Chapter 1 THE EVE OF THE UNKNOWN

Neverland, a land of dreams and danger where nothing ever changes-where the wind spoke softly through the trees, and even the sky seemed to pause and listen; where peace rode the land for as long it stood and people get along well, a community filled with joy and their challenges . There lived a boy named Sam, with a dream of becoming an astronaut, his parents, George and Mary are well respected members of the society. George is a fire fighter that has been regarded as a local hero by many. Sam admires his father so much as George commands respect from both old and young, he is loved by all.

Sam has always had his sight on the extraordinary as he looks to make a name for himself and his family. As he walked down the road on a sunny afternoon, from school the sound of radio blaring from the neighbor's apartment, the townsfolk's chatting and going about their way and Sam took a quick detour pass his favorite place in town, the local bakery as he loves the aroma of fresh bread and also its close to 'her' house. Maya, a recently, orphaned girl transferred to Neverland by her foster parent. All the townsfolk talks about the tragic death that took her parents' years back in a motor car accident and since then she has moved from household to household, for some reason, Sam pass by the bakery almost every day while heading back from school to make sure to get a glimpse of the mystery girl before heading home. Why he does this? 'I don't know'! He said to himself. He's clearly fond of her he surmised.

One day, George walks into Sam's room on the eve of his thirteenth birthday with Sam beaming with smiles that he is finally becoming a teenager, he noticed Sam was scribbling a drawing of a rocket on his notepad, George smiled and as a proud father he called Sam to sit on his lap that there is a rite of passage he must do before Sam becomes a teenager. Filled with excitement, Sam hurriedly sat on his father's lap expecting to hear what the rite of passage was all about. George then began to narrate that there is a family souvenir passed down from his great grandfather to mark the teenager age of every first born son; George dipped his hands into his pocket, Sam curious to see what the souvenir is about stood there beaming with joy, alas, his father brought out a very old time clock. Sam looking confused and somewhat disappointed asked his father what it was. George said this in our family indicates a time to transition as the time clock basically signifies. George approached Sam's window and carried him on his shoulder. As Sam and George starred at the sky George says; "The stars are beautiful, son but don't forget the ground you stand on, you must remember to take life on one step at a time, the true measurement of success is a self-fulfilled life son". Sam didn't really understand what his dad meant by all those words but was just happy to be on his father's shoulder looking on to the sky ready to conquer the world itself.

Mary called out for the two of them that the meal was ready. Mary works as a nurse in a local clinic few blocks from their home, she has always been known for her immaculate cooking skills. The pair joined Mary at the dining table and were ready to get into the sumptuous meal, George took a bite of the food and looked up in his wife direction, and smile as an approval for his beautiful wife culinary skills, Then, Sam broke the silence, telling his dad about his dream to be an astronaut, their teacher, Mr. Renault instructed them to fill out what they would like to become and he wants to become an astronaut that he drew the inspiration from his dad, how stoic and brave his father his that he hopes to become such a man soon, filled with such joy Sam hugs his dad and George then tells Sam, you should pursue your dreams no matter what and the sky is the limit to what you can achieve as long as you have the courage to go for it. Shortly after, a distress call came in requesting George's presence that there has been a fire outbreak at the outskirt of the town and his attention is needed. George hurriedly dressed up, and he kissed his wife and said goodbye to Sam that they shouldn't stay up he will come back home late.

George heads out at around 8pm in the night, to the call of the emergency. Shortly after, Sam then assisted in cleaning the dining room with Mary looking visibly heavier as she is moving to the trimester of her pregnancy, Sam can't wait to have a little one to play with around the house He finished doing the dishes and heads into his room. When he entered the room, he took the time clock his father gave him and was trying to give meanings to all he has heard earlier from his father as he stuck his head outside his window; the cold breeze whistles around the block, he kind of envied his father and thought to himself that his father is a hero, that selflessly put himself out to save people in danger; he closed the window then proceeded to bed to sleep.

He woke up to the sound of a phone ringing at around 1am in the cold night of June, a rather odd time to call he thought to himself then all of a sudden a muffled sound and with that came a very long silence. Trying to make sense of what is happening he leapt out of his bed and he makes a walk down the hall way and he sees his mother sitting on the floor, the receiver limp in her hand. Mary wasn't crying but she just stared like she has seen the stars fall, he stood there at the corner muzzled and as cold draught from the windows hit his skin as his spine shiver from terror.