Disclaimer:
I, Aslansphoenix declare that I do not own 'Peter Pan', Neverland or anything that you find familiar. Technically some of the characters did come from my head ... but I think they belong to Neverland just as much as any canon characters.
*/*/*
Added Explanation
*/*/*
Okay, so I receive a comment from a 'guest' which … well it came across as rather, shall we say impolite. But despite that patronising tone or the message, it did raise a valid point.
I do tend to get lost in the world building, character backgrounds and history, and because I myself come from a large extended family with complicated connections (more than anything shown in this story), I included aspects of reality in the story. And I can understand why that may seem confusing.
So here is a breakdown of the family tree/important characters in this story.
*/*/*
The original George and Mary Darling (From the play/book of Peter and Wendy) had three biological children – Wendy, John and Michael. The children flew to Neverland with Peter Pan and had some fantastic adventures, eventually they then returned to London with the Lost Boys in tow. The Lost Boys were adopted by the Darling family.
The children grew up, most of them married and had their own children.
Wendy married and had one child; a daughter named Jane. One night, Peter Pan came back for Wendy for Spring Cleaning. Wendy could not go but Jane could and did. Jane would eventually grow up to have a daughter named Margaret.
All this is canon, information taken directly from the book of 'Peter Pan and Wendy'.
*/*/*
This is where this story comes in.
As stated earlier; when they grew up most of the other children also married and had their own children ,who in turn grew up and had their own children (basically this generation are the great-grandchildren of the original George and Mary Darling.)
Included in this is that – John Darling married and had two children. One: a daughter who married an American, they have two children. Two: a son named James.
When all children/grandchildren/great grandchildren are together they all refer to themselves as the 'Darling Family', even if not all of them have the last name of 'Darling'. This is a real thing that does happen when large extended families gather. They also refer to themselves as 'cousins' even if they are second or once removed. They also all call Wendy Darling 'Granny Wendy'. Why? because I like that.
One of these 'cousins' is named 'Benjamin', he is an 'older cousin'. This means; the younger children swarm around him often, like to play with him, ask for his advice/opinion. But he is also allowed to sit in with the grown-ups. He is not relevant to this story in anyway, except for the fact that he says stuff which become relevant to the characters later on.
Anyway – Jane grew up and married a man called Taran, they have two daughters; Margaret (As per the book), and Angela.
Taran has two sisters; Ruth and Anne.
Ruth is a married to a professor and they have twins; Mitchell and Eliza.
Anne is married to James Darling, the son of John Darling. They have one child named George.
Mitchell, Eliza, Margaret, Angela and George.
These are the five characters you really only need to focus on for this story. I could have done three characters; George, Margaret and one other. But I wanted to explore the gendered roles that occur on Neverland, and felt this is easier done with 5 characters.
To Kyle the guest seemed to misinterpret the opening words at the top (or in this chapter, at the bottom) which explain what this story is about, allow me to clarify.
This story is not about Peter Pan. He is a character in this story, but it is not actually about him (don't tell him that though). This story is a) a writing challenge to explore a different writing technique, and b) It is about the different roles and rules that are followed in relation to gender on Neverland.
I did not get the opportunity to explore non-binary or gender fluid. Though how cool would that be? Would a gender-fluid being go from Girl in love with Peter one day to being one of the Lost Boys the next? Would anon-binary being fit in more with the Fairies or the Indians? I don't know, maybe someone else will explore that. What I got to do though; was exactly what I set out to get.
A story that is mostly told from the perspective of someone who is not the protagonist, and also a story that explores the stereotypical gender roles in relation to those can be enhanced on Neverland. It was a great exercise; sorry if my world building got a little confusing, but I, at least enjoyed myself.
Again, thank-you to everyone who has read/is reading this story. I hope you are all well.
"All Children Grow up Except One"
Everyone Knows about Neverland,
About the home of Peter Pan.
Second to the Right, and Straight on till Morning.
To the place between dreaming and awakening.
Where one never grows old,
And dull memories fade.
There are rules in Neverland
Rules that must be obeyed.
Peter Pan is King of the Island,
His emotions control the seasons,
He is the one who can never grow up,
He is youth, and joy, and all things extraordinary.
But There are other Rules, for me and you,
Rules and Roles that must be followed, it's true.
"Girls are too clever to fall out of their prams",
So it's only Lost Boys find themselves in Neverland.
(Perhaps ... regardless, of the body they were born with ...)
Boys forget much easier than Girls,
They forget their homes and their families while in Neverland.
Yet when they return; they soon forget their adventures with Pan.
Girls remember though, and while it may be hard,
They remember the warmth, support and love.
(They're always torn between staying and going ...)
"No Girl can resist Peter Pan,
When he uses a specific voice."
(They all love him, is there ever a choice?)
In Neverland there are roles to be...
Boys are Lost, or Indians, or Pirates, or the odd Fairy.
Girls are Mothers, or Mermaids, or Indian Warriors true,
Or Fairies, or very occasionally; a Lost Girl too.
(If some Fairies can be in-between,
why not the more complex humans?)
All Children Grow Up, Except One.
Neverland is a place of Adventure and Fun.
There are Roles and Rules,
That shall be followed through
One more thing, which is True ...
In Neverland, You learn all about You.
*/*/*
Date - Saturday 9th May 2020