Jody in Neverland

Chapter 5 - Moving On

The day had finally come for Jody to move in with her mum. Jody was certain everything would work out this time. Sure her mum had let her down before but she had changed, Jody had changed too. She was excited to have her own room, her own space, that she didn't have to share with anyone else. She stuffed the last few items of clothing into her bag and then carefully placed her Peter pan book on top. It was her prize possession. Jody had devoured it cover to cover in a couple of hours the first time she read it and she'd lost count of how many times she had re-read it since. There was something so comforting about being lost in the pages. Forgetting about the stresses and worries of everyday life and becoming a lost boy or a pirate or a mermaid or an Indian. Fighting battles, flying through the night sky, meeting fairies. Jody never grew tired of Neverland.

She gazed at the book and smiled, before closing her bag and slinging it over her shoulder. She took one last look at the room she had shared with Sasha and then closed the door behind her. She hurried down the corridor and had to side step passed a winding row of dominoes that Finn and Joseph had been painstakingly constructing all morning. She smiled as she caught sight of Taz and Floss in their room, feather boas round their necks pretending to be pop stars. Downstairs Mike, Sasha, Chloe and Alex were playing a game of Jenga. Whilst Charlie, Ryan, bird and Jay were playing a game of pool.

Jody stood in the door way watching as the Jenga tower toppled over and Charlie celebrated potting a ball. She smiled as she watched her DG family laughing and having fun. She was going to miss them, more than she would ever admit. She felt tears pricking at her eyes and rubbed them away. She took a deep breath and turned to leave. Jody quietly made her way to the front door. Sneaking off early seemed like the best option, she couldn't face the goodbyes. It was the same anytime anyone left the DG, goodbye speeches from Mike and May-li and one or two of the older residents, cake and party food, and then feeling sick afterwards. Not just sick from eating too much but that awful feeling in the pit of your stomach when reality sets in and you know that you won't be seeing them again, that everything has changed and won't ever be the same.

Just as she started to open the door, she heard someone clear their voice.

So today's the big day then said May Li cheerfully

Yeah, iv got to go or I'll miss my bus 

Not staying for a goodbye tea?

Can't. Promised mum I'd be home by the time she got back from work.  

Well you know where we are if you need anything

Yeah course

Have you said goodbye to Tyler?

No I couldn't find him. Besides it's not like I'm moving far, I'm only a bus ride away, I'm sure I'll see Tyler soon

Sure of course. He's in the garden by the way, if you did change your mind and want to say goodbye. Practising some new magic tricks I believe. Candi rose is loving being the glamorous assistant

I'm can imagine laughed Jody I've got to go or I'll miss my bus

Of course. Bye! Called may Li as Jody rushed out the door without so much as a backward glance, eager to avoid any more goodbyes. 

Once May-li has closed the front door, Jody turned back and went round to the side gate to say goodbye to Tyler.  The hardest goodbye but the one she didn't want to avoid. She had her hand on the latch ready to open the gate but then she heard the sound of Tyler and Candi-Rose laughing and rehearsing magic tricks. Memories of helping Tyler with magic tricks and practical jokes came flooding back and so did the tears. At first Jody was smiling as she thought of the fun she'd had with Tyler over the years and then the smile crumpled. She just couldn't stop herself. Tears rolled down her cheeks and she tried desperately to rub them away with her sleeve. She hurried off to the bus stop, she couldn't say goodbye to Tyler when she was in such a mess and anyway Tyler was having a great time with Candi-Rose.