Second Date

Chapter 37: La Vie En Rose

Chapter 37: La Vie En Rose

What a whirlwind! What a cataclysmic adventure! What a story that precipitated from a simple request: A request for one special night out of an eternity. A request to learn. A request to love. A request to go on a date.

It would be only natural to wonder: did Disney World change? What effect did the magical influx have on the happiest place on Earth?

Well, not much. Not much at all.

To the untrained eye, Disney World appears very unchanged. The princes and princesses continue to bop comfortably along to their happily-ever-afters. The villains still try to throw all happily-ever-afters in the trash. Mickey Mouse and magical friends do their utmost to protect the heroes and keep the villains at bay. Rapunzel and Flynn are still deliriously in love, and spend their nights snogging in Peter Pan's Flight. Merida continues to maintain that being single is awesome. Tinkerbell is still green with envy. And Captain Hook will forever remain a dirty rotten codfish.

See? Clearly, nothing has really changed.

Unless...you look between blinks. For if you concentrate, you may notice: somethings have changed.

First, should you visit Ariel's Grotto, take a second glance. It might be helpful to have a picture of Ariel, just for reference. Because, the Ariel you are seeing may be an imposter - especially if Prince Eric is nearby. The actress may be a double, a look-alike, a doppelgänger. In fact, it may be the redhead from Mermaid Lagoon flirting with Prince Eric as Ariel and Jim...well...that's their business. But rest assured - they are finally part of each other's world.

But what of Wendy and Peter Pan?

Well, this is their story. So I suppose it's permissible for us to drop in.

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"It's all a little pink."

Wendy pirouetted. She smiled as Peter turned her under his arm.

It was Thursday night. She had won the Dressing Room Challenge (again), and raced with Peter to The Partner's statue. After admiring Mr. Walt Disney's memorial she had anticipated reenacting the Peter Pan script as either herself or Peter, and climbed expectantly onto the stone pedestal.

But Peter had a different idea.

Stars had spilled across the sky. Loudspeakers were singing a lovely song. Wendy looked incredibly pretty. He was irresistibly charming.

So Peter asked:

"Wanna go on a date?"

Radiantly, Wendy had accepted Peter's hand. "Of course."

It was a little date, hardly a handful of dances between bashful smiles. But it was enough. More than enough. For as Jim once observed: dates build memories from the special and non-special stuff.

Wendy folded into Peter.

"What is a little pink?" she asked, following his graceful steps.

Without pausing the dance, Peter flourished at the sky.

"Everything." he said, "Since your kiss, everything is a little pink."

Swaying gently, Peter locked his hands around Wendy's waist. "Why is that? Because I ache for you?"

Wendy bit her lip. She giggled.

"What?" Peter smiled, enchanted by her mannerism. The motion surprised him every time. Helplessly Peter gazed at her lips. "What's so funny, little lady?"

Wendy blushed. Shyly, she drifted away.

"It's...." Wendy sat under The Partner's Statue. She fingered her thimble. "...it's not called ache. Actually..."

Peter cocked his head. Suddenly remembering, he retrieved his acorn kiss.

"What's it called?" he asked, flying behind Wendy. Smoothing aside her hair he fastened the necklace. The acorn pendant slid down the string and fell over her heart. Right where it belonged.

Peter leaned over Wendy's shoulder."You tricked me before, little Wendy. Whatsa kiss...thimble....ha!"

He whispered, tickling her ear. "So what's it called....if it's not called ache?"

Wendy turned. They rubbed noses as she returned Peter's thimble necklace.

"It's...called..." Wendy set the clasp. The thimble glittered as she whispered. "...love."

Peter scratched his head. "...hm. Strange. Lemmie try."

Peter took Wendy's chin. He tilted up. Gently, he strummed her lower lip.

"I...love ....you?"

Wendy smiled. "...very good."

"And you...love me?"

"Forever."

"Really?" Peter sparkled. "That's an awfully long time!"

Wendy sparkled back. "Oh Peter."

"Oh Wendy." Peter leaned. "I love you."

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It seems, dear readers, Disney World had changed. And you can see it.

But, don't expect these birdseye views! That was a privilege of this story! As I said: in Disney World you must look between blinks.

So the next time you visit that magical place, find Wendy and Peter. Look between blinks! And if you are lucky, you might catch Peter Pan pretending to laugh in Wendy's ear. Mouth happy and full, he will give her a little kiss.

Now, Wendy is a lady. So you must watch very carefully - because she usually returns it with a 'thimble' of her own.

THE END