Ask Wendy Darling

I’ve always thought, perhaps I might get along well with Alice from Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland. 

Hello! I am indeed still finding new things in the modern age. Why, just yesterday, I discovered that you can summon other foods as well as pizza! I knew about pizza delivery, but apparently you can also order Chinese food in the same manner? So that was exciting. My brothers introduced me to chow mein.

I know you’ll be hearing this a lot, but: revise. Each subject will have a list of key words or equations- or, if you’re doing history, dates- which the exam board will be looking out for. Learn these. I know it helps some of the students in my classes to make “flash cards”, and to look at them when they have a spare moment.

Oh, you’re not disturbing me at all! The Lost Ones live an ocean away (literally), although I’ll confess I do sometimes worry that their new mothers might struggle with the more traditional aspects of mothering. Like darning socks. It’s nonsense, I know, I’m sure the boys are very happy in Storybrooke.

I’m sorry, but I’m afraid I don’t know anyone called Adam, or Eddie. And of course I’m not a side character! I’m a person! We are all the protagonists of our own stories, are we not? To be a side character in the story of my own life would be… very odd.

Heavens! Um. Blue! I wear dresses most days, or skirts and blouses. Rap music is quite interesting, but I think pop. Loose, although sometimes I pin back the pieces at the front so that they don’t get in my eyes. Earrings, especially pearls. Petal pink. White. Clean nails, I don’t like the strange heavy feeling you get when the nail varnish has dried. Um, too many to possibly count! And fairies! Fairies are less fond of drowning people while they try to wash their hair.

Thank you, dear! I feel so flattered! I think the best tip I can give you is don’t give up! Writing can be very difficult, and sometimes people won’t take you very seriously at all. But anything worth pursuing will be hard. You can do it! I believe in you!

Dear Emma,

I’m delighted to be able to share my tips with you! In Neverland, most people were rather more concerned with staying alive than much else. But as an English lady, I like to look my best when I can.

Certain types of clay can work wonders. Of course, it’s easier to apply whilst wet. Only leave it on for a few minutes and then wash it away; you do not want it to harden on your face!

I’m not sure where you’re camping, but in Neverland depending on Peter’s mood, there were all kinds of fruit. These can be mashed up and made into brilliant face masks! And if you’re hungry, I found during one particularly fun hunting trip that it’s usually possible to scrape the mask off when you’re done in such a way that you can eat it afterwards. Bananas are brilliant, as are strawberries. Lemon juices are also very good, although I’d steer clear of them if you have any cuts on your face (whether from spears or acne, or whatever else you might get up to) as it does have a tendency to make them sting.

The most important thing to remember in keeping a radiant complexion whilst in the wilderness, however, is to stay clean. If you can find a source of clean water to rinse your face in each day, I can assure you it will work wonders. It’s probably the simplest of ingredients, but indeed the most useful.

I hope I was of some service, and that you have a wonderful time camping!

Yours,

Miss Wendy Darling

Your little bird would be correct!

Dear Evangeline, It was a pleasure to receive your message. I don’t often get formal correspondences nowadays, so your sign-off reminded me very much of the London I used to know. So thank you.

Staying in Storybrooke did cross my mind, and I do often wonder if it might’ve been the better choice for me. It would be delightful to live in the same town as Baelfire and Henry, and it would certainly make keeping an eye on the Lost Ones and Hook much easier. However, life in Storybrooke seems to invite danger and excitement and, for the moment at least, I think I’ve had my fill of those. If I grow tired of life in London again though, I know Storybrooke is always an option for me.

Yours sincerely,

I suppose if I must be on a boat, there are worse people to be sailing with than Peter. He’s lived for a long time. He must have some knowledge of how to sail such a vessel.