Tinker, Pirate, Princess, Pan - Prologue
Prologue
The streetlamps of Central London flickered to life, illuminating the snowflakes that were drifting gently down on the brisk midwinter evening. Amidst the hustle and bustle of Southampton Row and Queen’s Square, a tall man with laughter lurking in his smile deftly made his way between the carriages hurrying past on his way to Great Ormond Street Hospital. Holding out his hand as he reached the sidewalk, he smiled as the snowflake settled into a star-like pattern in his palm. Big Ben chimed in the distance and gathering his scarf tighter against the wind he pressed on, for he had a very important appointment that evening, and tardiness would just not do.
Slipping around the corner to a side entrance to the hospital he met Ward Sister Tyrell, whose cheeks had gone rosy from waiting in the cold, and she quickly ushered him inside. Closing the door firmly behind her, she led him through the labyrinth of hallways to Helena Ward, taking his hat, coat, and gloves as he unwrapped his long scarf and shook the snow from his hair.
“They’ve been so excited to see you, Sir,” Tyrell said with a smile as the sound of children’s voices echoed down the hall. “The Storyteller is what they call you amongst themselves. I do believe they see you as being a bit touched by magic.”
The man turned to her with twinkling eyes and raised an eyebrow. “And who’s to say I’m not?” he replied with a grin. “After all, children see so many things we have forgotten,” he added wistfully. “Spending time with them is more magical to me than anything else in this world.”
“And that is why they love you,” Tyrell responded with a fond smile as she opened the door and motioned for him to go inside.
Within minutes he’d settled into the comfy armchair they had set aside for him and the children had gathered around, leaning forward in anticipation for his stories to begin.
“And what shall it be tonight?” he asked them with a smile.
“Pirates!” called out one.
“Mermaids!” said another.
“Adventure!” answered a third.
“Indians and Samurai!” called out a fourth.
The Storyteller was about to respond when he felt a soft tugging at his sleeve. When he looked down he found a wee girl of no more than three looking up at him with large brown eyes as she cradled the sling holding her casted arm against her chest.
“Canst we has a story wif faeries in it?” she asked hopefully.
The Storyteller smiled down at her and nodded. “I believe you shall.”
The tot smiled back at him and quickly sat back down on her pillow to listen.
“Now where to begin,” the Storyteller, said tapping a finger against his chin.
“At the beginning of course!” one of the older boys called out, causing the younger children to laugh.
“Quite right,” he replied once they settled down. “Once upon a wish-“ he began.
“Don’t you mean a time?” the boy called out again, and the Storyteller shook his head.
“In Neverland time is counted by the wish not the hour,” he explained kindly, causing the boy to frown in confusion but hold his tongue to hear the rest.
Satisfied that he would not be interrupted further, the Storyteller started again. “Once upon a wish, the faeries of the world gathered up the brightest of all the children of the world’s hopes and dreams, and from them Neverland was born.
“Neverland was originally to be a refuge for those who, despite the world’s push for science, still held magic in their hearts, and the gateways to reach it were well guarded to keep those who dwelled within safe.
“As time went on, it became clear that as the wishes that sustained Neverland grew dim, new dreams would need to replace them. And so the faeries began taking care of the lost children of the world, gathering them close and keeping them safe within the sanctuary of Neverland until they came of age and lost their capacity to dream. Over time it became apparent that the lost children tended to be boys as most girls were far too clever to be lost in the first place,” he said winking at the little girl who smiled back at him.
“Some children find Neverland on instinct; others are lost until the faeries find them and bring them home. But once in a great while a child is born who dreams too bright for the mortal world, and for these children Neverland is a place where they can truly be themselves and let the magic within them shine. The first of these children to arrive was given the title of Pan, and so the tradition has carried on ever since.
“Amongst faeries, it is a great honor to be chosen to look after the lost children. But the greatest honor of all is to be given the title of Tinker and become the guardian and companion of their leader, Pan. For without a Pan there is no Tinker, and without a Tinker, there can be no Pan.
“This, dear children,” he continued, glancing over the children’s heads to where a familiar stream of starlight flew past the window, “is the story of one such Pan. A Pan named Jack.”
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