B2. Peter Pan: Part 8

Chapter 15: Hook or Me This Time

The Lost Boys pretended to see the crocodile. "Wow! I didn't know it was so big!" Nibs acted out.

Peter sneaked into Hook's cabin and threw items on the floor, making a lot of noise. Now, the pirates thought the crocodile was in the cabin.

One pirate, Cecco, crept up to the cabin's door. But in front of it, lay the pirate Jukes. He was dead.

"Jukes is dead!" Cecco said to the others.

"Well Cecco, are you a man or a scared little boy?" said Hook. "Go kill it!"

Everyone's eyes were on Cecco, and he knew it. Not wanting to look scared, Cecco crept back towards the cabin.

Then, there was a blood-curdling scream, the sound of breaking glass, and the thud of a body hitting the floor. The pirates panicked.

"Untie the girl," said Hook, "Let Mummy and her children take care of it!" Hook ordered Wendy and the boys go face the crocodile.

Acting frightened, the children walked to the cabin. Once the door closed behind them, Peter appeared. He told everyone to hide.

"Wendy, I have an idea!" Peter said. "Give me your cloak." Wendy gave Peter her cloak, then she hid under the captain's table.

Peter wore Wendy's cloak so nobody could see his face. Then, he ran out the cabin, mimicking her voice. "My children are all dead!" he cried out.

Some of the pirates jumped off the boat, and some hid.

"Cowards!" Hook shouted at them.

"It's the girl who's the problem!" growled Hook. "It's bad luck to have a girl on board. Let's throw her into the sea!"

The pirates tried to grab Wendy, but Peter threw off the cloak instead. They jumped back in disbelief.

Peter was fast and jumped behind the mast. He used his sword to keep the pirates away.

Then, a battle cry! The Lost Boys ran at the pirates with weapons found in Hook's cabin. The remaining pirates dispersed.

Only Hook was left, face-to-face with Peter in the middle of the deck. Their swords were drawn as they circled each other.

"Leave Neverland and never return," ordered Peter.

"Now you'll learn you're not so perfect, boy," Hook swung his sword at Peter's head. Peter ducked. A few strands of Peter's hair landed on the floor.

"I've waited many years for a worthy opponent," Hook said, the air electric with his excitement. "Please make this good!"

"It's you or me," Peter kept his eyes on Hook's.

Hook attacked first. Their swords clashed and bright sparks flew in every direction. Hook was powerful, but Peter was fast and clever.

Hook stabbed at Peter's heart but Peter jumped back. Hook almost cut Peter twice, but missed. Peter's muscles tensed as he moved quickly. Then, Peter jumped forward with a combination of strikes, making Hook defend himself.

Peter saw his chance and cut Hook's sword arm. Hook's sword landed on the floor.

The Lost boys cheered, "Now, Peter!"

But Peter, always fair, allowed Hook to pick up his sword again.

Hook couldn't believe it. He thought, Who is this boy, to be so good?

Instead, Hook ran into the powder room and lit a fuse, "In two minutes, this whole ship will blow up!" He laughed, his eyes wild like a cornered animal.

Peter calmly walked into the powder room and returned with the bomb in one hand. He casually threw it into the sea, just as he'd previously thrown Hook's hand to the crocodile.

The boys laughed at Hook.

Hook was now in the corner, waving his sword around aimlessly, his eyes unfocused. Hook's mind was somewhere else, lost in old memories.

Then, Hook ran to the side of the ship, ready to jump off.

"Ha! Good form Peter. But today it was a draw," Hook faced Peter and gave a military salute, then he leapt into the ocean. Those were the captain's last words.

Everyone rushed to the side of the ship and looked down. They saw the floating captain's hat, and the crocodile's giant tail swimming away.

Wendy and the boys cheered! But now it was very late and Wendy put the boys to bed. They all slept in the pirates' hammocks below deck, except for Peter.

Peter slept out on the deck. That night, he had terrible dreams and cried in his sleep. Wendy held him close until the sun rose.

Chapter 16: The Return Home

By morning, everyone on the ship was busy. The sea was rough, and first mate Tootles gave orders. The Lost Boys dressed as pirates and prepared to sail.

Peter was the captain. He stood at the ship's wheel and gave a speech. "I hope you will all do your jobs well, but I know you are an awful group. If you disobey my orders, you will walk the plank!" The crew cheered.

Peter looked at the map. He said, "We'll reach the island of Ibiza in one week. After that, flying to the Darlings' house will be quicker."

"Ay ay captain!" Shouted the crew, together.

The Darling's house was cold and quiet without the children.

Mr Darling blamed himself for the children leaving because he had chained up Nana the night they left. To punish himself, he slept in Nana's kennel and would only sleep in the house if the children returned.

Mrs Darling missed the children terribly. She always kept the nursery window open, in case they came back.

Then, one night, the children did come back.

Peter and Tink were the first to arrive at the window. "Quick Tink, help me lock the window!" Peter said. "Wendy will think her mother locked her out so she'll come back with me."

He looked inside and saw Mrs Darling. "Wendy's mother is pretty," he said, "but not as pretty as mine."

Peter locked the window. Then, he saw Mrs Darling's eyes filled with tears, looking at the empty beds. Peter felt sorry for her. Slowly, he unlocked the window and flew away.

As Wendy, John, and Michael flew across the garden, they giggled at seeing their father sleeping in Nana's kennel below.

As they flew in through their bedroom window, Mrs Darling was sleeping in a chair.

Wendy felt guilty. Their absence must have caused so much pain.

"Quick," whispered John, "Let's get into our beds!" The children quietly got into their beds.

Mrs Darling slowly woke up. She saw the children sleeping. But she didn't believe it was real because she had dreamed of this moment so often.

Then, Michael called out, "Mother!" The three children jumped out of their beds.

"Michael! Wendy! John!" Mrs Darling gasped and fell onto her knees. They ran into her open arms with a mixture of laughter and sobs. Mr Darling heard the noise and ran into the room from the kennel to join. Nana completed the family hug, her tail wagging frantically.

But outside the window, a strange boy watched them. Peter Pan had many amazing adventures, but this was a joy he could never have — a mother's love.