The White Rabbit looked curiously at the scene in front of him. It was noon-'o-clock and two girls had just walked into his park. The first girl was young, blond and petite. She carried a brown kitten in her arms. Her companion looked severe and quite a bit older—the Rabbit called this one Nanny, and the other was Girl.

Nanny and Girl were new to his park. When they came through the gates, they had gone straight to the old oak tree overhanging the pond. Girl ran about, playing with her kitten and begging Nanny to join her; but to no avail. Nanny had sat down immediately under the tree and opened a thin book. It looked positively dreary—no pictures at all. Eventually, Nanny tired of Girl's pestering and said it was time for her lesson. Girl sighed and went reluctantly to the tree.

Rabbit quite sympathized with her. His mother had given him lessons when he was young, and they were just awful.

Girl took the book from Nanny and read from it in a stumbling voice, but Nanny quickly fell asleep. Girl quickly clambered up the tree. She dangled from a low branch and dropped leaves onto Nanny's head, one by one. When she tired of that game, she sat by the pond and threw in pebbles, trying to make a design out of the ripples.

Yes, she would do quite nicely. Rabbit decided to make his move. He grabbed his pocket-watch and set it ringing. Girl jumped a little and looked around cautiously. Rabbit took a deep breath and ran to where she sat.

"Out of my way, out of my way!" he shrieked in a high voice. "I'm late enough as it is already!" Girl looked on, astounded, as he whipped his pocket-watch out of his waistcoat and brandished it in her face. "You see?!" Girl found her voice again and said:

"I did'n't know, I'm sorry."

"Time, time, TIME!" Rabbit emphasized each word with a little slam of his foot on the soft dirt of the ground. "I'M LATE!!!" And with that, he took off back towards his Den. "Are you coming?" he asked, his voice dripping disdain. Girl looked at the sleeping Nanny, then back at him.

"Well…"

Rabbit let out a loud, exaggerated sigh and gave a pointed look at the pocket-watch in his right paw.

"I suppose." Girl scooped up her kitten and went after him. Rabbit ran the remaining distance straight into the Den and backed into a makeshift alcove. Girl stumbled after and crawled into the Den.

"Mr. Rabbit? Mr. Rabbit?" she called, her voice a little shaky. Rabbit sniggered to himself; she had no idea what she was getting herself into. Girl crawled further and was about to give up and turn back, when she fell.

Yeah, I know my Alice is a bit daft…She'll get smarter, I promise.

Press the little review button! You know you want to…

love,

K