by Dash Hoffman
“Afternoon.” He nodded to her, and she smiled back, going to the counter.
There wasn’t another soul in the room, but quiet strains of a forgotten Cole Porter song sounded from an unseen speaker, leaving a sweet melody lambent on the air in the comfortable silence.
“Hello. I just saw your shop for the first time and thought I’d come in for some tea. It’s quite cold out today.”
His eyes twinkled and his moustache twitched to one side with a smile beneath it.
“Oh, anyone with a keen eye for very special places would find their way here.” He nodded to the nearest table. “Make yourself comfortable, and I’ll be right out.”
Without another thought about it, Callie pulled one of the smooth-worn chairs from the table and sat, loosening her scarf and coat. She exhaled and felt herself relax as she took a good look around.
It was a simple place, with sepia photographs of groups of friends arm in arm over decades of time dotted about the walls. Though there was the merest hint of a sheen of dust over just about everything there, it didn’t look dirty at all, and even the air around her seemed to have a sort of warm golden glow to it. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d been so at ease.
The shopkeeper came from behind the counter with a loaded tray in his hands.
“Oh, goodness… I haven’t ordered anything yet.” Callie began, and then stopped short when he set the tray down before her.
“London fog for you, with lavender. Chocolate cake. Mini cucumber sandwiches. Scones with clotted cream and raspberry jam. Cup of chicken broth.”
Callie blinked and stared at him as he sat with her at the table and poured out for her.
“Oh! Well I… I love London Fog with lavender. It’s my favorite! Actually, I love all of this… how on earth did you know?”
He shrugged. “Good guess. I’m Mr. Davies.”
She grinned. “Yes, of course you are. I saw your name on the door. I’m Callie.”
“I’m glad you came in for tea, Callie. It’s a good day for it.”
There was something about the seasoned fellow that she liked right away.
“On your way to the hospital?” He asked, picking his own cup up and sipping.
Callie nodded as she reached for a warm, fresh scone to butter it. “Yes, actually.”
“There are some really special people in that place.” He glanced out of the window toward it and then looked at her again.
“Indeed. I’ve been visiting one in particular. A little girl. She’s only nine, dear thing. So full of life.”
“Bright as a star, I’m sure.”
Callie grinned. “Yes, she really is.”
The grin faded some, and Callie sipped at her tea, savoring the delicious flavors before she set it back down and drew in a long breath.
“It’s just a bit challenging to see her have to struggle with being ill. I wish she was whole, and out playing with other kids and going to school with them, like she should be.”
“That’s a good wish.” Mr. Davies agreed. He peered at her over the tops of his half-moon spectacles. “She is whole, you know, at least on the inside, and that counts extra.”
“Yes, it does.” Callie agreed, smiling again. She bit the scone and closed her eyes as the taste of it filled every part of her with bliss.
“This is so good.” She murmured at last.
Mr. Davies moustache twisted into a secret grin again. “Sometimes it’s the little things that make all the difference for us.”
“Truer words may never have been spoken.” Callie replied happily.
“Who are you seeing there today?”
“Oh, a little girl called Emma. We’ve been reading Peter Pan; she’s just been hearing the story for the first time, and she loves it.”
Mr. Davies nodded, and his eyes lit up with excitement. “Lucky girl! She’ll have a great time with that one.”
“She has. It’s already making a big impact on her. Much more than I expected it to.” Callie glanced up at the hospital through the fogged windows, and noticed that it looked almost pretty, framed by the small squares in the pane.
“Sometimes good friends and a little magic is just what a person needs to turn things around.” Mr. Davies set his empty teacup down with a merry wink.
“If I’m being honest, I think her father might need it more than her, but she’s certainly enjoying it.”
A very thin line deepened between Mr. Davies’ brows, and he looked down. “Those who most need the magic of friendship and play, and especially the impossible to believe in, often have the hardest time finding it. Luckily,” he eyed her pointedly, “if they have a good guide, it’ll find them.”
“I’ll do my best.” Callie assured him with a chuckle.
“I’m sure you will.” Mr. Davies rose to his feet and shuffled off to the back room. Callie finished her tea and stood.
Mr. Davies reappeared behind the counter and came to her.
“If it’s all right, I think I’d like to get something to take with me for-” She began, but stopped short when he held up a paper bag carefully folded.
“For the nurses. Here you go.” He finished for her. “They work hard. It’s nice to take them a little something.”
She gasped and a soft laugh sounded from her. “Thank you! How much do I owe you?”
He waved his hand dismissively. “I’ll start a tab for you, and we’ll sort it out next time you come in. You’ve got important things to do today.”
Callie gave her head a little shake, trying to make herself believe it. “Thank you, I’ll see you soon.”
“I’m looking forward to it already.”
The little bell jingled and bounced as she opened the door and stepped back outside. The rain had stopped, and she could see a brilliant rainbow arcing over the tops of the buildings overhead.
Callie stopped by the nurse’s station and set the bag on the counter.
“What’s this?” Abbie asked with a wide smile.
“Just a little something to give you a boost. You’re a hard worker. All of you here are, and everyone needs a little pick-up now and then.”
“Oh goodness, tea and chocolate cake too! My waistline doesn’t need it, but I do!”
“Is Emma in her room?” Callie chuckled.
Abbie shook her head as she pulled an array of treats and goodies from the big bag.
“No, she’s not.”
“Is she all right?” Callie’s heart picked up its pace swiftly.
“Yes, she’s fine. She’s just finishing up some testing. She’ll be back soon. You could wait if you want to.”
Callie nodded. “I’ll do that. Thanks.”
She began walking the hall nearest her, and was surprised to find just how much of it was geared towards children’s play and happiness, rather than just being designed as a hospital. It made her feel a bit better about all of the children who had to be in the hospital; that they could be in a place that was fun as well as healing.
When she had passed by the vending machines twice, she realized that she needed to sit down or she’d wind up talking herself into the snack cookies perched invitingly in the machine, and she would regret it.
Instead, she sat down in a chair in the waiting room and pulled out her phone, checking messages and answering emails.
Not much later, Joshua walked into the area, pushing Emma in a wheelchair, and Liam was at his side.
Callie stood; a big smile growing over her face. “There you are! I came too early for our visit.” She laughed a little, and Emma brightened enormously at seeing her
“You’re here!” She grinned, holding her hand out. Callie took it and gave it a gentle squeeze before letting it go.
“So you had testing done today?” She asked, looking expectantly from Emma to Joshua.
“Yes. Dr. J loves to run me through all of the tests as often as he can.” Emma rolled her eyes. “It’s not the greatest, but he can still make it kind of fun.” She looked up at him behind her c
hair and gave him a smile.
He grinned back at her. “You’re the one who makes it fun.”
He turned to Callie. “This one cracks all the jokes. If anyone could make medicine and machines fun, it’s her.”
“I can definitely believe that!” Callie hesitated and then wove her fingers together in front of her, raising a questioning brow. “I know it’s not really my business, but if it’s okay to ask… How did the tests go? Is everything all right?”
Liam sighed and nodded his head. “It’s all right to ask.”
“Thanks!” Callie gave him a grateful nod. She didn’t want to push too much, but she desperately wanted to know.
Joshua patted Emma’s shoulder lightly. “Everything looked good today. Better than it was before, which is what we love to see! Let’s get you back to your room so you can visit in private.”
He pushed Emma along, and Liam and Callie followed. Emma laughed and looked behind her.
“This is just how it looked when I was tramping along with the Lost Boys on Neverland! Turtle Dove led us through the Neverwoods, and we were going single file to hide our numbers! We had to, in case the pirates came after us. I bet they were mad when they found out that the Lost Boys and Turtle Dove had escaped! Hook must have yelled at Smee!” She laughed as they entered her room.
Liam frowned sharply and slid his hands down into his pockets, pressing his lips into a thin line.
Joshua boggled at her in surprise. “What’s all this now? Did you go to Neverland? You didn’t tell me about that!”
He helped Emma into her bed, and once she was settled, she looked up at him with excitement shining in her brown eyes, and her cheeks warmed.
“Well you were working! I wanted to help you work on the tests.” She reached over to the little table near her bed, and picked up the Neverland Compass she had left there.
Handing it to Joshua, she began to tell him all about it as Callie watched and smiled, and Liam stood at the window with his shoulder to them and a scowl on his face.
“What’s this?” Joshua asked, studying the piece closely.
“It’s the Neverland Compass! Callie and I made it, and it’s got green Neversand in it from one of the beaches on Neverland. It’s where the mermaids like to play. There’s some pixie dust mixed into it too, so that it will work to help me fly to the Neverland!”
Joshua smiled wide and handed it back to Emma. “It’s beautiful! Well done on that. You know, I really love the Peter Pan story, and I’d definitely love to go to the Neverland myself, but I think I’m too old to go now. It’s kids only, except the pirates, isn’t it?”
“That’s right!” Emma piped up. “Callie had me close my eyes and she talked to me, helping me fly there, right through the stars and the night, and I found the island! It’s so beautiful and magical, and it’s pretty big. Bigger than I thought.”
The little girl began talking faster and more animatedly as she regaled her story, and Joshua sat at the end of her bed, listening with fascination to every word. Callie took her usual chair at Emma’s bedside, and Liam remained at the window, glaring out of it silently.
“When I got there, I found out pretty fast that the Lost Boys and one of the Indian’s, by the name of Turtle Dove, had been captured by that heinous Captain Hook and his band of pirates! Hook was trying to lure Peter back to the Neverland, so he could run him through with that great silver hook on his arm! It was awful!” She made a hook with her small, thin finger and slashed it through the air.
“I learned that if I use my imagination in the Neverland, that make believe is real there, and I thought up a cloud of mist to hide us, and I thought up a big green sea turtle to take me to the ship where the boys were all being held captive, and then I rescued them, and we escaped! But then I lost my Neverland Compass in the sea, and Turtle Dove decided to take me to a hidden place on one of the seven smaller islands around the Neverland, and get the real one for me. He knew where it was!” She beamed and held up the plastic compass in her hand.
Callie looked at the girl curiously. “Turtle Dove knew where it was?”
Emma nodded emphatically. “He did! So we all went on a quest! The quest of the Neverland Compass. It was a magnificent quest. We tramped through the Neverwoods until we got to the Mysterious River, and Turtle Dove had a big canoe there. We all got in and floated down the river to the sea, and then went out to one of the islands, and through a secret passage.”
She flattened her hand and moved it like a snake through the air. “In and out of the crevices in the rocks until we got into the hidden cave! Then, we climbed over all the rocks and Turtle Dove showed us a hollow in the stone wall. We’d never have found it on our own. No one would have, but he did! Then we took the wooden box that was hidden inside and just barely made it out of the cave before high tide sealed the entrance! Shortly and Bandit were the only ones who didn’t have to duck down to get out of the cave!”
Emma laughed at the memory and Joshua tilted his head. “Shortly? Bandit? Who are they?”
“Oh! They’re a couple of the Lost Boys!” She beamed and kept on with her story. “So then we rowed back to the Neverland, and on the way we raced mermaids and dolphins, and the mermaids won, of course, no one is faster than they are.” She waved her hand in the air and shrugged.
“Then we all went to the Indian camp and feasted all night long and told tall tales by the bonfire!” She grinned and leaned back in her pillows, her eyes blazing with utter bliss and delight.
Callie grinned at her.
“This whole thing sounds like tall tales.” Liam finally spoke with a dour voice.
Joshua turned to look at him and frowned. Clearing his throat, he stood up and reached for Emma’s hand, giving it a gentle pat.
“Well you’re a very lucky little girl. I wish that I could go there. That sounds like a great adventure.”
Liam turned swiftly and gave them all a sharp look. “It’s not a real place! Every single one of us should be thinking about other things! Real things! We have more than enough to worry about here. We need to be focused on Emma’s health! We need to be healing her! There shouldn’t be anything else on our minds!”
Joshua looked at Liam evenly. “I am always doing that.”
Liam’s brow furrowed and he jabbed his finger toward his shoes. “We must keep our feet on the ground! There shouldn’t be any of this tall tale nonsense! Not a bit of it! I don’t know why I ever agreed to it in the first place!”
Joshua turned and looked at Emma, whose broad smile was fading fast. Callie’s mouth tightened into a small frown.
“Well, I should get back to rounds. I’ll see you both later.” He turned and walked from the room, closing the door gently behind him.
Liam went to the foot of Emma’s bed. “This is ridiculous! I don’t approve of any of this fantasy foolishness!”
Emma poked her chin out and lifted her head slightly. “Well I love it, and I am so happy to have Callie as a friend.”
Liam jammed his lips together so tightly that they disappeared altogether. With a grumble of exasperation, he turned and strode from the room, closing the door with a hard thud.
An awkward silence filled the room for a long minute, and then Callie cleared her throat and looked at the little girl, giving her a warm smile.
“That sounds like the most incredible adventure!” She encouraged.
Scintillating light came back into Emma’s eyes. “Oh, it was! It really was!”
“Well then tell me about the Lost Boys that you met! I don’t know them! They must be new. I would love to hear all about them!”
Callie leaned forward and watched Emma, listening intently to her as the girl began to describe her new friends in the Neverland.
“Well first, there’s Firefly who is wild and brave and feisty and strong. He’s nice, but he kept asking the other boys if they want to fight. He’s always ready to head out for an adventure, well… they all are, really, but he’s just not afraid of anything. He wants to g
o dive in to it all.” She laughed and shook her head.
“Then there’s Chance. He’s one of the tall ones, I think he’s a bit older than most of them. He’s nice, but he’s kind of cool and bossy; he likes to play the games with the other Lost Boys, but he sort of has a wall up, and keeps a little distance. Pip… Pip is really sharp. He is so quick to see anything before the others, and to know what’s going on around them all. He’s so curious; he wants to know what everything is. When we were going through the woods, he had the most questions for me about where I came from, and some of the other boys did too, but mostly it was him.”
Emma leaned her head back into her pillow and stared ahead, not seeing the small room she was in, or the bed on the opposite wall facing her, or the machines or curtains, or any of the hospital around her. Instead, she was seeing each of the boys as she talked about them, in the world of the Neverland, magical and beautiful, wild and exciting, grand and mysterious.
She was savoring every moment she had spent there, and as Callie watched her and listened to her, it felt as if she herself was flying inside her heart, with Emma’s joy as her happy thought.
“Then there’s Patches, whose clothes are just covered in all kinds of patches, which I think he actually stitched on himself, somehow. He’s really sweet. Then Pockets too… he’s a bit shy and quiet. I like him. I like all of them so much! He has pockets all over his clothes, and every one of them is full. I can’t imagine what a boy would need so many pockets for, but he has them, and every time we needed anything, he either had it or he had something to make do with, and I’ll tell you, it was pretty handy having him along!” She laughed heartily.
“The two youngest are Shortly and Bandit. Bandit is the smallest, and I think he’s so cute! They both are! He and Shortly kind of trail along as best they can, getting over things and around them, but they’re adventurous and curious, and neither one of them will stand to be left behind! Not that the Lost Boys would ever leave any of them behind; they’re very close. Shortly is ready to go at a moment’s notice too, for whatever adventure might be in store.” She sighed happily and looked at the Neverland Compass in her hand.