A boy who can fly and won’t grow up. How make believe is that? I thought this as I sat in my bed.

I was doing my homework that I, as always, put off until the last minute. I was working on a book report for Peter Pan by J. M. Barrie. It was due on Monday and it was Saturday night. I only had one more day to finish and I hadn’t even started. I was just reading the summary on the back of the book.

Hmmmm maybe I could just watch the movie instead? I’ve already seen it. Yeah, not as much time and a lot less work. I like-

“Charlotte!” My thoughts were interrupted by my mom. “Time to go to bed, it’s 10:00.”

I’ll just have to finish tomorrow, I thought with a yawn, I am pretty tired.  I pulled the blankets and turned off the lights wondering if my teacher would notice if I hadn’t really read the book.

When I woke up it was around midnight. I had heard a noise that sounded like someone talking, followed by some bell noises. It was a boy’s voice not a man’s, so I knew it wasn’t someone in my family. The bells I had no idea about.  Was Santa taking the reindeers for a ride in October? Probably not. Strangely enough, the voice seemed to be coming from outside the window. I was about to go get my mom when I heard the voice again.

“Hey, Charlotte, have you seen my shadow?” The voice said.

“What?” I asked looking around.

“Have you seen my shadow?” The voice repeated. While the voice talked, I heard it moving across the room.

I was really confused. First of all, it was 12:00 at night, how could someone have gotten into our house? Second, this voice knew my name. And third, I had no idea who this voice belonged to. I didn’t see any one. My first thought was that it was a ghost. But then I saw a sparkle of something fall from the ceiling. I looked up. I saw a flying boy smiling down at me.

“Hi,” the boy said, still smiling.

“Who are you?” I asked a little scared, but curious.

“I’m Peter. Peter Pan.”

“Peter Pan?”

“Yeah, I came here looking for my shadow. I’ve lost it before in the Darlings’ nursery. Wendy found it, though. Tink said I might find it here.”

“Tinkerbell? She’s a fairy, Peter Pan’s fairy,” I said getting more excited, “You’re Peter Pan from the book!”

“What book? If it’s about me I want to read it.”

“Uh, sure maybe I can let you borrow it sometime,” I said not really paying attention.

The real, live Peter Pan was in my house! Unless it was a dream. I tried pinching myself. I felt it. But it could have only been my imagination.

“So,” I tried to think of something to say, “Why are you here again?”

“I’m here for my shadow,” he said.

“Sorry I haven’t seen it,” I replied.

“Aw shucks, so I came here for nothing,” He said sounding disappointed.

I didn’t want Peter to leave without something, not after he came all the way from Neverland, so I scanned my room searching for something I could give him. I got it! I can give him my copy of Peter Pan. Peter does like stories about himself.

“Here you go,” I said handing him the book.

“Gee thanks! Well, I have to go back now. Let me know if you see my shadow,” Peter said flying through  the open window.

“I will,” I said running to the window, “I will, Peter Pan, I will.”

After he was out of sight I jumped back into bed thinking about my visit from Peter Pan.

The next morning when I woke up I immediately remembered Peter coming. My  first thought was that it must have been a dream. It couldn’t have been real, right?  Then I looked on my nightstand. My book, the one I gave to Peter Pan, was gone.

Peter Pan came to visit me, me. Now I knew I couldn’t just watch the movie. I had to read the book and learn more about my night time visitor. Now I knew Peter Pan was real. This would be the best book report ever!