks on pirates.

The reason? Well, it was because Peter Pan...was Peter Pan.

Peter symbolized a very special idea to the people of the world: One may grow up, but one can always grow with the faith of a child. The type of faith that upholds whatever you dream- no matter how fantastic - that dream can come true. If only you just believe.

People depended on Peter Pan; Wendy saw it every day. Visitors came to Disney World just too see him. Whether it was a toddler meeting his hero, a teenager with a secret crush, or a young adult desperately searching for her childhood, people needed Peter.

Peter Pan was special. His spirit was immortal as his youth.

And Wendy could not bring herself to change that. She could not ask Peter Pan to grow up.

So, even though she wanted her suspicions to be true, Wendy kept them under lock and key. She settled instead for a perfectly lovely date.

"Is THIS how you feel all the time?!"

Wendy laughed. Peter had taken her to a playground. Gravity was a new concept for him, and Peter wanted to try falling every way possible. A playground was the perfect springboard.

It was adorable. Peter sampled every playground station with the enthusiasm of a puppy. At first he worked on mastering each obstacle. It was tough without flight, but not a problem for Peter Pan! Then, after he was proficient on the playground equipment, Peter practiced falling.

"Watch!" He'd call from the monkey bars. For a moment he'd dangle, making sure Wendy was watching. Then with a snap Peter would release, plunge, and roll across the woodchips laughing like a goon.

Wendy insisted that Peter stop falling when the round-about almost flung him to kingdom-come. Happily, Peter retired to the slide. Wendy agreed to let him descend backwards if she guarded the bottom. Peter was satisfied and Wendy stopped counting his rides when the number exceeded a thousand.

"Is what how I feel all the time?" Wendy asked as Peter slid backwards and bumped into her hip. She smiled. Had she not been there, Peter would have fallen off and cracked his head!

"Like this!" Peter kicked his feet in the air. "Like you could fall down at ANY second!"

"Not exactly." Wendy shifted as Peter scooched by her legs. "Regular children don't learn to fly. But we do learn balance."

"Well flying is good!" Peter hung upside-down from the slide. "But this is wayyy more fun! There's no way to stop yourself! You just stumble and plunk! Kerrr-spat!"