Just That Once

Jefferson ran into the forest, he cackled, "I'm out! I'm out! The bastards never saw it coming…I may be mad, oh so very mad, but I'm clever, oh so very clever!"

He ran past until he saw it, a tiny little person running in the grass.

He laughed, "Looks like I have a companion to hp join me on my journey. Hmmm she is a little small, well all the best to fit in my pocket."

He plucked the young woman from the ground and tucked her away in his waist coat pocket.

She screamed, "Let me go you big brute! I didn't runaway from the flowers to be caught by the likes of you!"

Jefferson smiled, trying not to chuckle, "Flowers? You were running from flowers, no wonder I caught you, at that size I bet even a worm could gobble you up grinning all the while. You shouldn't have come to this world girl. Your from a world of no magic, where normality is common place and there is no room for the exaordinary.

"I know, I've been there. Do you wish to go back? I could bring you home, something I don't have the fortune of having."

The girl nodded fiercely, gripping the material for dear life. "Yes I would…if you don't mind…though I can't go at this size."

Holding on to his hat, Jefferson ran, he ran for dear life, for if he was caught, he might just die. He hid into the bushed and large shadows crept over them.

The girls eyes widened. "They're cards, the guards they're…"

Jefferson grinned at her, "Yes they are, I imagine this would be rather wonderful for you."

The girl shook her head, "No, it's all rather terrifying."

He scratched his head in thought, "Well yes, that too."

The guards left and Jefferson picked a flower pedal and gave it to the girl.

"Eat it and you will be your normal size."

He gently picked her up and set her on the ground.

She nodded, stuffing it in her mouth. She grew, until she was just shy off Jefferson's height, a very beautiful young woman emerged.

Jefferson's tipped his hat. "If I knew you were so beautiful I would have made you bigger at the very start."

She smiled, "I'm Alice by the way, what may I call you?"

He bowed, "Jefferson, your dearly beloved mad hatter. Though I think it's time for you to leave, you don't want to stay here too long, or you'll starting getting all sorts of thoughts…that and the queen, she's evil you know."

Alice said gently, "I suppose your right."

With that he took off his hat and it spun.

"You must never tell the Queen it does that, or she'll have my head, and this time she won't give it back. If she knew, the bad things that would happen…it's unspeakable."

Alice nodded, "I won't tell a soul."

Jefferson nodded, satisfied with her answer. "Good, don't forget take the blue door, otherwise you'll never get out!"

Alice moved forward and kisses him gently. "Thank you for everything?"

He shrugged, "Always glade to be of service, if I could I would follow, but I can't break the rules, no I couldn't do that."

Alice simply smiled at the strange man and jumped into the hat, never to be seen in that world again.