Tonight, I am reading Peter Pan by James Matthew Barrie. Chapter 11, "Wendy's Story," describes a bedtime tale that Wendy tells the Darlings, Peter, and the Lost Boys. This audio is perfect for children or adults who want to relax, discover magic, or embark on an adventure before a great night's sleep.
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Transcript
CHAPTER XI. WENDY'S STORY 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, Curly said. I wish he'd been a white rat, Said Nibs. Quiet, Their mother admonished them. There was a lady, Also, And. . . Oh, Mummy, Cried the first twin, You mean that there is a lady also, Don't you? She's not dead, Is she? Oh, No. I'm awfully glad she isn't dead, Said Tootles. Are you glad, John? Of course I am. Are you glad, Nibs? Rather. Are you glad, Twins? We are glad. Oh, Dear, Sighed Wendy. Little less noise there, Peter called out, Determined that she should have fair play, However beastly a story it might be in his opinion. The gentleman's name, Wendy continued, Was Mr. Darling, And her name was Miss Darling. I knew them, John said, To annoy the others. I think I knew them, Said Michael rather doubtfully. They were married, You know, Explained Wendy. And what do you think they had? White rats, Cried Nibs, Inspired. No. It's awfully puzzling, Said Tootles, Who knew the story by heart. Quiet, Tootles. They had three descendants. What is descendants? Well, You are one, Twin. Did you hear that, John? I am a descendant. Descendants are only children, Said John. Oh, Dear, Oh, Dear, Sighed Wendy. Now these three children had a faithful nurse called Nana, But Mr. Darling was angry with her and chained her up in the front yard, And so all the children flew away. It's an awfully good story, Said Nibs. They flew away, Wendy continued, To the Neverland, Where the lost children are. I just thought they did, Curly broke in excitedly. 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 am in a story? Hurrah, I am 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 one jot. Think of the empty beds. Oh, It's awfully sad, The first twin said cheerfully. I don't see how it can have a happy ending, Said the second twin. 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, Hitting Nibs with a pillow. Do you like a mother's love, Nibs? I do just, Said Nibs, Hitting back. You see, Wendy said complacently, Our heroine knew that the mother would always leave the window open for her children to fly back, So they stayed away for years and years and had a lovely time. Did they ever go back? Let us now, Said Wendy, Bracing herself up for her finest effort, Take a peep into the future, And they all gave themselves the twist that makes peeps into the future easier. Years have rolled by, And who is this elegant lady of uncertain age alighting at the London station? Oh, Wendy, Who is she, Cried Nibs, Every bit as excited as if he didn't know. Can it be? Yes? No? Is it the fair Wendy? Oh! And who are the two noble portly figures accompanying her, Now grown to man's estate? Can they be John and Michael? They are. Oh! See, Dear brothers, Said Wendy, Pointing upwards, There is the window still standing open. Ah, Now we are rewarded for our sublime faith in a mother's love. So up they flew to their mummy and daddy, And Penn cannot describe the happy scene over which we draw a veil. 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 the most heartless things in the world, Which is what children are, But so attractive, And we have an entirely selfish time. And then we have the need of special attention we nobly return for it, Confident that we shall be rewarded 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 there 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. She felt for him, Salaciously, Lowering down to his chest. Where is it, Peter? It isn't that kind of pain, Peter replied darkly. Then what kind is it? Wendy, You are wrong about mothers. They all gathered round him in a fright. So alarming was his agitation, And with a fine candor he told them what he had hitherto concealed. 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 flew back. But the window was barred, For mother had forgotten all about me, And there was another little boy sleeping in my bed. I am not sure that this was true, But Peter thought it was true, And it scared them. Are you sure mothers are like that? Yes. So this was the truth about mothers, The toads. Still, It is best to be careful, And no one knows so quickly as a child when he should give in. Wendy, Let us go home, Cried John and Michael together. Yes, She said, Clutching them. Not tonight, Asked the boys, Bewildered. They knew in what they called their hearts that one can get on quite well without a mother, And that it is only the mothers who think you can't. At once Wendy replied resolutely, For the horrible thought had come to her, Perhaps mother is in half mourning 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 sorry to lose you between them. If she did not mind the parting, He was going to show her, Was Peter, That neither did he. But of course he cared very much, And he was so full of wrath against grown-ups, 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 is a saying in Neverland that every time you breathe, A grown-up passes away. And Peter was trying to get them to go vindictively as fast as possible. Then, Having given the necessary instruction to the natives, He returned to the home, Where an unworthy scene had been enacted in his presence. Panicked-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 prisoner. I chain her up. In her extremity, An instinct told her of which to turn to. Tootles, She cried, I appeal to you. Was it not strange? She appealed to Tootles, Quite the silliest one. Grandly, However, Did Tootles respond. 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 box his ears. He drew back his hanger, And for that instant his sun was at noon. The others held back uneasily. Then Peter returned, And they saw at once that 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 natives to guide you through the wood, As flying tires you so. Thank you, Peter. Then he continued in a short, Sharp voice of one accustomed to be obeyed, Tinkerbell will take you across the sea. Wake her, Nibs. Nibs had to knock twice before he got an answer, Though Tink had really been sitting up in bed listening for some time. Who are you? How dare you? Go away, She cried. You are to get up, Tink, Nibs called, And take Wendy on a journey. Of course Tink had been delighted to hear that Wendy was going, But she was jolly well determined not to be her courier, And she said so in still more offensive language. Then she pretended to be asleep again. She says she won't, Nibs exclaimed, Aghast at such insubordination. Then whereupon Peter went sternly toward the young lady's chamber. Tink, He rapped out, If you don't get up at once and dress, I will open the curtains. This made her leap to her floor. Who said I wasn't getting up, She cried. In the meantime, The boys were gazing 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 that she was going off to something nice, To which they had not been invited. Novelty was beckoning to them as usual. Crediting them with a nobler feeling, Wendy melted. Dear one, She said, If you will all come with me, I feel almost sure I can get my father and mother to adopt you. The invitation was meant specifically for Peter, But each of the boys was thinking exclusively of themselves, And at once they jumped with joy. But won't they think us rather a handful, Nibs asked in the middle of his jump. Oh no, Said Wendy, Rapidly thinking it out. It will only mean having a few beds in the drawing room. They can be hidden behind the screens on first Thursdays. Peter, Can we go? They all cried imploringly. They took it for granted. If they went, He would go also. But really, They scarcely cared. Thus children are ever ready, When Novelty knocks, To desert their dearest ones. All right, Peter replied with a bitter smile, And immediately they rushed to get their things. And now Peter, Wendy said, Thinking she had put everything right, I am going to give you your medicine before you go. She loved to give them medicine, And undoubtedly gave them too much. Of course it was only water, But it was out of a bottle, And she always shook the bottle and counted the drops, Which gave it a certain medicinal quality. On this occasion, However, She did not give Peter his drought, For just as she had prepared it, She saw a look on his face that made her heart sink. Get your things, Peter, She cried, Shaking. No, He answered, Pretending indifference. I am not going with you, Wendy. Yes, Peter. No. To show that her departure would leave him unmoved, He skipped up and down the room, Playing gaily on his heartless pipes. She had to run about after him, Though it was rather undignified. To find your mother, She coaxed. Now if Peter ever quite had a mother, He no longer missed her. He could do very well without her. He had thought them out, And remembered only their bad points. No, No, He told Wendy decisively. Perhaps she would say I was old, And I just always want to be a little boy and to have fun. But Peter, No. And so the others had to be told. Peter isn't coming. Peter not coming? They gazed blankly at him, Their sticks over their backs, And on each stick a bundle. Their first thought was that if Peter was not going, He had probably changed his mind about letting them go, But he was far too proud for that. If you find your mothers, He said darkly, I hope you will like them. The awful cynicism of this made an uncomfortable impression, And most of them began to look very doubtful. After all, Their faces said, Were they not noodles to want to go? Now then, Cried Peter, No fuss, No blubbering, Goodbye Wendy. And he held out his hand cheerily, Quite as if they must really go now, For he had something important to do. She had to take his hand, And there was no indication that he would prefer a thimble. You will remember about changing your flannels, Peter, She said, Lingering over him. 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 other people. Are you ready, Tinkerbell, He called out. Aye, Aye, Then lead the way. Tink darted up above the nearest tree, But no one followed her, For it was at this moment that the pirates made their dreadful attack upon the natives. Above, Where all had been so still, The air was rent with the clash of steel. Below was dead silence. Mouths opened and remained open. Wendy fell on her knees, But her arms were extended toward 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, He seized his sword, And the lusts of battle was in his eye.
