Very early that morning, everyone was busy on the ship. The sea was rough, with many waves. Tootles was the bo’sun. He held a rope and watched the boys. All the boys wore pirate clothes. They shaved their faces and moved like real sailors.
Peter Pan was the captain of the ship. John and Nibs were the mates. Wendy was the only woman on the ship. The other boys lived in the fo’c’sle. Peter stood at the wheel. He gave a short speech to the boys.
Peter told the boys to do their work well. He spoke with a loud and strong voice. The boys cheered for Peter. Then Peter gave some orders. The boys turned the ship around. They sailed the ship toward home.
Peter looked at the ship’s chart. He made a plan for the trip. Peter said they would reach the Azores islands on the 21st of June. After that, it would be faster to fly home.
Some boys wanted to be honest sailors. Other boys still wanted to be pirates. But Peter was a very strict captain. The boys were afraid of Peter. They did exactly what Peter said.
Slightly looked confused one day, and Peter punished him for it. The boys were worried that Peter was becoming like Captain Hook. Wendy was even making a new suit for Peter out of Captain Hook’s old clothes.
The boys whispered about Peter at night. On the first night, Peter wore the new suit. He sat in the cabin for a long time. He held a cigar in his mouth. He held his finger up like a hook. Peter looked like Captain Hook.
Now we must look at the sad house in London. The three children flew away from this house a long time ago. We have not visited the house for many weeks, but Mrs. Darling does not blame us. She only cares about her children.
Mrs. Darling is a very kind mother. She wants her children to be happy. Children sometimes take advantage of mothers like Mrs. Darling. We are going to the house now. We want to see that the beds are warm and ready.
The children left their beds in a hurry. They were not thankful when they left. Perhaps they should find an empty house. That would be a good lesson for the children. But Mrs. Darling would be very sad.
I want to tell Mrs. Darling a secret. I want to tell Mrs. Darling that the children are coming back. They will be home next Thursday. But this would ruin the surprise. Wendy, John, and Michael are planning a big surprise.
On the ship, the children are thinking about the surprise. They want to see Mrs. Darling’s joy. They want to hear Mr. Darling cheer. They want Nana to jump in the air. The children do not think about being punished.
I know Mrs. Darling very well now. She would be angry with me if I told her the secret. She wants her children to have their fun. She wants the children to enjoy their surprise. She does not care about her own sadness.
Mrs. Darling has no pride. I wanted to say nice things about her. But she is too soft. Everything in the house is ready for the children. The beds are warm and the window is open. Mrs. Darling never leaves the house.
The house is the same, except for the kennel. Mr. Darling felt very bad after the children flew away. He felt that their leaving was his fault. He was a simple man, but he wanted to be fair. He decided to live in the kennel.
Mrs. Darling asked Mr. Darling to come out. Mr. Darling said no. He promised to stay in the kennel until the children came back. Mr. Darling always did things in an extreme way. He was a very humble man now.
Mr. Darling was very kind to Nana. He let her decide many things. Every morning, a cab took Mr. Darling to work. Mr. Darling stayed inside the kennel during the trip.
Mr. Darling returned home in the same way at six o’clock. People in the street watched Mr. Darling. This was very difficult for Mr. Darling. He was a very sensitive man. But he stayed calm and polite to everyone.
Soon, the public learned the story of Mr. Darling. People liked him very much. Crowds followed the cab and cheered. Many people asked for his autograph. Important people invited Mr. Darling and his kennel to dinner.
On Thursday, Mrs. Darling waited in the room. She was very sad. She lost her children and her happiness was gone. Mrs. Darling fell asleep in her chair. Her face looked tired and thin.
We should tell Mrs. Darling the news in her sleep. The children are only two miles away now. They are flying very fast. Let us whisper to Mrs. Darling that they are coming.
Mrs. Darling woke up suddenly. She called the names of her children. But the room was empty. Only Nana was there. Mrs. Darling told her about the dream, and Nana put her paw on Mrs. Darling.
Then the kennel arrived at the house. Mr. Darling looked very tired. He gave his hat to Liza the servant. Liza did not like the kennel. She did not understand Mr. Darling.
A crowd of people was outside the house. They cheered for Mr. Darling. Mr. Darling liked the attention. He told Mrs. Darling about his success. He was a famous man now.
Mrs. Darling asked if Mr. Darling still felt bad. Mr. Darling said he felt a lot of remorse. His punishment was living in the kennel. Then Mr. Darling felt sleepy.
Mr. Darling asked Mrs. Darling to play the piano. He also asked Mrs. Darling to close the window. Mrs. Darling said no. She said the window must stay open for the children. Mr. Darling said he was sorry.
Mrs. Darling went into the other room. She began to play the piano. Mr. Darling fell asleep in the kennel. Then someone flew into the room.
It was not the children yet. Peter and Tinker Bell flew into the room first. Peter told Tinker Bell to close the window. He wanted to lock the window. He wanted Wendy to think her mother locked her out.
Peter had a plan. He wanted Wendy to come back to the island with him. Peter danced because he was happy. Then he looked at Mrs. Darling. She was playing the piano.
Peter thought Mrs. Darling was pretty. But he said his own mother was prettier. Peter did not really know his mother. He only liked to brag about her.
The music was a song about home. The music asked the children to come back. Peter was happy because the window was locked. But then he saw Mrs. Darling’s face. She was crying.
Peter saw two tears in Mrs. Darling’s eyes. He knew she wanted the window open. Peter felt a little bit sad. He knew that both he and Mrs. Darling loved Wendy.
Mrs. Darling looked very unhappy. Peter tried to make funny faces. He tried to ignore her. But he could not stay angry. Peter opened the window again.
Peter called Tinker Bell. He said he did not want a mother. He flew away into the night. Then Wendy, John, and Michael flew through the open window.
The children landed on the floor. Michael was the youngest. He almost forgot his own home. John showed Michael his old bed. Michael remembered the bed.
John saw the kennel. He ran to look inside it. He thought Nana was inside. But there was a man in the kennel. Wendy saw that it was Mr. Darling.
Michael looked at Mr. Darling. Michael was disappointed because Mr. Darling was not as big as the pirates. Wendy and John were surprised. They did not remember Mr. Darling sleeping in a kennel.
Wendy felt a little bit worried. She thought they forgot their old life. John was angry because Mrs. Darling was not there. Then Mrs. Darling began to play the piano again.
Wendy saw Mrs. Darling through the door and said, "It's Mother!" Michael had almost forgotten her, so he asked if Wendy was not really his mother. Wendy felt very sorry now. She knew they had stayed away too long.
John wanted to surprise Mrs. Darling. Wendy had a better plan. She told the boys to get into their beds. They wanted to act like they never left.
Mrs. Darling came into the room. She saw the children in their beds. But she did not believe it. She often saw the children in her dreams. She sat down in her old chair.
The children were afraid because Mrs. Darling was quiet. Wendy called her mother. Mrs. Darling thought she heard a voice in a dream. Then John and Michael called her.
Mrs. Darling stood up and opened her arms. The children ran to Mrs. Darling. She held all three children at the same time. Mrs. Darling called for Mr. Darling.
Mr. Darling woke up and was very happy. Nana ran into the room. It was a very beautiful scene. But Peter was outside. He looked through the window at the happy family. He could never join them.