Peter Pan: The Unspoken Truth

Entry #38

September 22, 1920
James Matthew Barrie

ALONG the roaring sound of kettles steaming, wet clothes flattering in the backyard and James swinging a huge axe in the air, putting all his weight into cutting the dried up wood he collected near the brook of the forest—his father came barging in the backyard with a piece of envelope in his hand.

"James, where are you lad?" Mr. Barrie shouted whilst panting in his work clothes. 

"There you are." Nakayukong napahawak ang kanyang ama sa magkabilang tuhod nito at maya't-mayang tinataas ang kanyang kamay para senyalis na maghintay muna si James habang hinahabol pa ng Ginoo ang kanyang hininga.

Binigyan ni James ng naguguluhang tingin si Mr. Barrie bago binaba ang kanyang hawak niyang palakol.

Ginabayan niya si Mr. Barrie na umupo muna sa umupuang kahoy ng bakuran para habulin ang hininga nito. 

"No I'm fine," he said pausing for a second. "Here, bring this to the Darling's Residence. Send my regards and wishes as they fall through great challenge at this moment." 

Nakayukong sinundan lang ng tingin ni James ang sobreng inilahad ng kanyang Ama.

Nakaselyo ang naturang sobre ng kulay pulang waks na kakulay ng mga rosas at nakalagay sa ibabang sulok ng sobre ang pangalan ng Ama ni James.

It had not occurred to James what this all meant but right after Mr. Barrie patted his back and left him in the backyard with the envelope in his palm—things became a blur in James' head. 

Wendy!

Kaagad na tumayo si James sa kanyang pagkakaupo at kaagad na tinakbo ang bulwagan ng kanilang bahay palabas ng pinto. Hindi na niya inalintana ang mainit na singaw ng bahay dahil kasalukuyang naglalaba ang kanyang Ina.

"Boy, where are you going?" Narinig pa ni James ang pagtawag ng kanyang Ina no'ng nakalabas na siya ng pinto.

The wind was trailing behind him as he dashed his way towards the front porch of Wendy's home; the pavement under the sole of his feet wobbling in the process.

James peeked at the transparent glass window of the front porch which was draped with sheer laced curtains—trying to look for Mrs. Darling in her usual sitting location in the living room.

"Mrs. Darling?" he automatically said when he neared the front door. 

It was odd not seeing Mrs. Darling staying in the front porch or the living room doing some crochet or knitting her scarf.

"Mrs. Darling? Is anyone home?" he said, knocking a couple more times on the front door.

Hindi na nakapaghintay pa si James at pilit nang sinilip ang bakuran sa makitid na espasyong nasa pagitan ng bakod at pader ng bahay.

"That's odd." He crunched his nose realizing the missing puzzle of the whole situation.

"Wendy wasn't at school today because of what happened last week so, not having anyone at home doesn't make sense..." Ipinatong ni James ang kanyang baba sa likuran ng kanyang kamay.

James remembered the day Wendy had her worst session of hallucination at school. He remembered every bit of detail and uncanny expression in Wendy's face that day as he slowly lost her. 

Hindi siya mapakali no'n habang pinagpapawisan na hinihintay na pumatak sa eksaktong alas kwatro ang kamay ng orasan. 

Nangangatog ang mga tuhod na napatayo kaagad si James noong pinayagan na silang lumabas sa silid aralan.