meals should be partaken of with gusto, and we see his band doing their best to obey orders.
WENDY (her fingers to her ears, for their chatter and clatter are deafening). Si-lence! Is your mug empty, Slightly?
SLIGHTLY (who would not say this if he had a mug). Not quite empty, thank you.
NIBS. Mummy, he has not even begun to drink his poe-poe.
SLIGHTLY (seizing his chance, for this is tale-bearing). I complain of Nibs!
(JOHN holds up his hand.)
WENDY. Well, John?
JOHN. May I sit in Peter’s chair as he is not here?
WENDY. In your father’s chair? Certainly not.
JOHN. He is not really our father. He did not even know how to be a father till I showed him.
(This is insubordination.)
SECOND TWIN. I complain of John!
(The gentle TOOTLES raises his hand.)
