Tootles stood over the body of Wendy Darling. He felt like a great hero. The other Lost Boys came out of their trees with their weapons.
"You are too late," Tootles said proudly. "I shot the Wendy bird. Peter Pan will be very happy with me."
Tinker Bell was hiding in the trees. She shouted that Tootles was a fool. The other boys did not hear the fairy. They looked at Wendy and became very quiet.
Slightly looked at Wendy. "This is not a bird," Slightly said in a scared voice. "I think this is a lady."
"A lady?" Tootles asked. He began to shake.
"We have killed her," Nibs said. The boys took off their hats. They felt very sad. They realized that Peter brought a lady to take care of them.
Tootles was very white. He felt terrible. He often dreamed of a mother. When a real lady finally arrived, he shot her. Tootles wanted to leave because he was afraid of Peter.
Suddenly, the boys heard a loud sound. Peter made a crow. This was his signal. Peter was back.
"Hide her!" the boys whispered. They stood in a circle around Wendy.
Peter landed in front of them. "Hello, boys!" Peter shouted. The boys saluted him, but they were silent. Peter was angry because they did not cheer for him.
"I have great news," Peter said. "I brought a mother for all of you."
No one said anything. Tootles fell to his knees. Peter looked worried. He asked if the boys saw the lady.
Tootles stood up. "Peter, I will show her to you," Tootles said. He told the other boys to move away.
Peter saw Wendy on the ground. He thought she was dead. He saw the arrow in her chest.
"Whose arrow is this?" Peter asked. His voice was very cold.
"It is mine, Peter," Tootles said.
Peter was very angry. He took the arrow and raised it. He wanted to hit Tootles. Tootles did not move. He told Peter to strike him.
Peter raised his arm two times to strike Tootles, but he stopped. He felt that he could not do it.
"Look!" Nibs shouted. "The Wendy lady moved her arm!"
Wendy was alive. Peter knelt beside her. He found a metal button on a chain around her neck.
"Look," Peter said. "The arrow hit this button. It is the 'kiss' I gave her. The kiss saved her life."
The boys were very happy. But they heard Tinker Bell crying in the trees. She was sad because Wendy was alive. The boys told Peter about Tinker Bell’s crime.
Peter was very stern. "Tinker Bell," he shouted. "I am not your friend now. Go away forever!"
Tinker Bell flew to his shoulder and said she was sorry. But Peter pushed her away. Then Wendy moved her arm again. Peter changed his mind. He told Tinker Bell to go away for one week.
The boys wanted to help Wendy. They wanted to carry her into their house. But Peter said no. He wanted to be respectful.
"If she stays on the ground, she will die," Tootles said.
"We will build a little house around her," Peter said.
The boys were very excited. They began to work very fast. They brought wood and plants from their underground home.
John and Michael Darling arrived. They were so tired that they were almost asleep. They were very happy to see Peter. Peter told them to help build the house.
"Is Wendy asleep?" Michael asked. He wanted her to make supper.
"She is a lady," Peter said. "We are her servants now. You must help us build the house."
John and Michael started to work. Peter told Slightly to find a doctor. Slightly put on John’s hat and looked very serious.
Slightly pretended to be a doctor. He put a piece of glass in Wendy's mouth. He pretended it was a thermometer. He said that Wendy was cured.
The woods were full of the sound of axes. The boys had everything they needed. They wanted to know what kind of house Wendy liked.
Wendy began to sing in her sleep. She sang about a house with red walls and a green roof.
The boys used branches with red sap for the walls. They used moss for the roof.
Wendy sang about windows and roses. The boys made curtains with yellow leaves. They pretended to grow roses on the walls.
The house was very beautiful. Peter looked at the house. He saw that it did not have a knocker. Tootles used the bottom of his shoe for a knocker.
Then Peter saw that there was no chimney. He took John’s hat and put it on the roof. Smoke started to come out of the hat.
The house was finished. Peter told everyone to look their best. He knocked on the door politely.
The door opened and Wendy came out. She looked very surprised. This made the boys very happy.
"Wendy lady," Slightly said. "We built this house for you."
"It is a lovely house," Wendy said.
The Lost Boys went on their knees. They asked Wendy to be their mother.
"I am only a little girl," Wendy said. "I do not have any experience."
"We just need a nice mother," Peter said.
"I think I can be a mother," Wendy said. "Come inside now, you naughty children. Your feet are damp. I will tell you the story of Cinderella."
They all went inside the small house. It was a very happy evening. Later, the boys went to sleep in their big bed under the trees. Wendy slept in the little house.
Peter stood outside the door with his sword. He guarded the house from pirates and wolves. The little house looked very safe in the dark night.