Peter Breaks Through

Mrs Darling was a happy lady, who loved all her children and kissed and hugged them a great deal. Mr Darling was more serious. He worried about the milk bill, and did not really think it was a good idea to have a dog for a nursemaid.

Mrs Darling used to tell the children bedtime stories every night. Then she would tuck them in and light their night lights, to keep them safe. She would tidy up the nursery and wonder what they were dreaming about.

They were dreaming about the Neverland. If you could have seen into their minds, you would have seen a picture map of the island, splashed with lovely colours. It had a lagoon, a pirate ship, flamingoes and a coral reef. There was a forest with wild beasts and savages, lonely hiding places and perhaps a witch or a goblin or two. John lived in a boat turned upside down on the sands, Michael in a wigwam, and Wendy in a house of leaves.

In the daytime, the Neverland was a safe place to play in, under the table, among the chair legs. But at night, in the nursery, just before the children dropped off to sleep, it became almost too real. That was when they were glad they had night lights.

Mrs Darling was puzzled because they talked so much about a boy called Peter Pan. They said "he lived with the fairies." Mr Darling thought it must be some silly tale Nana had told them. "It [bad word] from having a dog as a nurse!" he said crossly.

One day, Mrs Darling found some funny looking leaves just under the nursery window.

"Peter must have dropped them, when he came to see me. He's so untidy!" said Wendy, who was the eldest, and a very tidy little girl herself.

"But how could he get up here? It's three floors up!" wondered Mrs Darling. "You must have been dreaming!"