Peter Pan Is Dead

Stars. That was all that could be seen for miles; well that and the occasional dirt field. By now all the trees had died along with the once bright grass and colorful flowers. Nothing made your life feel as hopeless as staring out into the tan dirt did.

How could you ever make something of your life if your surroundings made you feel stuck? As much people wanted out of the town, no one could seem to make that happen for themselves. Once born here, you were destined to spend the rest of your life in the dark, dreary town of Littlesville, Oklahoma; unless of course Peter Pan came and took you away. But that was only a legend, and who believed in such silly legends as a boy who never grew up that had the run of his own island?

Certainly not Adalynn Granger.

The only way she was going to get out of this town was if she hitch-hiked her way out of town, or took the supposed easy way out many girls already have and hung herself in her closet for his mother to find. She may hate the life she was born into, but she would never do that to her poor mother.

While she was working at her part time job at the local market she couldn’t help but start to daydream. She couldn’t help but start picturing herself walking down a red carpet in the newest Louis Vuitton dress made especially for her, by Louis himself made her while she stocked boxes of cereal on a bare shelf. How amazing would it be to have a fashion designer be your best friend who made you clothes whenever they were bored?

‘If only that dream could become a reality,’ she thought to herself as she looked around, making sure that all the customers around her were doing alright. She didn’t really want to get yelled at for an old lady knocking a jar of jelly off the top shelf again.

“So Addy, are you busy tonight?” Jeremy, her ever persistent coworker asked as he slid up next to her with a smile on his face.

“Sorry, but I have watch Lisa tonight,” she said referring to her little sister. As much as she loved her sister, she hated having to watch her every night after getting out of work, but that’s what she had to do so her mom could go work the night shift at the local department store.

“She can come too. I’ll even bring my cousin so she won’t feel left out.”

Thinking back to the one and only time she meet Jeremy’s cousin, Antonio, Adalynn had to keep herself from visibly shuttering as she remembered the way he used a magnifying glass to burn ants alive, and then laugh as though he was a mad scientist.

“I promised her a girl’s night in. Maybe another time,” she lied, hoping to keep Antonio as far away from her sister as she could. “Well I’ve got to go, see you later,” she said as she turned and quickly made her way down the aisle.

“I’m holding you to that,” he yelled at her back as she walked away, making her roll her eyes.



“Can you please read it again?” Lisa asked, looking up at Adalynn with her big brown puppy dog eyes while a pout was present on her lips. Just like every other night Lisa was trying to get Peter Pan read to her for the fifth time before she went to bed.

“Lis, I know you love this story, but we’ve already read it a million times. I’m pretty sure you could recite it to me,” she said as she took the book out of her younger sister’s hands and placed it back on the bookshelf. “Now it’s already past your bed time, so you need to try and go to sleep.”

“But I don’t wanna,” the young girl whined grabbing onto her sisters arm and pouting some more. “Just one more time… please?”

“Lisa I already told you no,” she said as she pulled Lisa’s hand off her arm and started tucking her sister into bed. “Now go to sleep, and if you’re good we can read Peter Pan again tomorrow.”

“Fine,” Lisa said as she crossed her arms over her chest angrily.

“Goodnight,” she said, leaning down to place a kiss on her sister’s head. Knowing her sister was too mad to return the statement she got up and walked out of her sister’s room, flipping the light switch off as she went.

Walking down the hall to her room Adalynn did her routine check of making sure that everything was in order before going into her room and climbing into bed herself. Her life had fallen into such a routine, some days she couldn’t help but wish she believed in Peter Pan so that he could take her off to Neverland and away from the normal day to day.



“Are you sure tonight’s not a problem?” Adalynn asked as she walked out of her room, pulling her hoodie on as she was walking down the hall into the kitchen to see her mother.

“It’s fine. Tonight’s my night off anyways. Just go and work like they need you to,” her mom said with a smile as she put a plate of grilled cheese in front of Lisa.

“Alright, just remember she needs to be in bed by nine, and no matter how much she begs don’t read her Peter Pan too many times.”

“Here I was thinking she was my daughter,” her mother laughed as she walked over to the counter and picked up her car keys. “Also, take my car. I don’t need you walking home all alone so late at night.”

“Okay, bye,” she said with a smile before walking out the door and quickly climbing into her mother’s beat up station wagon and put the key into the ignition.

Starting the car she couldn’t help but think about how easy it would be to just turn right instead of left on her way to work and take off down the highway to a new life. She could drive out west to LA and audition for a movie. Or maybe going east to New York would be better. As she pulled up to the corner that could lead her to a new life she made a spot second decision and went left. Leaving her sister alone was not an option right now.

Yes, her mother could easily take care of Lisa, since she is her mother, but with her mom’s work schedule she knew it wasn’t a good idea. Maybe she’d wait a few years until Lisa was old enough to stop believe in silly little things like Peter Pan and take care of herself before she took off and left them alone.



“Well look who I get to close with tonight,” Jeremy said with his signature half grin on his face as he slid up next to Adalynn.

“Need something Jeremy? Because last I knew you were supposed to be stocking,” she said in hopes of getting him to leave her alone. She really wished her manage had told her that Jeremy was the other closer.

“I’m already done with that,” he said with a wave of his hand. PI figured that we could work on planning out our perfect date. I was thinking maybe we could go out to the field on the outskirts of town and go start gazing, I know how much you love the stars.”

“Jeremy, you know I’m not interested so why do you keep trying?”

“Because I know you like me, you’re just too scared to admit it,” he said cockily.

"I think you should go help that lady,” she said motioning to a shorter women trying to reach something a few aisles over and quickly changing the subject not wanting to go into all the reasons why she would never date Jeremy even if he was the last man on earth.

“We’re not done talking about this,” he said with a stern look before walking away.

It was at this point in the night when she was really regretting not going right. She could be two hours closer to a life in LA if she had just make that one turn. Or she could have been two hours closer to New York; two hours closer to a city filled with fashion and Broadway musicals.

Thankfully Jeremy had to leave early that night which left Adalynn alone to close and lock up the store. Even though it was her first time doing so on her own she couldn’t help but be relieved that Jeremy was finally out of her hair for the night. After making sure everything was in order Adalynn made her way out of the store, locking the door behind her.

Even though she said she was totally okay with this, Adalynn really didn’t like the fact that she had to walk to her car all alone so late at night. Yes, the parking lot was empty with the exception of her mother’s car that was waiting for her at the back of the parking lot right near Mr. Johnson’s broken down car, she couldn’t help but feel as though someone else was there watching her every move.

“Don’t worry, there is no one out here, well besides me and you,” a voice said causing Adalynn to turn slightly and see a boy, about her age dressed in jeans and a hoodie, with a hood covering half his face sitting on the hood of Mr. Johnson’s car looking bored while picking at his nails.

“Good to know, thanks,” she said gripping the keys in her hands just a bit tighter while hoping that she wouldn’t have to use them to defend herself before quickening her pace towards her car.

“So tell me,” the mystery boy said as he quickly walked up directly behind her making her jump. “Have you ever just wanted to get away; to leave this job and your responsibilities at home?”

“Why would I tell you that?” she asked as she jammed the key into the door and tried unlocking it with her shaky hands.

“Because I’m your way out of this town,” he said with a smile.

"What make you think that?” as she finally got the door unlocked and pulled the door open hoping to jump in and leave as quickly as possible. She already had Jeremy bothering her every day; she didn’t need this crazy guy bothering her too.

“How else are you going to leave? Just take off down the highway without a penny in your pocket? That would surly lead to you either starving out somewhere or running right back home. I can offer you a new life without having to worry about any of that. You’ll never run out of money where I’ll take you,” he said as he pushed the car door shut and left his hand there trapping Adalynn against the car.

“Oh, really. And what else can this wonderland you’re telling me about offer me?” she asked trying not to seem too nervous with the man so close to her.

"Actually the place I’m talking about is called Neverland, Wonderland is just a place in a children’s book,” he laughed, letting his breath ghost over her face, making her shiver slightly.

“Neverland is just a place in a children’s book too.”

“No, Neverland is real and that’s where I’m going to take you if you say yes. You can leave right now and leave all your worries, and that weird guy that was hitting on you all night behind you. All you have to do is say yes,” he said with a smile as he stepped a bit closer so that their faces were barely two inches apart. “If you came to Neverland with me you’ll never have to worry about anything ever again. Money will never be an issue, and you can live out all your wildest dreams,” he continued finally pecking her interest and making her actually consider the things he was saying.

“Do I at least get to tell my family goodbye first?” she asked after a few minutes of silence. Could she actually get away and be happy in this new place? Would her life be everything she wished it could be? But what about her sister? How would Lisa reach to finding out that Adalynn took off without so much as a goodbye? Would she be heartbroken? Would she think that Adalynn took off because she didn’t want to be around her anymore? And what about her mother? How could she react to her oldest daughter just taking off in the middle of the night without any notice or goodbye?

“Are you sure that would really be a good idea? If you tell your family you’re thinking of going away to a new life with some guy who propositioned you in the parking lot after work they’ll try to talk you out of it.”

“Maybe they should talk me out of it,” she said finally building up the strength to push the boy away so that she could breathe and think without him in front of her face. Something about him was slightly intoxicating and now that they had more than a foot of space between them she couldn’t help but realize how crazy she was being for even considering his offer. What girl in their right mind would just go away with some strange guy because he promised her a better life? That was the sure fire way to end up dead on the side of the road.

“If they talk you out of it you’ll miss out on your best chance of ever leaving this place before you die. Plus, I promise that you’ll be safe. No harm will ever come to you, I’ll personally make sure of it,” he said with a small bow, trying to seem as though he was some chivalrous knight in shining armor coming to save her from a horrible life.

“How do I know you won’t just lure me out of town to kill me?”

“Because you’re too pretty to kill,” he said as he moved some of the hair that had fallen in her face behind her ear. “Just say yes and we’ll take off towards Neverland.”

“Everyone’s going to think I’m crazy,” she said quietly to herself as she put a hand to her forehead and started pacing a small area of the parking lot.

“The clocks ticking,” he said tapping his wrist where a watch should have been while giving her a stern look. “What’s your choice going to be?”

Making a split second decision Adalynn pulled a piece of paper out of her purse along with a pen and scribbled two words down before opening the car door and throwing her purse on the seat and sticking the note of the dash board. With one final sigh Adalynn turned to the boy hoping she was making the right decision. “I guess I’ll go to Neverland. Take me away Peter Pan,” she said with a smirk.

Although her smirk quickly faded when she was a wicked grin grow on the boy’s face as he finally pushed his hood down and let her see his face clearly as he grabbed her hand. “The name’s Jack Barakat. Peter Pan is dead.”

Before she could get out another word the boy was pulling her along as he took a running start taking her away to her new home; one she hoped she wouldn’t regret.