Neverland

June 7th, 1912:

I believe in Neverland.

Who doesn't? We've all been there. In a dreamer's dream, or even when we played as a child. It's always been there... but it fades sometimes.

There are many adults who diminish thoughts of places like Neverland, and say that life will be hard and there will never be time to pretend. It's why they tell children things such as: "don't grow up, you'll hate it."

Adults never experienced it the way I did. Even in Neverland you age. The sun sets and another day begins... it just doesn't happen the same way. In every dream I go to Neverland, I get older. I'm probably 80 years old now... probably older. I stopped keeping track.

I used to keep a dream journal and tell the other kids at school about my adventures. They loved it, and everyday asked if I had something new. Now, though... everyone laughs... I stopped taking my journal to school, and to a close few, I would let them in on my secret place I'd go to. Even those friends would laugh or tell me that it wasn't real, but I know it is.

I have friends there, Tootles, Nibs, Slightly. There are more. They call themselves the Lost Boys, and I guess I am one too, but I still have a place at my home, even if I don't remember it when I am there. But either way, I fought with them and I played with them; protected them. I tried to be their protector and keep them away from Captain Hook. I'm the oldest, I have responsibility. We all look around 10 or 11, but that's not the case. I'm the oldest, and then there's Tootles, who I found a few years into my stay at Neverland. He's around 75, now.

I wish I could tell my friends that if they just wish hard enough, they could come with me. That if they kept one happy thought, the pixie dust I gave them would work. But the world is so sad now, and angry. I wish I could show them. You can grow up and keep the mind of a child. Contrary to what Robert Frost said, it is possible to stay golden. To see things and think with the mind of a child... it would save the world we know.

But every night, when I go and visit Neverland... I think one of the other boys made a story about our times together, because the word got out and it spread everywhere. Everyone knows of my safe haven, but it shows me as an irresponsible boy... a brat... Maybe Captain Hook spread it.

I think he's a pirate because he never wanted to leave Neverland, but he gave into adult thoughts, so he started aging in Neverland too. When I wake up after my nightly visit, I look like my age, but when I visit, I look just as I did when I was 10. In Neverland, the day length is different... I age faster there even though it doesn't affect my body. In "real life" I am 17. It's hard to go to school, and I don't have great grades, or many friends... How can you be friends with anyone when you can't talk about your favorite place or people or thing? Most of the time in class, I am in Neverland, which is why I miss instruction time... Those things schools teach won't be used as often as what I learn in Neverland, like how to talk to the other boys about their past.

I tuck them into bed at night. Most of them lost a parent in the "real world". I try to be their father figure, even though we look the same age. I don't tell them specifically what to do, and we all do only what is important to us; to our child selves. No bills, no work, just taking care of each other and having fun. We all watch out for each other, but these boys... they're the closest family I've had. The closest friends...

People tell me I'm just really imaginative and spacey, but I know it's a real place. It has to be. How else could you explain the stories with my name in them, when I didn't write them? They have all the names correct, even the pirates, but the story is a little wrong, like someone who wasn't always there wrote it. I was kind to the boys, and asked Hook for peace, and when he declined I never hurt him, I treated the battle like a game, trying to show him that throwing away happiness and imagination would only weaken him. He'd never be able to fly, or be a kid again, and I'm still trying to get through to him... I don't think he likes it much, but I'll keep trying.

But anyways, Neverland is the only place I could think to be, and Tink tells me that no one else would believe me, but we've managed to show a few kids the secret. I hope they remember it...
Wendy came along with her brothers and she helps me take care of the boys now, and Tink helps keep the alligators away from Hook while I try to work with him. I know he will understand some day.

Maybe one day, kids at school will understand, or I'll meet one of the boys when I am awake. Until then, I'll visit them in Neverland.

Sincerely,
        Peter Pan