Always Neverland Read Free Page B

Peter Pan , filled with illustrations of pirates, fairies, Indians, and even mermaids. I might get to meet a mermaid !
    And I had wished my parents had taken me with them. Neverland sounded much better than any stupid grown-up party.
    â€œYou are the newest Wendy girl,” Peter said.
    â€œWendy girl?”
    Peter looked at me in a shrewd, judging way. “On second thought, I don’t know if I should take you back to Neverland. You can’t be very smart.”
    â€œSmart?” I was a little bit offended. I wasn’t used to being called dumb. I mean, Mom usually said that I was too smart for my own good.
    â€œYou just keep repeating everything I say,” he added thoughtfully.
    I couldn’t argue with that. “How am I supposed to know what a Wendy girl is? I only know about Wendy Darling, the one who went to Neverland with her little brothers.”
    â€œYou do? You know about our adventures?”
    I didn’t remember them all that well, but I nodded anyway, picking up the book with his name on it and waving it in front of him. “You’re famous.”
    â€œOf course I am,” Peter said with his cockiest smile. “Let me explain.” He lay on his back, floating lazily in the middle of the room the same way that other people float in a swimming pool. “Well, Wendy Darling was the first Wendy girl. You’re her granddaughter or great-granddaughter or great-great-granddaughter or something like that.”
    I looked at the book in my hands again in wonder. When Grandma Delaney had given it to me, I’d just thought she was trying to get me to read more, but she must’ve been a Wendy girl too! She must’ve been trying to help me get ready for the day I would meet Peter Pan.
    Peter yawned. “I’ve been bringing Wendy girls to Neverland forever .”
    The way he said forever reminded me of how my classmates complained about doing their homework, or cleaning their rooms, or whatever boring activity they couldn’t wait to finish. Maybe I should have been insulted, but I was too excited.
    â€œI want to make friends with a mermaid!” I said. “And meet Tinker Bell. And Tiger Lily! Oh, and cross swords with Hook.”
    Peter stood up, giving me a sharp, measuring look. “Well, that last one is impossible.”
    â€œOh no,” I said, disappointed. “Have you already killed him?”
    â€œNo, not yet, but I’m the only one who can fight Hook,” Peter said. “Everybody knows that , Wendy girl.”
    â€œMy name is Ashley,” I said quickly, realizing I hadn’t introduced myself.
    But Peter continued on like I hadn’t spoken. “Besides, you’re supposed to come and help the Lost Boys with their spring cleaning.”
    â€œAren’t you a bit early?” I asked. “It’s still winter.”
    â€œNot in Neverland,” said Peter.
    To be honest, I didn’t like the sound of that. I mean, this was my Christmas vacation. I didn’t want to spend it doing chores. But making friends with the Lost Boys sounded great . Anything was better than sitting here alone, waiting for my parents to take me tree shopping.
    â€œCan we leave now ?” I asked.
    Peter sat up, considering. “I guess so. All we need is Tink.” He flew to the window, opened it, and let out a sharp whistle.
    A little golden light reemerged from the woods beyond the tree house, the same one I had seen earlier. It headed straight for the window, tinkling like bicycle bells. I stepped forward, eager to meet the fairy. Maybe we’d be friends before I even reached Neverland!
    I barely had enough time to duck before the golden light zoomed right where my face had been.
    Then she landed on Peter’s shoulder, her hands on her hips.
    Now that she wasn’t moving I could see the figure within the light—a tiny woman, very curvy, with a rose-petal dress and very blond hair. She was glaring at