Питер Пэн и Венди
The Home Under The Ground
WhatdiddisturbherattimeswasthatJohnrememberedhisparentsvaguelyonly,aspeoplehehadonceknown,whileMichaelwasquitewillingtobelievethatshewasreallyhismother.Thesethingsscaredheralittle,andnoblyanxioustodoherduty,shetriedtofixtheoldlifeintheirmindsbysettingthemexaminationpapersonit,aslikeaspossibletotheonessheusedtodoatschool.Theotherboysthoughtthisawfullyinteresting,andinsistedonjoining,andtheymadeslatesforthemselves,andsatroundthetable,writingandthinkinghardaboutthequestionsshehadwrittenonanotherslateandpassedround.Theywerethemostordinaryquestions—’WhatwasthecolourofMother’seyes?Whichwastaller,FatherorMother?WasMotherblondeorbrunette?Answerallthreequestionsifpossible.’’(A)Writeanessayofnotlessthan40wordsonHowIspentmylastHolidays,orTheCaractersofFatherandMothercompared.Onlyoneofthesetobeattempted.’Or’(1)DescribeMother’slaugh;(2)DescribeFather’slaugh;(3)DescribeMother’sPartyDress;(4)DescribetheKennelanditsInmate.’
Theywerejusteverydayquestionslikethese,andwhenyoucouldnotanswerthemyouweretoldtomakeacross;anditwasreallydreadfulwhatanumberofcrossesevenJohnmade.OfcoursetheonlyboywhorepliedtoeveryquestionwasSlightly,andnoonecouldhavebeenmorehopefulofcomingoutfirst,buthisanswerswereperfectlyridiculous,andhereallycameoutlast:amelancholything.
Peterdidnotcompete.
