Wendy now had a daughter named Jane, who loved to hear her mother's stories about Neverland.
But most of all, Jane loved hearing about Peter.
Wendy had bought her parents' house, so Jane slept in the same nursery her mother had slept in as a girl.
But there were only two beds now—one for Jane and one for her nanny.
Once a week, on the nanny's night off, Wendy would put Jane to bed.
Then she would tell Jane wonderful stories about mermaids, fairies, and pirates.
"Tell me about when you were a little girl," Jane would begin sweetly.
"That was a long time ago," her mother would answer.
"Tell me what it was like to fly," said the little girl one night.
"You know, Jane, I can hardly remember. It was a long time ago."
"Why can't you fly now, Mother?"
"When people grow up, they forget how to fly," Wendy explained.
She told Jane about the time Peter flew into the nursery looking for his shadow.
"The foolish fellow tried to stick it on with soap and cried when it didn't work," she said.
"But I sewed it back on for him."
"Go on," said Jane impatiently, even though she knew all the stories by now.
"And then he taught us how to fly and we flew to Neverland," said Wendy.
"And what was the last thing he said to you?" asked Jane.
"He told me he would return, and some night I would hear him crowing by the window.
But then he forgot all about me," Wendy said with a sad smile.
"Funny, I sometimes hear that crow when I am sleeping," said Jane.
And then one night something unusual happened.
It was a spring night, and Jane was asleep.
Wendy was in the darkened nursery, sewing in front of the fireplace.
Suddenly, she heard a crow.
The window blew open and Peter Pan flew in, landing lightly on the floor.
"Hello, Wendy," he said.
In the dim light, Peter didn't notice that she had grown up.
As usual, he was thinking mostly about himself.
For a moment, Wendy wished she could be as small as she used to be.
"Hello, Peter," she replied.
"Is that John in the bed there?" he asked, pointing to the small body under the sheet.
"No, John is not here now," she said.
Peter looked more closely. "Is it a new one? Boy or girl?"
"A girl," she replied, a bit fearfully.
Peter looked at Wendy. "I've come to get you.
Have you forgotten? It's time for spring cleaning!"
She knew it was useless to ask where he had been over the years.
Instead she said, "I can't come with you, Peter. I've forgotten how to fly."
"I'll teach you again," he said.
"Oh, Peter, don't waste the fairy dust on me.
I'll turn on the light, and you'll see for yourself."
When she turned on the light, Peter gasped.
"You promised not to grow up!" he shouted at her.
"I couldn't help it," she said.
"I'm married now, and this is my little girl in the bed."
Peter sat on the floor and began to weep.
Wendy bent down to lift him up in her arms, but Peter backed away.
Seeing him so hurt, she left the room sadly.
Peter's sobs woke Jane. She sat up in bed.
"Boy, why are you crying?" she asked.
Peter rose and bowed politely. "Hello, I'm Peter Pan."
"Yes, I know," said Jane. "I'm Jane, and I've been waiting for you."
When Wendy returned, she found Peter sitting on Jane's bed, crowing.
Jane was up in the air.
"Jane wants to be my mother," Peter explained.
"He does need a mother," Jane said, flying to his side.
"Yes," Wendy said, "I know that very well."
"He wants me to do his spring cleaning every year," Jane added, rising in the air with Peter.
"Good-bye, Wendy," said Peter, as they headed out into the night.
Wendy rushed to the window crying, "No!" She stood there, watching them fly away together to Neverland, growing smaller and smaller in the sky.
"If only I could go with them," she sighed.