Peter Pan narrows his eyes.

        Felix leans toward him. “The Indian’s spell.”

        “We don’t know for sure if it will work.”

        “But we can try.”

        “Try what?” I push my way into their hushed conversation. “Is this about that Indian princess?”

        “She’s not a princess anymore.” Peter folds his arms across his chest.  His eyes bounce from Felix to me and back again. “You may stay today as long as you promise to go back before darkness falls.”

        “But-” Felix shakes his head. He shrugs. “Fine, have it your way, Pan.”

        “Bert.” Peter calls out. The red head weaves his way toward us. I catch a glimpse of Kelvin in the middle of the crowd. At least I know we will go back tonight.

        I smile at Bert. He flicks his hair out of his blue eyes and returns my grin.

        Peter walks away. “Show her around. And keep her out of trouble.”

        As if I would get into trouble. Did I even agree to stay for the day?

        “So, what’s your name?” Bert looks up at me. He's an inch or so shorter, but his wild hair makes up the distance.

        “I’m Wendy Darling.”

        Peter glances over his shoulder as I say my name, then disappears among his boys.

        “Well…” Bert scratches his head. “What did you want to see? Maybe our hideout?”

        “Is your name really Bert?”

        He turns toward me. “Huh? Yep. Well, it's Robert, but everyone calls me Bert.”

        “How did you get here on this island?”

        “We were all brought from your world, like Kelvin was.” He points at the large tree. “Now, do you want to see our home or not?”

        They actually live in the tree? “Sure.”

        Bert pulls me past the boys. Surely Kelvin will be okay for the moment. Even if something does happen, I am not sure how I would be able to help him. Bert climbs over a large root and pushes part of the tree. The door pops open again.

        “Just slide on down.”          

        “Slide?” I twist my hands around the fabric of my old dress. My fingers bump against something in my pocket. My thimble. I had forgotten all about it.

        Bert grins. “I’ll go first, if you want me to.”

        “Is it safe?” I peer down the dark, twisting hole.

        “Safe? Nothing in Neverland is safe.” Bert slaps me on the back. He jerks his hand away and turns red. “Sorry, I forgot-I didn’t mean to.”

        I smile, but step away from him. He is used to rowdy boys, not English girls. Even if this English girl has never been very proper. “It’s okay.”

        “Anyway, you won’t get hurt. I can still jump down first, if-”

        I grip the edge of the makeshift doorway and poke my head in. “Here goes.” With a grunt, I pull my legs in. My bare feet dangle into the darkness. I uncurl my fingers one by one. As soon as my last finger leaves the doorway, I shoot down.

        A scream rips from my throat. The tunnel turns sharply and I can’t see anything. I jerk around another corner, then fall straight down. The darkness turns gray as light peeks out from a large hole. I sail towards it.

        With a thud and a roll, I land onto a soft patch of dirt. “Ugh.” The world spins. I pull myself up and move away from the hole in the ceiling. I can’t believe I just fell out of it.

        Something rattles in the tunnel and then two boots hang out of the hole. Bert lands easily on his feet, his knees bent.

        “Are you okay, Wendy?” He wipes his hands on his shirt and helps me up.

        My legs tremble. Laughter bubbles up inside me. “That was crazy!” My stomach begins to ache as I laugh some more. I haven’t laughed this much since…since I don’t know when.

        Bert’s eyes widen. “I thought you’d be scared to death. Being a girl and all.”

        I punch his shoulder. “You really aren’t used to girls, are you?” I ask as his jaw drops.

        “I’m sure I knew some before I came here, but it doesn’t take long to forget your old life. And after the Indians hid away and all, I guess I just forgot what girls were like.” He winces and rubs his shoulder.

        I look around the room. Everything-the walls, the floor, the ceiling-is made of dirt. We are underground, of course. Tree roots stick out from some of the walls, and one even runs across the floor.

        Hammocks swing above our heads, and weapons are jumbled together in one of the corners. A large rug covers part of the floor. Like the lost boys clothes, it is made of animal fur and scraps of faded fabric.

        I can't see any stairs or doors. It is just a room deep hidden far away from sunlight. And yet, light comes from small lanterns hanging in every corner. It is a strange, unnatural light and I know fire does not cause it.

        “How do you get out of here?” I ask.

        “We know how to climb up a tunnel, but most of our enemies don’t.”

        “You have enemies?”

        “We used to have many. There were these pirates who lived here centuries ago, but Peter defeated them. He banished Captain Hook.”

        “Hook? Why was he called Hook? Wait, did you say centuries? How old are you? You look about fourteen.”

        “I am.” Bert turns around the room. “Didn’t they tell you that no one grows up in Neverland? I’ve been 'about fourteen' for the past three hundred years. If Pan lets you stay here, you’ll never get a day older. You’re what, fifteen?”

        “Sixteen. Say, how old is Peter?”

        “You could call him seventeen. But no one knows how long he has been on this island.”

        I nod and look around the room. What would it be like to be sixteen forever?

        “Maybe…” Bert runs his hand through his red curls. “Should I show you Peter’s place?”

        I glance at the hammocks swinging above us. “You mean he doesn’t sleep down here?”

        “Of course not.” He snickers, then clears his throat. “Um, he is our leader, you know.”

        “So, he’s too good to live in a tree?”

        “He does live in this tree, just not underground.” Bert jumps several feet in the air and grabs the edge of the hole. He pulls himself up and plants his feet in the tunnel. “Aren’t you coming?”

        I gasp. “I can’t jump that high!”

        “Sure you can. You are taller than me.”

        “Barely.” I shake my head, “No, I really can’t.”

        “Try.”

        I groan, but walk to the far edge of the room. You can do this. I know you can. Well, at least I think you can. Maybe. Or maybe not.

         I run and leap into the air, my hands nowhere close to the hole.

        “Ugh.” I stumble back down.

        Bert laughs. “You’re feet barely left the ground. You can jump higher than that!”

        I try again and do jump higher-about two inches higher. On my third try I am still barely leaving the ground. “I can’t.” I gasp. “You practically flew.”

        “Flew.” Bert slaps his forehead. “Silly me. Just fly up here. We usually jump because, well, it is more fun than flying.”

        “I can’t fly!” I grit my teeth and back up to try again. As I run towards the hole, Bert hops out and balances in midair. I jump and he grabs my arms and flies us the rest of the way.

        I stumble inside. My heart pounds as I try to catch my breath. “Couldn’t you have remembered that earlier?”

        “Sorry.” Bert motions up the dark tunnel. “Ready?”

        “Ready to climb? No way.” I reach out my hand. “Fly me up there.”

        Bert sticks out his lip. “But this is the best part, I swear. It’s even better than going down-”

        “Robert, please.”

        With a sigh the lost boy grabs my hand and we soar up the dark tunnel.