An Awfully Big Adventure

[Jared Handley]

The Faerie Chief had made his decree and, as everyone knew, that meant it was as good as done. At sunrise he and the other faeries would be gone, the curse would take effect, and all who remained in their world would be trapped for life.

"Ungratefulness," he had warned so oft before, but with finality on this night, "is a punishment in itself, yet it demands more punishment as a matter of natural course."

"The pirates, yes, Daddy," the princess pleaded, "but the boys are just children, they don't understand!"

"They are runaways, Tinker Bell," he reasoned, "so they are worse than the pirates, for they stole the greatest treasure there is, and from their own parents!"

He could see though that there was no changing her mind--so very much like him, that there was pride in the pain--because she loved the boy called Peter, and while she would grow and he would remain a child, while faerie and human were never meant to be as one, a young heart yields no obstacle and he was left to decide whether to keep her love from afar, or lose it as she stayed at his side.

[Heidi Romano]

Show off....

I love Pan, too. My favorite game as a kid was running around with my siblings in the back yard, pretending we were flying toward the second star to the right and straight on till morning....

[Michael Brown]

I was entranced with your telling and had to go through that last, elongated sentence several times to get it clear in my mind, but did not mind a bit because it kept me in your tale longer. This has the ethereal feel of the original. I'm also a bit of a Pan-head. Terrific work, Jared.

[Brittany]

you set the bar for the men she will love in her life... and the one she will allow to love her the most will be a gentleman because of the foundation that you have laid. Her self-worth begins with you... Outstanding lil' diddy here Jared.

[Jared Handley]

Heidi, I'm glad you brought that up. I had planned to serve you by saying "Oh, you mean in the novel-turned-movie, Hook..." But since I had to Google to be sure which came first, I can't really take much pride in it. However, I do now know that the first Terry Brooks book I ever read was Hook. At the time, I assumed the author was a woman. I was but a lad. So thanks (and your feedback is eternally cherished).

And, there's also a scene earlier where he says "To die would be a grand adventure." To which Hook responds, "Dying is your only adventure." Or something to that effect. I've always been a bit of a Panhead.

[Heidi Romano]

There is a line in Hook, that Robin Williams adaptation, that is "To live will be an awfully big adventure." Only thing I know.
Magical piece! I like your "greatest treasure" sentence.

[Kevin Michaels]

Excellent six - really nice spin (detailed and well written) on an "old standard". I look forward to going back and reading your work.

[Jeanette Cheezum]

I love fables no matter how you do them. Great 6.

[Jared Handley]

Thanks y'all. As you know, I love doing backstories on old standards. This is one that I've toyed with in many forms. The title, you may also have known, comes from a line in the original book where Peter decides "To die would be an awfully big adventure."

I've seen time and again the line attributed to the author, JM Barrie, as "To love would be..." though I've never found it in the book or foreword. Anyone have any insight on whether this quote exists elsewhere or if it's just a frequent misquote?

[Gita]

And do not forget her Aunt M who called out in the middle of a packed theater, "I believe!!!" when the audience was asked if they believed in faeries. Your daughter, your sister and even this writer, at one point or another would stay or have stayed with the Lost Boys forever. You can't fight it.

[Harry]

Yeah it must be pretty cool having a dad who can make, "An awfully Big Adventure" even bigger by writing new chapters when neccessary!