Peter Pan

I'll lie down here, and maybe I'll tell you about when I was your age, Wendy. Thirteen? Wendy's thirteen? Yes. I was about the same, when I got stuck inside Kensington Gardens one night, after the park keeper had locked the gates. Oh yes! Tell us that one again. We love that story. Is it all true? Every word of it is true. Tell us again, Mother. You really got locked inside Kensington Gardens all night long? What happened to you? There was magic, wasn't there? There was magic things. Well, it was the most extraordinary thing. I'll tell you. Now, listen. In those days, when we went to the park, I would wander away on my own. I'd slip away from our nurse, when she took my brother and I out for some air. I hate to say it, but I suppose I was rather wild. Forever getting into trouble, causing mayhem, disappearing. You, Mother? Oh yes, I was a terror. My brother, your Uncle Tony, well, he was much better behaved. He'd never wander off into the trees. He'd never go off hiding in the wilder parts of the park, when it was home time. He was always so good. Uncle Tony! He was calling after me, along with my nurse. Calling my name. Mary! Mary! And I did exactly what you must never do. I simply ignored them. Why, Mother? What made you misbehave? There was something magical about that twilight. It was snowy, and the snow sort of glowed. And it covered all the paths and the trees. Everything was outlined in silver. It wasn't at all cold. I just wanted to stay out and explore the twilight. And then they locked you in? Yes, but that didn't frighten me. I just heard the locks and the chains, and I thought, Good. Now I'm here, all alone in Kensington Gardens. You weren't scared? Not at all. I wandered around and had the place all to myself. Or so I thought. Do you hear that? That's the sound very old trees make when they stretch themselves awake and clear their throats to speak. So that's that, then. Another day gone. I never knew you could talk. Oh, a small girl. Hello down there. Is it cold for you, being so tall? Not particularly. But you do get numb standing still for so long, while all the humans are about. Hang on. Let me shake my branches out. That's better. Come and walk with me. Can all the trees talk like you? Some of them prefer not to. Others are quite garrulous. Hmm. Look at that maluca, Harley. The tree's beautiful. She can be quite prickly if you get on the wrong side of her. I can hardly keep up with you. Your legs are so long. I've got very elegant legs. Come along. We'll miss the start of the ball. There's to be a ball? A fairy ball. Isn't that why you're here? Isn't that why you hid away in the park? Why, maybe it is. Maybe I knew, somehow. I knew there was something in the air. A special tingle. Oh, a special tingle. Oh, yes. Oh, look. Oh, my. Just look at them. She's a magnolia, he's a Persian lilac, stepping out together over the fence. Very exotic, they are. And they seem to be heading for the ball, too. What's your name? Mary, darling. Will you tell me, are there real fairies in Kensington Garden? What do you expect? Paper ones? Badgers and squirrels dressed up? It was just... I wasn't sure. I thought I was using my imagination and just picturing them as real. That's the first stage to see them. That's how it starts. You have to kind of... invite them. And then... And then can you see them? Indeed. Although sometimes I wonder if it's worth the bother. Some of them can be dreadful. Oh, please. Take me to the fairy ball. I want to see them. Hmm. It might not be such a good idea. They might not want human children dashing about all over the place. I won't dash. I promise. I'll take you to the very edge of their twilight gathering. Just so that you can see them.