The Jewel of Neverland

Chapter 12

"I know you're excited, Amy," Belle said, smiling. "But your birthday will come much faster if you go to sleep."

"But what if I have nightmares again?" I asked her fearfully as she tucked me into bed. I looked towards the large window that overlooked my bed. It's weathered glass gave sight to the distant meadow and the chicken coop. The sky was full of stars tonight and the moon cast a beautiful glow onto Belle's face.

"Think pleasant thoughts and you'll have pleasant dreams," she assured me kindly, wrapping a shawl tightly around her shoudlers.

I nodded. I wasn't sure, but Belle had never failed me before. Her kind words and bedtime stories always made me love her more.

"Now get some sleep, sweetheart," she said, hugging me gently. "When you wake up, you'll be seven. You'll need all the rest you can get for your big day."

"Okay," I agreed reluctantly. She kissed my forehead and blew out the candle next to my bed before leaving the room.

For a while, I laid there in the dark trying hard to think of happy thoughts. Feeding our chickens and brushes our cows came to mind and soon I was drifting to sleep. Suddenly, a sharp tapping echoed off my window and I let out a squeak of terror and pulled my blanket over my head.

When the tapping finally stopped, I slowly lowered the blanket.

"Peter!" I squealed, throwing my blankets back and launching myself at him. "I thought you forgot about me!"

"Never," he assured me, smiling. I beamed at him. "Are you here to take me to Neverland? I'm about to turn seven! That's old enough, right?"

He chuckled. "Not yet." I felt my bottom lip go out into a pout and he laughed. "Don't worry, Amy, I'll bring you someday."

I narrowed my eyes and crossed my arms. "You better or I will be very, very upset with you, Peter Pan."

"I promise you," he said, fighting to keep his face serious. "I'll bring you to Neverland someday."

I held out my small hand and he shook it, which appeased me immediately. "I did bring you a birthday present though," he said, reaching into a pouch on his belt.

"What is it!?" I asked excitedly. From his pouch, he revealed a sparkling purple jewel and placed it into my hand.

"It's an amethyst gem," he explained.

"Like my name!" I said happily. "But how did you get it? It must have cost a lot!" My face grew worried. "Are you poor now? Can you still eat!?"

"No, don't worry about that," he told me, grinning. "I didn't buy it."

My eyes widened. "You stole it!? That's bad though!"

"Not if it was pirates treasure," he said, lowering his voice dramatically.

"Pirates!?" My jaw dropped. "Really!?"

"Really."

"What else is in Neverland?" I asked him, bouncing up and down.

"All sorts of things," he said. "Whatever you can imagine. You just have to believe."

"I believe!" I declared. "I will always believe."

"I know you will," he said, not a hint of doubt on his face. "I have to go now, Amy. I'll come see you again though."

"Wait!" I begged. "Don't leave me, I'm scared. Will you play me a song until I fall asleep?"

He smiled. "Of course."