11 The Happy Family

CHAPTER 11 The Happy Family On the night that would come to be known as "the night of all nights," the children ate a make

believe dinner. Unfortunately, their hunger was real, and as a result they were noisy and misbehaving. "Be quiet!" Wendy yelled finally, for she was hungry and grumpy, too. "Is your plate empty, Slightly?" Slightly looked down at his imaginary plate. "Not quite, Mommy." "He didn't take one bite of his carrots," Nibs said. John raised his hand. "Since Peter isn't here, can I sit in his chair?" "Sit in Father's chair? No," replied Wendy, who had taken to referring to Peter as Father. "He's not our real father," John complained. Tootles wanted in, too. "Can I be the father?" he asked. "No," Wendy said. "What about the baby?" he asked. "I'm the baby," Michael said. He was already settled in his comfortable basket.

Tootles moped. "Slightly has his elbows on the table," someone reported. "The twins ate their dessert before their vegetables," someone else added. "Curly is eating all the butter and honey." "Nibs is speaking with his mouth full." Wasn't this just like normal family life? Later, after the imaginary dishes were washed, Wendy sat by the fire and sewed socks with very real holes in them. As her boys played around her, she felt very content with her familiar little family. Just one thing was missing. Suddenly she heard a step above them. "That's Peter's step," Wendy said. "Children, go greet Father at the door." Peter entered, dropping down through his own personal tree, and the children ran to him happily. He had brought nuts and treats for them and—from the crocodile—the correct time for Wendy. This he obtained by following the

crocodile until he chimed the hour. "You spoil us, Peter," Wendy said. "We want to dance!" the twins cried. "Go ahead," said Peter, who was in a jolly mood. "You and Mommy, too!" "Come on, Peter," Wendy said. "Children, go put your nightgowns on first." While the boys ran to do so, Peter and Wendy had a quiet moment alone. "Life is good, isn't it?" Peter said, warming his feet by the fire. "You and me, and the little ones?" "It is," Wendy agreed. "I think Curly has your nose." "Michael takes after you," Peter said. But suddenly, Peter looked scared. "Wendy," he said. "This is all make-believe, right? I'm not really their father?" Wendy looked at him for a few seconds. "It's make-believe," she finally said.

"Whew!" Peter cried. "I can't tell you how relieved I am to hear that! It would make me feel so old to be their real father!" "And how do you feel about me?" Wendy asked. Peter just blinked, as if he didn't quite understand the question. Wendy sighed and went to sit at the other end of the room, with her back to him. At that moment, the boys came out and sang and danced for Peter and Wendy in their nightgowns. When they had finished dancing, the boys got into bed for Wendy's good-night story—the story that they loved best, and which Peter hated. Usually when she told this story, he put his hands over his ears or left the room. Tonight, however, he stayed to listen. "Once upon a time there was a gentleman," Wendy began. "I want a lady," Curly said. "I want a white rat," said Nibs.

"Shhh," Wendy said. "Okay, there was a lady as well. Their names were Mr. and Mrs. Darling." On the other side of the room, Peter flinched. "Hey," John said, "I know them." "Me too," Michael said, but he didn't sound sure. "Mr. and Mrs. Darling were married and had three—" "White rats?" Nibs cried hopefully. "Children," Wendy said. "And they had a nurse called Nana. But one day Mr. Darling got mad at Nana and chained her up in the yard, and so all the children flew away to Neverland." "That is a great story," said Nibs. "Imagine how sad these parents were after their children left," Wendy said. "Poor parents," the boys moaned, but they were just pretending to feel sorry. "It's an awfully sad story," the first twin said cheerfully.