Peter Pan Rises

Meeting Maddie

Life growing up for me was great until my 5th birthday.  My mom died and we were forced to leave our house.  That’s when I learned the “art” of stealing.  My dad died two weeks after we were evicted from our house.  I was left to feed my younger twin brother, Jacob, and our little two-year-old sister, Ashley.  

 

By the time Jake and I were 13, we already looked like criminals.  My dirty, brown hair was swept to the right and Jake’s was swept to the left.  The only way you could tell the difference between us was the ends of my hair were blonde and Jake’s were black.  We both looked like pro football players, the way we had buffed up over the years.  Our  clothes were about the same:  ripped jeans, worn and torn t-shirts, leather or black jean jackets, sweet pairs of combat boots, and black leather gloves with no fingers, like the kind the rock singers used to wear.  We told Ashley that by the time she was 13, she could pass as an adult.  Her long, light brown hair, blue eyes, and full figure made her look grown-up.  

 

When she turned 13, she began to help Jake and I with finding food and things to sell for money.  She was great at distracting people while Jake and I took food and anything else that looked like it had value.  By late afternoon we would take the goods we collected and sell them on “The Market.”  We wouldn’t make very much but it was enough to get by.  If we were lucky enough, we could make just enough money to buy ourselves “new” clothes.  

 

This was the normal routine for us until I met her.  She was walking alone through the alley ways which was dangerous no matter what time of day it was.  What she didn’t know was that she was being followed by a gang of thugs.  All of a sudden she let out a scream.  “Get away from me!  Let me go!” she yelled.  I ran to the alley she was in and saw that she was cornered by five muscular men.  I could see why these men would want to attack her.  

 

She was the most beautiful girl I had ever seen (besides my sister).  She was about as tall as I was (I am 6 feet tall so she is probably 5’6” to 5’10”) with long blonde hair with dark streaks.  She looked like she belonged to a wealthy family based on the way she was dressed.  She was wearing a pretty blue and green knee-length dress with a blue jean jacket and a pair of tennis shoes.  She was carrying a purse which one of the thugs was trying to take from her.  

 

“Let her go!” I yelled.  The thugs turned around and laughed at me.  “Why don’t you come over here and make me!” yelled, in between his laughing, the one one with the beard.  Then the one who was wearing the bounty hunter clothes said, “Oh look.  I think her boyfriend has come to save the day.”  “He’s not my boyfriend.  I’ve never seen him before in my life.” she said.  “Oh,” said the bounty hunter, (I think he was supposed to be the leader), “so he won’t mind if I do this.” he said as he slapped her.  “Don’t touch her!” I yelled as I ran towards them.  I managed to punch one guy before the three who looked like bikers grabbed me and started punching me.  Then I blacked out.  

 

The next thing I heard was someone saying, “Hey!  Hey!  Are you ok?” while shaking me.  I opened my eyes but all I could see was a blur.  “What...What’s going on?” I asked.  “Shhhh…  Don’t try to speak.” she said.  “What’s your name?” I asked her.  “Madison,” she said, “How about you?  What’s your name?”  “Jayden,” I said wincing while I was trying to sit up.  “Don’t try to sit up.  Your stomach is bruised.” she said.  I sat up anyway even though it hurt.  “I told you not to get up.”  “I know but I’m not good at doing as I’m told.”  “Well then we might have a problem.”  She sighed and got this look on her face like she knew I was trouble.  “Where do you live,” she finally said, “I will take you home.”  Just as I was about to answer, I thought I heard someone calling my name.  “What is it?” asked Madison.  I must have had a weird look on my face because I would get asked that same question by my sister whenever she asked about our parents.  “Nothing,” I said, “I thought I heard someone calling me.”  Then I heard it again.  

 

This time I knew who was calling for me.  “Who is that?” Madison must have heard it too.  “That would be my twin brother, Jacob.”  “You have a twin!  That must be awesome.  I wish I had a twin.”  “Yah it kinda is.”  “What do you mean ‘kinda?’”  “It gets annoying when people can’t tell the difference even though they know us very well or see us all the time.”  “I guess that would get annoying.”  Just as she finished, Jake came around the corner to where we were.  

“There you are,” said Jake, “I’ve been looking all over for you.  Are you hurt?”  “No, just my stomach hurts a little.”  “You little liar,” said Maddie, “His stomach is bruised and who knows what else hurts.  Besides his stomach and pride, I didn’t find anything broken or bruised.”  “Really?  My pride isn’t broken or bruised and this isn’t the first time this has happened.”  “So you knew those guys?”  “No, I’ve never seen them around here before.  They must be a new gang.”  Jacob looked confused.  “Wait, I thought she found you laying there.  What exactly happened?”  “Do you want to tell him or should I?” I asked.  “I will tell him.” said Maddie.  So, she told him everything that happened.  “That’s quite a story.” said Jake who at the time was helping me up.  “Where do you live?  If you want we could take you home if your parents aren’t out looking for you.”  “That would be nice but I don’t even know where I’m at.”  “Downtown San Haven.” I said.  “Oh.  I’m really lost.  I don’t live in San Haven.  I’m not sure I could find it on a map.  I’m from Raleigh.”  “Well, that’s a long way from here.  What are you doing here?” asked Jake.  “My father was on a business trip and since San Haven is close to the ocean, he thought that my mother and I would like to come with.”  “That’s a nice thought.” said Jake.  “That too, but I was thinking about the girls in bikinis.”  “Really Jay?  You could just keep those kind of comments to yourself.  Please excuse my brother.  He tends to say whatever is on his mind.”  “That’s ok.  Some of my friends do that too.”  I could tell that the sun was starting to set and if we wanted to make it home before dark we would have to leave now.  “Hey guys.  It’ll be dark soon.  I think we should be heading home.  And besides, Ashley is probably going to worry or freak out if we don’t get home on time for supper.”  “Yah, we probably should go.” Jake said while helping me.  “Who is Ashley?” Maddie asked.  “She is our 13-year-old sister who, by the way, is one awesome cook.” I said with a smile.  I was only smiling because I was thinking of the amazing meal that was waiting for us at home.  “How old are you guys?”  “Sixteen.” we both said.  And with that said, we began our long walk home.