Neverland

Chapter One: My Hometown:

-Sappoto-

I have lived in my hometown since I was born. Nothing really changes at all. I don’t really mind it to be honest with you. I love my hometown because everyone was living. My daddy told me that living is the most important thing. He pushed that into me ever since I was a little girl. Speaking of which, he said that I never really grew up either.

The doctors said that I was slow growing up. In simple terms, they said my body was growing normally, but my mind wasn’t.

“So what do you mind?” I heard Daddy ask them in the doctor’s office when I was four years old.

“She has some developmental defects,” the doctor replied, “At best; she’ll have the mind of an eight-year-old child.”

“And at worst?” Daddy asked.

“She might never grow right,” he said.

“Isn’t there anything you can you?” Daddy asked them.

“I’m so sorry,” they said, “This is how it is.” Daddy said that Mommy left because of how I was.

“But why would she do that?” I asked. Daddy shook his head at his desk.

“Some people are just afraid,” he said, “They are afraid and can’t take what is thrown at them.”

“She can’t take me?” I asked.

“No,” he replied, “But I can.” I walked into his office and hugged his lap. My Daddy was one the first things that I loved about my hometown. He was the one who showed me magic in this place. Daddy taught me to believe in wishes, fairies, and miracles.

“If you believe hard enough,” he said in our garden, “Your dreams will come true.” I still believe it all to this day.

There are so many things I love about my hometown. I love Daddy, Mr. Bill, Thomas, Dotty, Tim, Josie, Monkey, Bunny, Little Johnny, Paul, Mr. Sam, Mr. Charlie, Rose, Chuck, Mama J, Buck, Buck Jr., Andy, Hong, and most of all Yu. I love them all. They are all part of living. I can’t live without them.

I twirled around at the bus stop as I waited. The leaves look so pretty at this time of year. I held out my hand when one of them fell from the tree.

“Pretty,” I murmured to myself. I happened to look up and see Mr. Sam looking at me as he walked down the road towards me. I smiled and waved at him.

“Hi Mr. Sam!” I shouted as I jumped up and down waving at him. He stopped when he saw me in the distance and waved at me.

“Hi, Sappoto!” he called back, “Nice day, isn’t it?”

“Yep!” I shouted. Mr. Sam reached into his coat pocket and pulled out his hearing horn.

“What?” he asked.

“Yeah!” I repeated. He smiled as he hurried over to me at the bus stop.

“What are you doing out here, Sappoto?” he asked, “Are you leaving this place?” I shook my head at him.

“No,” I answered, “He’s coming home today.” I looked up at the big blue sky and smiled.