Peter Pan: Level 2

Peter Breaks Through

All children, except one, grow up. They soon know that they will grow up, and the way Wendy knew was this. One day, when she was two years old, Wendy took a flower to her mother.

Mrs. Darling cried, Oh, why can’t you stay like this forever! From that point, Wendy knew that she must grow up. You always know after you are two. Two is the beginning of the end.

The Darling family lived at Number 14. Mrs. Darling was very beautiful. Mr. Darling used to tell Wendy that her mother not only loved him but also respected him. He was one of those deep men who knew about stocks and shares. Wendy came first, then John, then Michael.

Because they were poor, the children’s nurse was a big dog called Nana. She always made sure the children were clean, and she was up in a moment if one of them coughed in the night. She usually carried an umbrella in her mouth in case of rain. Nana was a very good nurse, and Mr. Darling knew it. However, he sometimes wondered if the neighbors talked. There never was a happier family until Peter Pan arrived.

Mrs. Darling first heard of Peter when she was tidying up her children’s minds. Every good mother tidies her children’s minds when they are asleep. It is quite like tidying up drawers. All the bad thoughts are put away neatly at the bottom of your mind, and on top, she puts all your prettiest thoughts so that you can put them on in the morning. Sometimes, when she was tidying her children’s minds, Mrs. Darling found things she could not understand. One of these was the word Peter. She did not know anyone called Peter, but it was in the minds of all three children.

But who is he, my pet? Mrs. Darling asked Wendy.

He is Peter Pan, you know, Mother. At first, Mrs. Darling did not know. Then she remembered a Peter Pan who was said to live with the fairies. She had believed in him when she was small.

But, she said to Wendy, he would be grown up by now.

Oh no, he isn’t grown up, Wendy said confidently. He is the same size as me.

Mrs. Darling told Mr. Darling, but he just smiled. It is just some story that Nana has told them. Don’t worry about it.

But soon, the naughty Peter Pan gave Mrs. Darling quite a shock. One night, all the children were in bed. Mrs. Darling sat down by the fire to sew. The fire was so lovely and warm, however, that she soon fell asleep. Look at the four of them—Wendy and Michael over there, John