Bedtime Story: Peter Pan Pt. 6

Hello beautiful souls,

Please enjoy the sixth instalment of Peter Pan, the boy who never grew up, written by Sir James Matthew Barrie.

Let's continue our adventures with Peter, Wendy, and the whole gang.

You can find all parts of this wonderful story in my Peter Pan playlist on my profile.

I hope you have a wonderful sleep and wake up feeling relaxed and refreshed.

Transcript

Good evening beautiful souls and welcome to tonight's reading of Peter Pan Part 6. So before we begin our adventures with Peter Pan, Let's take a moment to arrive here in your bed in this moment, Feeling into the heaviness in the body as you sink down into your mattress, Knowing that there's nothing more for you to do, It's time to rest and stretching your arms up overhead and stretching out through your legs, Pointing, Flexing, Wiggling the toes and just stretching, Taking up space in your bed, Working out all the knots of the day and then allowing yourself to sink down into your mattress, Sinking, Sinking down and taking some deep breaths, Lengthening your inhale and your exhale. Relaxing the muscles in your face, Relaxing your jaw and your forehead and your eyebrows, Feeling as if your face is melting, It's becoming so relaxed, And feeling a wave of relaxation, Going down from your face, All the way down your body, Making any last minute adjustments, So that you're truly comfortable and ready to relax. So, Let's continue our adventures with Peter Pan. 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 had rather he had been a lady, Curly said. I wish he had been a white rat, Said Nibs. Quiet, Wendy said. There was a lady also, And, Oh, Mummy, Cried the first twin. You mean that there is a lady also, Don't you? She is not dead, Is she? Oh, No. I am awfully glad she isn't dead, Said Tootles. Are you glad, John? Of course I am, Tootles. Of course I am, Tootles. Are you glad, Nibs? Rather, Are you glad, Twins? Oh, We are just glad. Oh, Dear, Sighed Wendy. A little less noise in 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 Mrs. Darling. I knew them, John said, To annoy the others. I think I knew them, Said Michael. 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. Do 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 yard. 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, Kelly broke in excitedly. I don't know how it is, But I just thought that they did. Oh, Wendy, Cried Tootles, Was one of the lost children called Tootles? Yes, He was. I am in a story. Hoorah! I am in a story, Nibs. Hush. Now, I want you to consider the feelings of the unhappy parents with all of their children flown away. Oh, Oh. Think of the empty beds. Oh, It's awfully sad, The first twin said. I don't see how it can have an 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, 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 had a lovely time. But did they ever go back? Let us now, Said Wendy, Bracing herself for her finest effort. Let us now, Said Wendy, Bracing herself for her finest effort. Let us now 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 and age? Who is this lady of uncertain age and age? Who is this lady of uncertain age and age? Who is this lady of uncertain age and age? Who is this lady of uncertain age and age? Who is this lady of uncertain age and age? Who is this lady of uncertain age and age? Who is this lady of uncertain age and age? Who is this lady of uncertain age and age? Who is this lady of uncertain age 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, Says Wendy, Pointing upwards, There is the window still standing open. Oh, 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, 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 that we shall be embraced instead of smacked. So great indeed was their faith in a mother's love. And now, What is it, Peter? Wendy cried, Running to him, And he said, I am not Peter. I am not Peter. I am not Peter. I am not Peter. I am not Peter. I am not Peter. I am not Peter. I am not Peter. I am not Peter. I am not Peter. Thinking he was ill. Where is the pain, 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 candour, He told them what he had 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 true, And it scared them. Are you sure mothers are like that? Yes. So this was the truth about mothers. 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 lost 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 that neither did he. But of course he 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 is a saying in the Netherlands, 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 prisoner. Yes, Let's chain her up. In her extremity, An instinct told her to which of them to turn. 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 blood him severely. 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 Netherlands against her will. Wendy, I have asked the Redskins to guide you through the wood as flying tires you so. Thank you, Peter. Then he continued. I have asked the Redskins to guide you through the wood as flying tires you so. Thank you, Peter. Then he continued. I have asked the Redskins to guide you through the wood as flying tires you so. Thank you, Peter. Then he continued. In the short, Sharp voice of one accustomed to being 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. Will you go away? Tink 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, That 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. Whereupon Peter went sternly toward the young lady's chamber. Tink, He rapped out. If you don't get up and dress at once, I will open the curtains, And then we shall all see you. This made her leap to the 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 Tinkerbell. 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 ones, 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 specially for Peter, But each of the boys was thinking exclusively of himself, 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 make things worse. It will only mean having a few beds in the drawing room. They can be hidden behind screens on first Thursdays. Peter, Can we go? They all cried imploringly. They took it for granted that 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. 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 calabash, And she always shoved the calabash and counted the drops, Which gave it a certain medicinal quality. On this occasion, She did not give Peter his. 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. She was afraid that Peter would be upset. She cried, Shaking. No, He answered. 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 had ever quite had a mother, He no longer missed her. He could do very well without one. 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 want always 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 eyes were fixed on him. Their thirst for it 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, I hope you will like them. The awful cynicism of this made an uncomfortable impression. And most of them began to look rather 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. Quite as if they must really go now, For he had something important to do. She had to take his hand, As 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, Wendy. 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 out. Aye, Aye, Peter. Then lead the way. Tink dotted up the nearest tree, But no one followed her. 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 rent with shrieks and the clash of steel. Below, There was dead silence. Mouths opened and remained opened. 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. The same he thought he had slain Barbecue. The same he thought he had slain Barbecue with. And the lust of battle was in his eye.