Alice Mollinia Kingsleigh: The mist disaperated away from the Wonder to reveal the docks. I breathed in the scent of home. 5 long years I have been following my father's dreams. I cannot believe it has taken so long. "It's good to be back…' I smile as the ship prepares to dock. I begin to gather up all my personal belongings and the unique antiques that I have gotten during the trip. It is easy really as I have only two big suitcases- brown leather- but several of the sailors help carry or load my suitcases off the ship while Lord Ascot and I bid the captain farewell. The Five years that has passed since I left London to start working on fulfilling father's dream was tiresome and I longed for home. Since then, I had had so many curious misadventures that no woman should even be considered experiencing. Although I was disregarded because I am a woman, I refused to give up. I did earn a few admirers because of my stubborn beliefs and strong demeanour though; I even developed good friendships with a few of the sailors and merchants. Those merchants would give me gifts; gifts that I was sure that mother or Margret would love to have. Although the goal to start a trade route in China was almost finished after the year, I decided to expand that trade route when I realized that China was already in a trade route with North America. It turns out that the English settlers needed more stocks during their settlement on the New World. Since America is much closer to Europe, it would make the trade route easier to go from there and to China. Ascot himself thought that the idea of having a trade route with two different worlds is impossible. But I would always simply tell him that it is impossible only if you believe that it is. After about two years of establishing routes between America and China, our goal had been reached. And I had almost all of my questions answered. Almost. I then decided that we could expand the trade route further by adding other countries, which Lord Ascot thought was ridiculous until he saw my reasoning. We travelled to many countries such as Brazil, France, Germany, Russia, India, Africa, Egypt and Australia. We set up many foot holds so that in the end our company had the biggest-longest trade routes in the world as well as being known as being the ever company to trade with China..
Traveling to all these different countries was a life changing, life altering achievement. Although it has taken me 5 years to complete, I felt a tightening in the pit of my stomach every year that had passed and it made me sick with longing for my home of a different type. Although I missed mother and Margret I knew that they were safe and moving on with their lives. For one mother remarried to the chief constable with the name of Garry (who I've been told, by Margret, is a handsome well respectable man, I only hope he is good enough for her) and Margret has the twins to look after while Lowell is away on business. What I really missed was Underland. I missed my friends. Most of all I missed Tarrant. I still believe in 6 impossible things before breakfast but it mostly revolved around Underland and Tarrant, my mad Hatter. Squeals of delight broke my thought track and I looked down the side of the ship, down the dock to the sight of my sister trying to keep the twins in check as they spot sight of me and try to get my attention. They had grown so much since I saw them last it had been a full 2 years when we returned to replenish our ship and they were now taller. They were about 4 years of age now, and I grinned at the sight of them. There was Bridget who had long brown hair in ringlets who had her mother's eyes and temperament, and then there was Thomas who had straight blonde hair and brown eyes-who was placid when on his own but he was easily lead by Bridget, like Lowell. My sister grinned up at me and I ran down the ramp to reach her and the squirming twins. I wrapped them all into a huge well deserved hug. I nodded to Lowell, and kissed my nieces and nephews cheeks. "I hope the journey wasn't too strenuous on you," my sister said passing Thomas to me so I could balance him on my hip. "Oh no, it was quite fine really," I grinned "the sea wasn't too rough and we had a good wind in the sail to guide us home," said Lord Ascot I grinned over my shoulder at my partner and friend. "You took the words right out of my mouth Lord Ascot." He laughed heartedly and I distinctively heard "You-Hoo!" and Mrs Ascot followed by Hamish stepped out of a near-by carriage, when they neared Mrs Ascot nodded to me "Alice," Hamish nodded at me acknowledging my existence (neither had forgiven me for the stunt I had pulled at the engagement party.) "Mrs Ascot, Hamish," I nodded back, Mrs Ascot looked more worse for wear in her old age and Hamish's red hair had thinned back, where married life suited him as he held his pretty new wife on his arm. I took a look closer and realised that we went to school together she was at my engagement party, wearing a white dress with red flowers and red ribbons in her hair "Martha? Is it you?" I said to the black haired girl she smiled sheepishly "Hello Alice," she replied timidly "I see the life of travel suits you," she said through her nasal voice. Then I was encased in an embrace I knew all so well "mother!" I exclaimed turning to hug her back, "let me see you," she held me at arms-length and tears shined though her blue eyes was she looked me over. I was wearing a long blue button-up coat with golden buttons from America, with a blue and purple head scarf from India a gift, white and black leather boots with fur and blue little gloves with the same fur from Russia and with my white stockings. All were gifts. My father once told me blue befitted me and it was in remembrance of him that I wore blue.
I was careful that mother didn't squish Absolem who was concealed in my head scarf shivering from the cold. He had accompanied me on my journeys, (complaining at me the whole time I might add) for her Majesty queen of Underland Mirana; he gave me comfort in knowing they were thinking of me enough to send me company. Although Absolem wasn't really much company, shouting "stupid girl," at me from his hiding place. I had changed so much over the years that I was hardly recognisable to myself. My hair had grown longer going past my dainty waist, it was shiny and stayed in perfect ringlets. My breasts had filled out and my hips were curvy, keeping my wasp like waist. My skin was still creamy white-never tanning like Lord Ascot's did, not even when we were in Africa. My face had changed making me look older, wiser.
Lord Ascot said I looked a handsome woman-who ever call's a woman handsome? I've heard it thrown around all the time but in Underland women are called pretty or beautiful never handsome. "So, how does it feel?" my mother asked "How does what feel?" I ask realising I'd zoned out of a full conversation "Fulfilling your father's dream." Realization dawns upon me. I smiled saying "It feels like something is finally lifted off my shoulders." Lord Ascot said "I know what you mean. Planning out all those trade routes for five years takes a lot out of you…" He takes out a handkerchief from his coat pocket and wipes his forehead with it. "Five years… It seems to have passed by so quickly… I never thought it'd be possible to do it…" everyone chuckles lightly but I noticed that it was strained. "And what have I always said about anything being impossible?" I said grinning Lord Ascot chuckles. "'Only if I believe it to be impossible' you are so much like your father, Alice. He always used to tell me that when he shared his ideas with me." I grin in pride. "My father was a brilliant man." My family nods "Brilliant, but crazy." Lord Ascot clarifies. I shake my head. "But all the best people in the world are." I smiles as a certain Hatter crosses my mind. Lord Ascot chuckles and shakes his head again. "So much like Charles… He would have been proud of you…" he trails off "come along Mr Ascot," said Mrs Ascot "we don't want to keep our guests waiting," Lord Ascot raised a brow "guests?" he said "for the party, nice to see you again, Mrs Kingsley, Margret, Lowell…Alice," she nods to us. "Yes, it's been…good to see you too Mrs Ascot," said mother. Margret and Lowell nod. She turns on her heel and Hamish nods to my family "Alice…" he said "Hamish?" I ask "it's good to see you well," he turns without warning "bye Alice," said Martha smiling "bye," I said back. After a slight awkward moment mother said "right!" and then we set about for the carriage ride home. When we arrived and my luggage was sent to my room, tea was set out on the garden with cake. "Has the trip been well?" mother asked after sipping her tea "It was extraordinary, Mother," I smiled at the memories of all our adventures. "You should have been there. So many places with different people, food, clothing… It was amazing! Did I tell you that China has a massive wall that protects them from outside invaders? They call it the Great Wall! To think that so many people have built it in the last few centuries! And do you know that the soldiers died in the wall while they built it!" mother almost chokes on her tea, "Alice! This is not the kind of thing to talk about over tea!" she scolds "I'm sorry," I lower my head "well, okay, and any way you told us of the wall already, my dear," she smiles then, "oh, well did I tell you that in India there are more than one god?" Margret smiled "I don't remember all of them," I smiled back "well, I only remember 27 of them and in not sure of how many more or if there are even more than that…" I continue to tell them of India and all of the other countries I have been to, they look at me with shining eyes and interest "wow, it all seems so…different to England," mother said hand over her heart, "and to think our trade company is the biggest in all the world, its magnificent the progress you've made," she picked up a cake, "quite," Lowell said "I'm afraid I have to go now Mrs Kingsleigh, Alice, I have a council meeting with the vice president…" I zoned out choosing not to listen any further. I didn't trust Lowell as far as I could throw him, not after I saw him at the engagement party all those years ago, even if he has blessed us with two beautiful new children… "Goodbye darling," he said planting a kiss on Margret's cheek.
"Goodbye Lowell," and then us girls were left alone, mother turned to me then suddenly, "so now that your back, let's talk about suitable suitors for you," I gasped "Mother!" I almost spat out my cake, "well, your now 24! And un-married! If we can't get you a suitor now you'll end up just like your aunt Imogene," she tittered at me "I don't want to find a suitor!" I said outraged "I'm fine on my own for the moment, and I'm-I am fine," I spluttered and Margret giggled "I think you've got yourself a sweetheart on your travels, so tell me, what's his name?" I felt my face flush and mother's completion greyed "he's not my sweetheart, he's a friend, he's called Tarrant Hightop, a skilled milliner," I softly smiled at the mention of his name, I felt like saying 'so there!' to mother and her face snapped into animation again "a MILLINER! Alice really, you would like to marry a MILLINER!" she shouted slamming down her teacup, "what's wrong with a milliner?" I asked anger simmering inside me, "really? You want to ask me what's wrong with a milliner? He's below your class Alice," she tried to console me, thinking she'd won, but I'm not the same Alice as before I returned to Underland. I would not take this, Tarrant was a wonderful man "Is class what it all boils down to?! Not whether or not you love that person or if you feel complete or safe, it's what CLASS they belong to! Well I'm not that type of person," I slammed my hands down onto the little table, "Alice, you've changed," mother and Margret were sitting flabbergasted "yeah well maybe for the better, I'm not a child anymore." And with that I stormed to my bedroom and threw myself onto my bed, and cried.