Second Star to the Right by Monroe Mary Alice

Author:Monroe, Mary Alice [Monroe, Mary Alice]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Contemporary, Fantasy
ISBN: 9780991097500
Goodreads: 18752485
Publisher: Mary Alice Monroe
Published: 1999-04-01T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 12

They set off on their first London adventure the very next weekend. Maddie and Tom had worked themselves up to fever pitch, neither of them quite believing that the trip hadn’t been put off because of a deadline or delayed because of bad weather or some other excuse that grown-ups were so good at making. Tom insisted that Wendy be taken along, deaf to Faye’s complaint that Mrs. Lloyd would have her sent to the Tower of London. Tom wouldn’t budge. He wouldn’t go to The Neverland without Wendy.

On Saturday morning all the inhabitants of No. 14, young and old, climbed into a cab, and took off for The Neverland Theme Park. As they bumped along in the backseat, Wendy put her hand to her cheek and exclaimed that this was a much less comfortable way of traveling to the Neverland.

“Flying on the back of the wind is ever so much more fun!”

Tom surprised everyone by laughing out loud at this as the spirit of adventure took the place of sulky shyness in his eyes. Jack squeezed Faye’s hand, and she promptly squeezed back.

As they approached the entrance to The Neverland their excitement bubbled, and the children pointed toward the bits of pale pinks, greens, and purples of the rides and carousels peeking through the dark green foliage. Up close, however, it was clear the theme park had seen better days. There was really little more than a sparse collection of out-of-date rides and drooping old confection stands bordered by rickety brown fencing.

Stepping out from the cab at the entrance, Faye felt a wave of worry that she tried to keep from her face. Maddie and Tom, however, thought it was all marvelous and hooted with impatience, pawing at the pea-gravel like racehorses at the gate as Jack paid for the entrance tickets.

“Oh look, Wendy!” cried Maddie dancing on tiptoe. “There’s the pirate ship. And over there! It’s the Mermaids’ Lagoon. Just like in the book. And way over there. I think it’s a totem pole. It must be where Tiger Lily lives!”

Tom grasped Wendy’s hand and peered out with an expression that was part eagerness and part fear.

“It does look a bit like her totem pole,” replied Wendy, blinking and looking around at the strange world before her. Her small, wizened face appeared perplexed, and her eyes were sparkling with bewilderment. She shook her head, and, with her fingertip to her cheek, said smartly, “But the lagoon is all wrong! I should hope they don’t think that pitiful lump is Marooners’ Rock? Tsk. Come, children, let’s take a look-see.”

Jack issued the tickets, and the children were through the turnstile like a shot.

“Careful, Tom, don’t drag Wendy so,” Faye called out, but they were already beyond earshot, a vision of a six-year-old boy tugging at the hand of a spry old woman.

“She won’t get too tired?” Faye asked Jack, as they stopped to buy peanuts from a vendor.

“I imagine she’ll tell us if she does. Wendy’s an old hand at this.

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