The new extended Darling family rejoiced and cheered and one of their knew family members, of those of the lost boys, attempted to recite a Christmas carol and another pounded his fingers on the key of the piano, struggling to be in time. It was a chilled evening of December, one like no other. Not only was it Christmas eve, it was a night that the eldest child of the Darling family would never forget.
Wendy Darling had now reached the mature age of 16, and was now eligible for marriage. Marriage- a word that meant for those of grownups; a word that stung on the tip of her tongue when said and pieced her ears when heard. Wendy had learnt that all children grow up, and that she must adapt to liking the various suitors her father brought to her in hope of picking one to wed. She had stopped believing; believing in her inner youth, and stopped believing in the little boy that would never grow up. She was a young woman now, like her father said, and needed to act like one too. That meant no more stupid stories.
Wendy, John, Mitchell, the lost boys, Aunt Mildred and Mr and Mrs Darling were all collected around the fire place, taking in the warmth. It was becoming very late, and each one of the lost boys grew quite tired. "Come my dears, I believe its time foe bed." Mrs Darling beckoned. Her voice was smooth and gentle, as like the elegant woman she was.
"oh, but mother!" the children whimpered in synch. "But mother, its Christmas eve!" Tootles complained, as the children rose.
"Oh tootles," Mrs darling knelt down in front of him and cupped his cheek in her palm. "Father Christmas and his elves expect you all to be asleep when he arrives, other-wise if you aren't asleep when he arrives then he is going to have to use some of the special Christmas Fairies magical fairy dust to put you to sleep. However, fairy dust is scares in the north pole because the snow is way too cold for the Christmas Fairies there. And he has to use the little dust that he has to fly all around the world. So if you fall asleep without him having to use the dust, you will be doing him a favour." She rose from the ground and gave the children a cheerful smile in reassurance.
"I want to help Santa!" One of the children shouted.
"Me too!" Another chanted, as all the children started rushing up the stairs to their bed, hoping to help Father Christmas by falling into a slumber. All, except for one. Wendy remained, standing with her arms cross.
Mother, I do think you shouldn't be filling the children's brains with such nonsense." Mrs Darling's eyes softened in doubt that her eldest had finally grown up.
"Wendy, you must have a bit of Christmas cheer! Remember when you did believe, remember all the Christmas stories you would tell to the family on Christmas eve? Have you forgotten them? In fact, I believe you may have forgotten all the stories you once told…" Mrs Darling glided to Wendy and took her hand.
"Exactly as you said mother, they are just stories. Nothing for, nothing less." Wendy turned away, hoping that her mother wouldn't change her mind. She had quickly learnt that there was no space for stories and believing in a woman's life.
Mrs Darling frowned and shook her head, her curls bobbing up and down on her shoulders. "I remember the old Wendy. She used to tell stories to us. Remember when you believed in the magic? Remember when you believed in Cinderella and her glass slipper, remember believing in the old lady who lived in a shoe, and what about the adventures of the pirates, remember believing in Peter Pan-…" The last story pieced Wendy's heart like a dagger to the chest. She ripped her pale hand from in between her mothers. "No, I don't believe anymore. There is no need for stories and believing in a young woman's life. No more stupid fairy dust, no more nonsense of Christmas, and no more stupid, dumb tales of senseless Peter Pan!" Wendy jolted up the stairs and ran along the creaking wooden floor boards into her room, making quite an audible slam of the door behind her.