It was a mid-spring evening at Witzend, home of the Hightopp clan. The flowers had bloomed, the grass was green and the fresh spring air was magical as the wind blew through the leaves. Cora Hightopp, was playing with her cousin Arlena. They jumped through a field full of flowers. They laughed and grabbed handfuls of pedals as they ran.

"Don't get grass cuts!" Arlena yelled.

Cora looked back at her cousin. She didn't see the hole in the ground she was headed for. She quickly caught herself before tripping.

"Watch out for this hole!" she yelled.

"Hey! Race you to that log!"

They began running faster. Then all of the sudden a rabbit jumped out from almost being stomped on by Cora.

"Do you mind?" he asked crossly.

"Oh...I'm sorry!" she said in surprise. Then the two girls looked at each other and giggled.

All of the sudden they heard a man's voice calling them at the far end of the field. It was Tilden. Arlena's father. He was tall, with dark brown/red hair, and a top hat.

"Arlena! Cora!"

"Father?" Arlena called back.

They went running across the field for him. Arlena jumped in his arms.

"Hello, Father. Cora and I have been playing all afternoon. We just love it when the flowers bloom! Oh. And we were racing, and Ariana almost stomped on a rabbit."

"I see. Is he okay?"

"Yes, he is fine."

"That's good, but I suppose you two will have to be more careful. And now, my little one, it is dinner time and getting late. Will you save playtime for another day?"

"Yes, Father."

"Good Lass." He put her down and looked at Cora. "Now, Cora. Your parents are waiting for you as well. Let me take you home."

Cora nodded a bit shyly, and they began back to the cottages.

Oh, Arlena, I almost forgot. Your Mother is making huckleberry pie for dessert." Tilden said.

"Oh, my favorite! Can Cora come for dinner?"

Her Father looked at her hesitantly.

"I think she needs to get home, Dear One. Her parents told me that specifically."

Arlena pouted to Cora, who felt slightly out of place. They continued home.

Cora is nine years old. She is the daughter of the very well-known hatter, Tarrant Hightopp and his wife Janice Hightopp. Both Cora's parents have red hair, and so she does. Her eyes are a very pretty sky-blue, like her mother's. She has her father's smile and laugh. What a beauty she is. Such a sweet, but shy and sensitive little girl. Cora loves to play with her cousin, and her friends. But she also loves to sometimes just be bye herself. She loves to use her imagination with things, especially wile alone.

Soon the three arrived to Cora's very cozy cottage. Tilden knocked on the door.

"Janet! Tarrant! I have your Young One!"

The door opened, and Cora's beautiful mother was standing there. She smiled warmly when she saw her daughter.

"Hello, My Dear."

She gave her a hug. Then she looked at her brother.

"Thank you, Tilden.

"Don't mention it," said Tilden, tipping his top hat, and with that, he and his daughter were off home.

Cora and her mother went inside. It was such a cozy and welcoming cottage. Dinner was being made as well, and the smells of roast beef, fresh bread, and potatoes filled the air. it was warm inside too. Cora walked in the living room, were her father was putting wood in the fire place.

He looked up when he saw her.

"How is My Pretty Girl doing?" He said reaching out his arms.

She jumped in them and they hugged each other.

"Father, the forest and fields are so pretty now. All of the flowers bloomed, the grass is green, and it's just starting to get warm. Arlena and I had such a good time. Spring is so wonderful."

That it is, My Dear. That it is. Spring seams to be the time that sorrows are forgotten and everything is fresh and sweet."

They smiled at each other.

"So. Were did you occupy yourself today?" he asked.

"We went to the fields. We ran allot , and picked flowers, and-

He chuckled proudly at his daughter, "When I was a child I used to love to run in the fields, and just...be free. Your mother and I used to play together so much. We would run off so far that no one even knew where we were."

At this point he had sat in a large chair, and seated Cora on his lap.

"You used to play with Mother?" she asked excitedly.

"Yes. all the time. We just loved each other's company...But then when I turned 12, I began my training as a hatter. I just didn't have so much time anymore. But I never forgot her, she was my best friend.

"You and Mother are still best friends, aren't you?"

Yes we are. I always knew we were, and she did as well Then after I turned 17 I realized that I loved your Mother and must have all along. During the time of that, she would come and watch me work on my hats from time to time. Then one day when I had finished my work early for the day, your mother came to visit me. I asked if she wanted to go on a walk through the wilderness with me, just like we used to. She agreed that we would. Then when we got to the babbling brook and the sun was setting, I got just enough courage and madness to ask her to be my wife."

Cora smiled at the story that her father never told her. "And she said 'yes' of course'!" Cora said excitedly.

"That she did. She was so happy that we would be with each other forever, as was I. Then two precise weeks later we were happily married."

"And then I was born!"

He laughed, and began tickling her. "Yes you were."

For a moment they exchanged smiles between each other, when Janice came in.

"Supper is on the table." She said.

"Thank you, Dear." Tarrant said kissing her forehead.

They exited and went to the table. While eating, Cora talked allot about her day. She also talked allot about just things that she liked to talk about. It was a little hard to understand her at times. But Tarrant and Janice still listened very attentively.

Later on it was bed time. Janice went to spend some evening time with Cora in her bedroom. She tucked her in and sat on her bed.

"You had quite a day, My Dear. You must be very tired."

"Yes...a little." Cora said softly. Then she smiled. There was something on her mind. "Father told me that you and he used to play together when you were little."

Janice smiled at that happy memory. "Such wonderful times they were," she remarked.

"Do you ever miss being little?" Cora asked with a slight touch of concern.

Janice laughed a little.

"Well, when I was little, I always told myself that I never wanted to grow up. But as time went by, and before I even had time to realize it, I was grown up, married your father and then you were born."

"But would you ever go back to those old days?"

Janice thought at this for a moment.

"No. I wouldn't. As wonderful as they were, I realize that I could never bring those days back. So they will always just have to be precious memories. And besides. I had never been happier in my life then when I had been married to your father and had you."

"Do you think I will ever get married?"

"I certainly hope so. And I hope it is someone who is just as wonderful as your father."

Cora smiled at this. Then her eyes began to twitch and she yawned.

"You are tired, My Child. Time for sleeping now." Janice said, kissing her forehead. "You are My Sweet Heart."

"And you are My Sweet Heart too."

Janice smiled at her. As she was leaving the room she blew her one last kiss and went off.

Cora lay peacefully in her bed. Her thoughts were all on the fun day she had. Then all of the sudden, there was a knock on her window. She tip-toed across her room to the window. Opening the window she looked out.

"Who is it?" she said into the night.

Then she looked to the side of her windowpane. In the moonlight she saw a little mouse. The mouse was Mallyumkin's daughter. She was in a tiny pink night gown and had white fur. Cora looked at her in surprise.

"Ada, what are you doing here?" she asked.

"Well, I am very restless, bored, hungry, thirsty, depressed, cold, upset, ang-

"Do your parents know you're here?" Cora interrupted.

Ada folded her tiny stick-arms and scaled at Cora.

"No. If they did I wouldn't be here."

"Well then what are you doing here?"

Ada gaped at her.

"I told you! I am restless, bored, hungr-

"I know, I know! But what can I do?"

Ada smiled at Cora mischievously, revealing her pin-like mouse teeth.

"Well, lets have some fun time!" she said.

"Ada, I have to go to sleep. My mother and father will have me punished if they find out!"

Ada rolled her eyes.

"Well...so would mine. Come on! I just want some company! What's so wrong with that?"

Cora thought for a second. "Well...Oh, all right."

"Oh, hooray!" said Ada jumping up and down.

"But keep it quiet."

Ariana hesitantly let her in and turned on her lamp. "I can't believe I'm doing this" she thought to herself. "Well...I guess one night wont hurt."

"So. Were can I sleep? Are you going to get us some cookies and milk?"

"No."

"What?! Why?!"

"Well...they are down stairs...and..."

Ada smirked at her. "No excuse."

Cora dropped her shoulders. "Fine." She muttered.

Ada laid back on the pillow in relaxation.

"Get jelly filled ones!" she said as Cora left the room quietly.

Cora tip-toed down the stairs. She peeked down the hall to her parent's bedroom. The lights were off. Then she went into the kitchen. Quietly, she got a plate, opened the cookie jar, and started collecting cookies. Then she grabbed the milk jar and went back up the stairs. When she arrived to the room, Ada jumped up.

"Oh, goody!" she said rubber her hands together and licking her lips. Then her eyes caught sight of the jar of milk. "Well for goodness sake! How are we supposed to drink out of that?!"

Cora glared at her in fury. "Oh you just stop! You are lucky I am even doing this with you at all! Now you stop bossing me around or I will just go to bed!"

Ada looked at her in shock. She didn't know what to do with that. After all, Cora had been doing all that she asked for from the beginning. Cora set down the plate of cookies, and took down from her shelf, two teacups from her tea set. Ada just stayed silent.

"You see?" Cora assured her.

"Well then, what are we waiting for? lets dig in!" Ada said, taking a cookie from the plat. She nibbled it very quickly. Cora took one as well. After a wile almost all the cookies were gone. There was one last cookie. Ada snatched it quickly.

"I win!" She snickered and began nibbling it.

"That's not fair! After all. I got the cookies! You should give it to me!" Cora said.

Ada got a twinkle of mischief in her eye, and she was up to no good. She began running across Cora's dresser. Her tail was knocking off dolls, Wood boxes, and other accessories.

"Ada, stop! Your making too much noise!" Cora whisper-yelled.

Ada paid no mind. She jumped across her shelf were she took refuge. She snickered again, and kept eating the cookie.

All of the sudden the door opened. Cora jolted with fear as she saw her father enter the room. Wide eyed and angry. Ada shrieked with her mouth full of the cookie. She dropped it and jumped behind Cora.

"Cora, what is the meaning of this? he yelled.

"I-um...uhhhhh..." She stuttered.

Then suddenly he peeked behind her back. Ada was looking very still at him.

"He...llo, sir." she said in fright.

He looked at Cora expectantly.

"Cora?" he said.

"I'm sorry, Father! I didn't want-"Then Ada interrupted her.

"It was actually her idea-"

"No it wasn't! And you know it-"

"Well you got the cookies!"

"Cookies?" Tarrant said. Then he looked around. he spotted the cookie crumb plate on the ground and picked it up.

"I am very disappointed in you Cora," he said.

Cora looked up at him shamefully.

"I...I am so sorry, Father. It will never happen again," she said tears starting to come.

He looked on her sternly. Then spotted Ada next to Cora's knee, Just listening in on everything. He picked her up, and she squealed.

"And, you! Now I need to take you home in the middle of the night!"

Ada stared at him in horror. He glared back, knowing that this whole naughty plan was probably her doing. He knew every bit what her mother was capable of. He exited the room. A few seconds later, Cora's mother came in, she was tired, and her hair was down.

"What happened, Cora?" she asked in almost a panicked but tired tone.

Cora was crying.

"Ada came and knocked on my window, she demanded that I let her in!"

Her mother looked at her in confusion. "Why, What happened?"

"Ada complained that she was bored and hungry, and, oh I don't know...So...I let her in. I'm sorry, Mother! I knew I was not to do so...but I did!" she cried.

Janice was slightly angry, knowing that Cora knew better then that. But she didn't show it, for obviously Cora was very sorry and very upset.

"It's allright, Cora. I know you will never do it again. That little mouse was very naughty and well... she just needs a good whipping, now doesn't she?"

"Yes! But I think it won't matter, since I know father will give me a whipping!" she burst out into tears again.

Her mother pulled her close and stroked her long, curly, red hair. "It's all right. I think he will probably understand..." she said thinking of Ada's mother Mallyumkin. She knew that Tarrant would understand well.

"But he is so angry with me. Would if he never forgives me!" she said into her mother's shoulder.

"Oh, no. He loves you very much. Nothing would make him never forgive you. It will all be okay. I will talk to him about it, and it will all be fine. You'll see."

Cora was more silent now with her mother's loving comfort. Janice stroked her hair for a while. Then she lay her down and gave her a kiss.

"Sleep now," she said, and began to get up. Cora watched her with tired eyes, still a little swollen from the tears.

"Good night, Mother-and sorry-and...thank you..." she said trailing off with exhausting.

Janice smiled warmly at her and then left the room.

After Tarrant had returned, Janice put in a good word for Cora. He excepted it and they both went to sleep, and in the morning it was all forgotten.