Return to Neverland

Chapter 1

It all started when my grandma came to visit.

I was packing all of my stuff into cardboard boxes. Books was labeled on one of the boxes in big letters. I emptied out my bookshelf, sealing the lid with red duct tape. My grandma was going to be moving into my room, and I was going to be heading into my little sister and brother's room.

I didn't complain, either. I actually liked my siblings. There was my ten-year-old brother James, also known as Jamie. He had dark brown hair, the color of freshly brewed coffee. Unlike everyone else, Jamie had these light blue eyes that were covered by long lashes. I also had blue eyes, except they were much darker. Everyone in my family had these dark brown ones, except for me and Jamie. They were big and full of life, always full of curiosity. He was childish but kinda mature at the same time, and no matter what, there was always a smile on his face. 

Charlie, my little sister, who was six years old, was who I liked to call the 'living bounce house.' Charlie was always jumping, laughing, or running. I couldn't remember the last time I saw her frown or cry. 'Our bundle of joy,' was what Mom called her. Charlie, fragile as a fairy, had pale skin that made her eyes look huge. Her perfect french roast colored hair curled down her torso. Her doe eyes could make anyone feel guilty, or it would make me wonder if she was going to explode in a frenzy of happiness and sugar. Don't even get me started on how she wins board games.

The one thing that they both had in common was their enjoyment of listening to me telling them stories out of my fairy tale book. I got the Grimm's Complete Fairy Tales book for Christmas two years ago, and they fell in love with it ever since. Charlie loved hearing about the princesses and fairies, while Jamie always took an interest in the pirates and sword fights. Which was why that book laid right on top of all of my other books.

Mom ordered us to sit on the couch while we waited for Grandma to arrive. She was tired of Charlie and Jamie chasing each other around the house. Mom and Dad only told us a day ago that our grandmother was going to move in with us. Grandma was having a hard time walking and seeing, so my mom forced her to get a ride from our uncle to Connecticut from Massachusetts.

I could hear Charlie's heels kick the couch anxiously and Jamie flipping the pages of a book with more force than usual. I knew that they were wondering the same thing as me: Would Grandma living with us end well?

Mom always warned us that Grandma had something wrong with her. Ever since Grandpa died she had always acted differently and we hadn't been able to visit her ever since. Charlie had never met Grandma, which made her more excited for our guest. I turned on my phone and started scrolling through all of my social media to waste time.

Mom was pacing, only stopping to whisper concerned comments into Dad's ear. Eventually, Mom sat down on the couch next to him. They were far enough from us so that all we could hear were jumbled words mixed together. Mom's foot was tapping and her eyes were trained on her hands that were wrapped in Dad's. Dad used his spare hand to squeeze her knee, occasionally glancing at the window.

We all sat awkwardly in silence until we heard the honk of a car's horn. We all raced to the front window, Jamie and Charlie's faces pressed onto the clean glass. Mom had cleaned every square inch for this occasion, and she shot dirty looks at my siblings as they got their oily fingerprints all over her masterpiece.

I could only grab distant memories of seeing Grandma from when I was little, I was probably four. My heart raced and I could feel myself grow nervous as I followed my family outside. We waited for the car to open.

A Toyota with dirty windows and mud-caked tires was parked on our driveway. In the front sat our uncle, who had a cigar dangling from his lips. He waved, twiddling his beefy fingers at us. Mom and Dad took that as an invite to come help. I was able to see the silhouette of a tiny lady in the back seat.

The woman hopped out of the car and grabbed her luggage. She was only holding one bag, shuffling her way towards us. How could one bag hold all of her clothes and other belongings? The small lady traced her eyes over the perimeter of the house until they landed on us. Her face brightened and a large smile threatened to take over her slim face. Dad rushed to the front door and unlocked the bolts. Inhaling sharply, he twisted the knob.

Once her feet finally shuffled her to us, I was able to see the lady's facial features clearly. She had light blue eyes that looked identical to Jamie's and had thin lips like Mom. Her face didn't have any color whatsoever, and it was sagging with wrinkles. The lady was so small that I could see the freckles on the top of her head through her thinning, silver hair. Charlie clutched my hand, and I squeezed it reassuringly.

"Oh, right," Mom laughed nervously. "Kids, meet your grandmother."