Neverchildren

Have you heard of the time Peter lost his hat?

It happened a few year back when Peter had been chasing the final rays of Sunset across the waves of a secluded beach. He'd been enjoying himself so much that he hadn't noticed the absence of his hat until he'd reached up to tuck some of his unruly red hair behind his ear. As Peter was not currently in Neverland he couldn't just call on a mermaid or fairy to help him. Peter decided he'd have to find it himself. A new adventure; he grinned at the idea of it. Sneaking around with the moon providing the only light, Peter flitted around the streets of each city he had passed on the way over. Much to the young boy's disappointment, he found his hat lying against a hedge that separated a run down park from the busy road that ran parallel to it. Without touching the ground, Peter took his had and readjusted it on his head whilst floating over to a small rusty swing set. His boyish curiosity taking over.

Peter kicked the set with his foot causing it to creak loudly in protest. The crunch of gravel nearly caused Peter's bright eyes to narrow as he ducked behind a large piece of play equipment. He watched from his spot, body tense, mind whirring. In the dim light, the boy could make out a lady clad in jeans and a faded purple hoodie. She hummed softly to herself causing Peter to lean forward so his elfish ears could pick up more of the sound. The girl's blonde hair was tied up and looked damp to Peter. He watched in silence as the figure sat on one of the old swings and pulled out a book. At this, Peter had perked up. He remembered books from when Wendy had read them to him. But this girl wasn't reading...she was writing. A storyteller like Wendy? Peter tossed around the idea of borrowing the book. It would be easy enough if he followed her back to where she'd come. But before he could decide on his plan, a gust of wind blew some pages from the girls grip. She didn't run after them, infact, she only looked up as they floated off in the wind for a few moments then went back to writing. 

Peter changed plans. And flew with a speed faster than an untrained eye could follow to collect the lost pages. He flew to the roof of one of the houses near the old park so he could make sure the girl couldn't leave without him knowing and began to read the pages. The small cursive writing was different to what he'd seen before. Normally the words he saw were printed and all the same size. As he read, his heart began to feel heavier. Of course, feelings as complex as what Peter was feeling were unfamiliar to his childlike state. The girl felt alone. Peter knew what that was like, memories he'd tried ignored began to persist in his mind. Peter shut his eyes in concentration. A spark broke through the darkness that had begun swirling in his thoughts. He could show her she wasn't alone. He could be there. Peter knew he couldn't let her see him, for fear that he'd get attached and wouldn't let her go home. Instead he took off his hat; something he'd had as long as he could remember. He whispered to the wind and a current had begun to flow directly from him to the girl. He placed his hat on the current and it floated gracefully onto her head startling her. She looked around in confusion and Peter let out a loud happy crow causing the girl to look his way as he took off for home.