"What is the use of a book without pictures or conversation?"
"Pardon me, Alice? What did you say?"
"Oh! I was just remembering something from my childhood. Reading and rabbits in waistcoats, you know. Dreary childhood, indeed."
The voluminous nurse placed a clammy hand on my face. Would that she had the time! I couldn't help but feel as though I were running very late. She seemed to gather her nerve from touching my head, for she quickly withdrew and used her other claw to snatch away my book.
"I think that's enough exertion for you, Miss Kingsleigh. Time for an afternoon nap, and then you're off to help Mary in the kitchens with supper." She fluttered those damnable hands in my face, as if to convince me of the rightness of her orders.
"Oh, I can't be bothered with napping and cooking now! I'll be late for the ship's departure. It's called the Wonder, you know, after the land?"
Where was my trunk? How had I let the day slip away so quickly from me? Who was this nurse concerning herself with my departure-day itinerary?
Her face fell a little. Her cheeks looked like a twin pair of oysters clung to her face. The image sparked a giggle in my stomach that couldn't be contained.
"Miss Kingsleigh, I don't know about any boats leaving from Rutledge today."
"Rutledge? What the devil is a Rutledge? Where is my mother, she'll put this to rights. Where is my mother, you loathsome oyster?"
The laughing had spoiled in my chest, rotted away leaving a rage burning bright orange. It hurt to breathe out the flames, but I simply had to get to the ship on time. The nurse deflated even more. What at first appeared as oysters in her cheeks now resembled a hound kicked by its master. Was I her master? Where had the oysters gone?
"Alice, my dear, I think it would be best if you lie down for a moment. You don't want to upset yourself before dinner, do you?"
I reached up to push my bangs from my face, but felt only bald forehead and curiously fuzzy scalp.
"Pardon me, Miss Nurse, but could you tell me where my hair has gone?"
It seemed best to ask politely when one has lost one's hair, after all. Even if the hounded nurse has refused to tell me when the ship was to disembark.
She paused again, deflated again. I wondered if she would completely sag away to an empty husk and leave me be. Maybe then she could direct me to my mother.
"Miss Kingsleigh, why don't you wait just one moment. I'll go ask the ship's captain when he will be ready to depart. Is that quite alright, Alice?"
Finally we were getting somewhere! Finally that rabbit would run and run, leading me to the Wonder. Or was it the land that I was looking for? Nevermind, the captain would clarify everything, I was sure of it.
"Very well, Miss Nurse. Perhaps you could ask the captain about my hair as well?"
She backed from the room slowly. It was so very white in there, blindingly white. White like rabbits, or maybe chess pieces.
"Of course, Alice. I'll send the captain right in."
A heavy door slammed shut after she exited. I hoped she would hurry, I hated to feel late for anything.