16 Peter Pan - Read By Stephanie Poppins
Peter Pan, written by J.M. Barrie, is a classic children's novel first published in the early 20th century. The story revolves around the beloved character Peter Pan and follows his adventures in the fantastical Neverland, along with a young girl named Wendy Darling and her brothers, John and Michael. In this episode, it's time to go home. Or is it? New Stoicism Feminism Sleep Bedtime story Folklore Relaxation Literature Historical context Emotional healing Grief Social dynamics Domestic life Nostalgia Reunion Emotional reunion Grief management Storytelling Imagination Fantasy Characters Classic literature Culture Adventures Moral lessons This story is adapted for radio by Stephanie Poppins at Neworld Books.
Transcript
Welcome to Sleep Stories with Steph,
Your go-to podcast that offers you a calm and relaxing transition into a great night's sleep.
It is time to relax and fully let go.
There is nothing you need to be doing now and nowhere you need to go.
Close your eyes and feel yourself sink into the support beneath you and let all the worries of the day drift away.
This is your time and your space.
Take a deep breath in through your nose and let it out with a long sigh.
There is nothing you need to be doing now and nowhere you need to go.
Happy listening.
Chapter 11.
Listen then,
Said Wendy,
Settling down to her story with Michael at her feet and seven boys in the bed.
There was once a gentleman.
I'd rather he'd been a lady,
Said Curly.
I wish he'd been a white rat,
Said Nibs.
Quiet,
Then mother admonished them.
There was a lady also and.
.
.
Oh mummy,
Cried the first twin.
You mean there's a lady also,
Don't you?
She's not dead,
Is she?
Oh no,
I'm awfully glad she isn't dead.
Are you glad,
John?
Of course I am.
Are you glad,
Nibs?
Rather.
Are you glad,
Twins?
We're just glad.
Oh dear,
Sighed Wendy.
Little less noise there,
Peter called out,
Determined she should have fair play.
However beastly a story it might be in his opinion.
The gentleman's name,
Continued Wendy,
Was Mr Darling and her name was Mrs Darling.
I knew them,
Said John.
I think I knew them,
Said Michael.
They were married,
You know,
And what do you think they had,
Explained Wendy.
White rats,
Cried Nibs.
No.
It's awfully puzzling,
Said Tootles.
Quiet,
Tootles,
They had three descendants.
What's descendants?
Well,
You're one.
Do you hear that,
John?
I'm a descendant.
Descendants are only children.
Oh dear,
Oh dear,
Sighed Wendy.
Now these three children had a faithful nurse called Nana,
But Mr Darling was angry with her and they chained her up in the yard and so all the children flew away.
It's an awfully good story,
Said Nibs.
They flew away,
Continued Wendy,
To the Neverland where the lost children are.
I just thought they did,
Early broken.
I don't know how it is,
But I just thought they did.
Oh Wendy,
Cried Tootles.
Was one of the lost children called Tootles?
Yes,
He was.
I'm in a story.
Hooray,
I'm in a story,
Nibs.
Hush now,
I want you to consider the feelings of the unhappy parents with all their children flown away.
Oh,
They all moaned,
Though they were not really considering the feelings of the unhappy parents.
Think of all the empty beds.
It's awful sad.
I don't see how it can have a happy ending.
Do you,
Nibs?
I'm frightfully anxious.
If you knew how great is a mother's love,
Wendy told them triumphantly,
You would have no fear.
She had now come to the part that Peter hated.
I do like a mother's love,
Said Tootles.
Do you like a mother's love?
I do just,
Said Nibs,
Hitting back.
You see,
Wendy said complacently,
Our heroine knew the mother would always leave the window open for her children to fly back.
So they stayed away for years and they had a lovely time.
Did they ever go back?
Let us now,
Said Wendy,
Bracing herself for her finest effort,
Take a peep into the future.
Years have rolled by and who is this elegant lady of uncertain age alighting at London station?
Wendy,
Who is she?
Cried Nibs.
Can it be?
No,
Yes,
The fair Wendy.
Oh.
And who are those two noble portly figures accompanying her?
Can they be John and Michael?
They are.
Oh.
See,
Dear brothers,
Said Wendy,
Pointing upwards,
There's a window still standing open.
And now we're rewarded for our sublime faith in a mother's love.
That was the story and they were as pleased with it as the fair narrator herself.
Everything just as it should be,
You see.
Off we skip like the most heartless things in the world,
Which is what children are,
But so attractive.
And we have an entirely selfish time.
And then when we have need of special attention,
We nobly return for it,
Confident we shall be embraced instead of smacked.
So great indeed was their faith in a mother's love that they felt they could afford to be callous for a bit longer.
But there was one who knew better.
And when Wendy finished,
He uttered a hollow groan.
What is it,
Peter?
She cried,
Running to him thinking he was ill.
What is it?
Wendy,
You're wrong about mothers.
They all gathered round Peter in fright.
So alarming was his agitation.
Long ago,
He said,
I thought like you that my mother would always keep the window open for me.
So I stayed away for moons and moons and moons.
And then I flew back.
But the window was barred.
Mother had forgotten all about me and there was another little boy sleeping in my bed.
I'm not sure that this was true,
But Peter thought it was true and it scared him.
Are you sure mothers are like that?
Yes.
So this was the truth about mothers,
The totes.
Wendy,
Let us go home,
Cried John and Michael together.
Yes,
She said,
Clutching them.
Not tonight,
Asked the lost boys,
Bewildered.
They knew in what they called their hearts that one can get on quite well without a mother and it's only the mothers that think that they can't.
At once,
Wendy replied resolutely,
The horrible thought had come to her.
Perhaps mother is in half morning by this time.
This dread made her forgetful of what must be Peter's feelings and she said to him rather sharply,
Peter,
Will you make the necessary arrangements?
If you wish it,
He replied as coolly as if she had asked him to pass the nuts.
Not so much as a harsh sorry to lose you between them.
Even if she did not mind the parting,
He was going to show her.
But of course,
Peter cared very much and he was so full of wrath against grownups who,
As usual,
Were spoiling everything that as soon as he got inside his tree,
He breathed intentionally quick short breaths at the rate of about five to a second.
He did this because there's a saying in the Neverland that every time you breathe,
A grownup dies and Peter was killing them off vindictively as fast as possible.
Then having given the necessary instructions to the Redskins,
He returned to the home where an unworthy scene had been enacted in his absence.
Panic-stricken at the thought of losing Wendy,
The Lost Boys had advanced upon her threateningly.
It will be worse than before she came,
They cried.
We shan't let her go.
Let's keep her a prisoner.
Chain her up.
Grandly,
However,
Tootles responded.
For that one moment,
He dropped his silliness and spoke with dignity.
I am just Tootles,
He said,
And nobody minds me.
But the first who does not behave to Wendy like an English gentleman,
I will blood him severely.
He drew his hanger and for that instance his son was at noon.
The others held back.
Then Peter returned and they saw at once they would get no support from him.
He would keep no girl in the Neverland against her will.
Wendy,
He said,
Striding up and down,
I have asked the Redskins to guide you through the wood.
Thank you,
Peter.
Then he continued in a short,
Sharp voice.
Tinkerbell will take you across the sea.
Wake her up,
Nibs.
Nibs had to knock twice before he got an answer,
Although Tinkerbell had really been sitting up in bed listening to everything.
Who are you?
How dare you go away?
She cried.
You've got to get up,
Tink,
Called Nibs.
Take Wendy on a journey.
Of course Tinkerbell had been delighted to hear Wendy was going,
But she was jolly well determined not to be her courier and she said so in still more offensive language.
She says she won't,
Nibs exclaimed,
Whereupon Peter went sternly towards the young lady's chamber.
Tink,
He rapped out,
If you don't get up and dress at once,
I'll open the curtains and then we shall all see you in your negligee.
This made her leap to the floor.
Who said I wasn't getting up?
She cried.
In the meantime,
The boys gazed very forlornly at Wendy,
Now equipped with John and Michael for the journey.
By this time they were dejected,
Not merely because they were about to lose her,
But also because they felt she was going off to something nice to which they had not been invited.
Dear ones,
Said Wendy,
If you would all come with me,
I feel almost sure I can get my father and mother to adopt you.
The invitation was especially meant for Peter,
But she didn't say that.
Won't they think it's rather a handful?
Nibs asked.
Oh no,
Said Wendy,
It'll only mean having a few beds in the drawing room.
They can be hidden behind the screens on first Thursdays.
Peter,
Can we all go?
They cried.
All right,
Peter replied with a bitter smile and immediately they rushed to get their things.
And now,
Peter,
Said Wendy,
Thinking she'd put everything right,
I'm going to give you your medicine before you go.
She loved to give the medicine and undoubtedly gave them too much.
Of course it was only water,
But it was out of a calabash and she always shook the calabash and counted the drops,
Which gave it a certain medicinal quality.
On this occasion,
However,
She did not give Peter his draft.
She saw a look on his face that made her heart sink.
Get your things then,
Peter,
She cried.
No,
He answered.
I'm not going with you,
Wendy.
Yes,
Peter.
No.
To show that her departure would leave him unmoved,
Peter skipped down and around the room,
Playing gaily on his hock,
His pipes.
Wendy had to run about after him,
Although it was rather undignified.
We can find your mother,
She coaxed.
Now,
If Peter had ever quite had a mother,
He no longer missed her.
He could do very well without one.
He'd thought them out and remembered only their bad points.
No,
He told Wendy decisively.
Perhaps she'd say I was old and I just want to be a little boy and have fun.
But Peter,
No.
And so the others had to be told,
Peter isn't coming.
If you find your mothers,
Said Peter darkly,
I hope you'll like them.
The awful cynicism of this made an uncomfortable impression and most of the boys began to look rather doubtful.
No fuss,
No blubbering,
Continued Peter.
Goodbye,
Wendy.
And he held out his hand cheerily as if they really must go now,
For he had something important to do.
Wendy had to take his hand as there was no indication he would prefer a thimble.
You will remember about changing your flannels,
Peter,
She said.
She was always so particular about their flannels.
Yes.
And you will take your medicine?
Yes.
That seemed to be everything and an awkward pause followed.
Peter,
However,
Was not the kind that breaks down before people.
Are you ready,
Tinkerbell?
He called.
Then lead the way.
Tink darted up the nearest tree,
But no one followed for it was at this moment that the pirates made their dreadful attack upon the Redskins.
Above,
Where all had been so still,
The air was rinked with shrieks and the clash of steel.
Below there was a dead silence.
Mouths opened and remained open.
Wendy fell on her knees,
But her arms were extended towards Peter.
All arms were extended to him as if suddenly blown in his direction.
They were beseeching him mutely not to desert them.
As for Peter Pan,
He seized his sword,
The same he thought he had slain Barbecue with and the lust of battle was in his eye.
