Chapter 2: Blue Christmas

Guiltily Wendy followed her mother. Trailing after her like a baby duck, she kept both eyes averted on the shimmering pink hem. Wendy sighed. Remorseful though she was, she wished infinitely more that she had snuck into the party. If all the ladies and gentlemen looked like her mother…it would surely be magical!

Mary paused. She held open her bedroom door. "In you go."

Wendy obeyed. She waited at the foot of her mother's bed, watching the beautiful gown sway. Although she was in trouble, her transfixion with the dress made her smile. Her mother looked like a fairytale princess.

Mary turned. A halo from the Victorian lamp glowed over her ringlets. "Wendy?"

Wendy couldn't contain herself. Running forward, she clasped both hands. "Mother! You look simply lovely!"

Mary laughed. Twirling as much for her daughter as for herself, she turned the dress in a pink rainbow. "Thank you dear. Just my old gown made over…" Mary smiled gesturing to her sewing basket. "…but it did turn out rather nicely."

Wendy reached. "You look like a princess, Mother." she said, lifted into her mother's arms. "A fairytale princess."

Mary smiled, sweeping across the room and balancing Wendy on her hip. Glimpsing their reflection in the vanity, she marveled at her daughter's slightness – so delicate and petite for a ten year old. And so very, very fragile.

"My little girl…my little Wendy." Mary settled at the vanity. Turning Wendy on her lap, she smoothed her daughter's hair. Wendy smiled, and Mary was struck at their resemblance. Her memories surged finding herself in her daughter's face.

"You want to see the Christmas party…don't you my darling?"

Wendy stared at her reflection. " It's not Christmas yet."

Mary nodded. "No. Tis not. But…today is December thirteenth. The first of twelve days of Christmas. Father and I have so many lovely friends…and Father is so very shy and so very hardworking…we thought a masquerade ball would be a lovely present to celebrate the year."

"Masquerade?"

"Yes…" Mary held up her wrist, from which a sparkling mask hung. "A party with dancing. And pretty masks. No one knows who anyone is…so…Prince Charming might be hiding behind one. Just like one of your fairytales."

Wendy grinned. Thinking the idea lovely, she held the mask over her eyes. It was the shape of a butterfly.

"I wish I could go. I've never been to a mascara – "

Mary bit her lip, hiding a smile.

" – a mascara ball." Wendy lowered the mask. "But Daddy said no."

Mary considered. Slowly, she smiled. Her eyes twinkled and the room glowed with secret excitement. "Wendy…" she whispered, voice tingling. "…let's play a trick on Daddy."

Wendy turned. "Trick?"

Mary tilted her head. Carefully, she removed a single diamond earring. "Take this…" she said, placing the earring in Wendy's hand. The diamonds twinkled like a cluster of stars. Wendy gazed in awe as Mary spoke. "…pretend that mommy left this earring in your room. Bring it down to me. And then…"

Mary folded Wendy's fingers around the diamond earring. "…then you can see the party."

Wendy gasped. For a wonderful, unbelievable moment every single part of her tingled brighter than the diamonds.

Then, her face fell. "But…look at me." Sadly, she looked away from the mirror. "I'm not dressed for it." she said, smoothing a wrinkle from her nightdress. "And my hair is messy."

"…Wendy..."

Wendy looked up. Curiously, she watched her mother rummage through her sewing basket.

Smiling radiantly, Mary withdrew a ribbon. Blue as the sky and bright as the Caribbean Sea. Gently, her fingers rippled through Wendy's hair.

"You are a beautiful young lady, Wendy my love." whispered Mary lacing the blue ribbon through her daughter's curls. She accented the knot with a thick, luscious bow. "But remember…we are our prettiest when we are ladies…not when we are cruel, or vain, or contemptuous."

Gently, Mary rose. Gliding into the hallway, she led Wendy to the top of the stairs. "We are most beautiful when we are brave, loyal, and kind." Lovingly, she kissed Wendy's forehead. "And…a little bit mischievous…from time to time."

Wendy grinned. Carefully, she touched the blue bow in her hair. The diamond earring sparkled between her fingers. Shew grinned at her mother. "Like now?"

Mary nodded. With the elegance of a swan, she backed down the stairs. "Yes indeed, my darling." Mary turned to the door. The golden light snatched every gorgeous curve.

Beaming, she turned to Wendy. "Count to ten…"

Wendy nodded. Curling on the top step, she waved as Mary Darling drifted through the magical door and into the Christmas ball.

"One…" she whispered, squeezing both eyes shut. With every breath, she eased down a step. "Two….three…four…five…six…seven…eight…nine…"

Wendy opened her eyes. Her fingertips rest against the knob.

She smiled.

"...ten."

Holding her head high and pretending to be her mother, Wendy Darling entered the golden door.