He finds it when they’re setting the nursery up for the new baby. The furniture was already in place and everything had slowly started to be cleaned and ready for the boy’s arrival. He’d gone into the attic to put a few odds and ends away when he noticed a box he couldn’t recall putting there and started rifling through it.
The fish didn’t look like anything from this world and from the stitching, it looked old.
Wherever it had come from, he couldn’t remember.
Wherever he had ended up was beautiful and the boy swore he’d caught a glimpse of fairies fluttering among the trees. He dusted off his hat and carried it with him not but a few feet before a voice spoke behind him.
Turning, he caught sight of the boy clad in green cloth. “Mermaids?”
“Aye, mermaids. They’re nasty little tricksters and like to try to lure the boys into the lake. I don’t remember seeing you at our bonfires before. Tell me, how did you come to Neverland?“
He held up the hat. “I travel with my hat. I’ve been trying to find someone.”
“And you believe them to be here?“
He hesitated. “I’m not sure.“
“If you’re lost, there’s always room for you here. Neverland’s always a home for lost boys.“
“I’m not lost! But I need to get back,“ he went to open the hat’s portal but the clinking of the other boy’s tongue stopped him.
“No one leaves here without my permission. But I’ll tell you what, if you really want to leave, we can make a trade.“
“Aye, you see this land runs on happy thoughts, they give the land its magic. If you trade me one happy thought, I’ll let you come and go as you please until you find what it is you’re looking for. Do we have a deal?“
One memory for the chance to come and go while he looked for his family... “We have a deal,” and he conjured up the happiest memory he could think of, of being at the beach house with his mama and the fish clutched tight in his arms that he’d carried everywhere with him. The fish he’d carried with him in his coat pocket since he’d started traveling...and just as soon as he thought of it, the memory and the toy were gone.
“You’d best be on your way...what was your name?“
He dusted off the old toy and took it downstairs with him. Giving it a quick clean and once he was sure it was safe, he placed the little fish in the crib to wait for the newest arrival.