Питер Пэн и Венди
When Wendy Grew Up
Intimetheycouldnotevenflyaftertheirhats.Wantofpractice,theycalledit;butwhatitreallymeantwasthattheynolongerbelieved.
Michaelbelievedlongerthantheotherboys,thoughtheyjeeredathim;sohewaswithWendywhenPetercameforherattheendofthefirstyear.SheflewawaywithPeterinthefrockshehadwovenfromleavesandberriesintheNeverland,andheronefearwasthathemightnoticehowshortithadbecome;buthenevernoticed,hehadsomuchtosayabouthimself.
Shehadlookedforwardtothrillingtalkswithhimaboutoldtimes,butnewadventureshadcrowdedtheoldonesfromhismind.
’WhoisCaptainHook?’heaskedwithinterestwhenshespokeofthearchenemy.
’Don’tyouremember,’sheasked,amazed,’howyoukilledhimandsavedallourlives?’
’IforgetthemafterIkillthem,’herepliedcarelessly.
WhensheexpressedadoubtfulhopethatTinkerBellwouldbegladtoseeherhesaid,’WhoisTinkerBell?’
’OPeter,’shesaid,shocked;butevenwhensheexplainedhecouldnotremember.
’Therearesuchalotofthem,’hesaid.’Iexpectsheisnomore.’
Iexpecthewasright,forfairiesdon’tlivelong,buttheyaresolittlethatashorttimeseemsagoodwhiletothem.
WendywaspainedtootofindthatthepastyearwasbutasyesterdaytoPeter;ithadseemedsuchalongyearofwaitingtoher.Buthewasexactlyasfascinatingasever,andtheyhadalovelyspringcleaninginthelittlehouseonthetreetops.
Nextyearhedidnotcomeforher.Shewaitedinanewfrockbecausetheoldonesimplywouldnotmeet;buthenevercame.
