Disclaimer: Lewis Carroll originally created Alice in Wonderland, not me. I'm jut playing with his characters. The 'book and a quiet nook' is a quote by John Wilson. C&C always accepted! Enjoy.
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"In 1812, composer - "
Alice sighed yet again and tried to focus on her teacher. He was her sister's idea, of course – still too preoccupied with silly ideas and her imagination, she had said. Such an embarrassment, considering her grown years (fourteen, to be exact). Obviously, she needed formal instruction to bring proper structure into her life.
She stared at her instructor, watching his mouth move, but registering no sound. What was so wrong about being interested in such things, Alice wondered to herself. Her parent's life seemed so dull, and besides, some of her most cherished memories came from indulging in such "nonsense", as her sister liked to call it. Speaking of which, the fact that her teacher looked a little – just a little – like her old Mad Hatter, certainly did not help her attention. It, instead, made her think of tea, and rabbits with pocket watches, and boisterous queens, and long, calm days resting under the sun with Dinah. Alice looked closely at the old man. He had his smile (when he smiled, which was not often), and his teeth. Why, he even had a green hat, although it lacked the odd card –
"Alice," A strong, low voice boomed, startling her out of her revere.
"Sorry, sir," she said, fidgeting with her hair.
After a long, stern stare, he resumed, and Alice had to repress another sigh. Oh, for a book and a quiet nook. Maybe then, she could return to Wonderland – just for a visit. It had been years since the dream, but every so often, some of the characters would pop up in her other dreams, greeting her as if she had never left. The thought of seeing her curious friends again made her smile.
Unfortunately, her smile also caught the attention of her instructor. Without a single break in his speech, he picked up a thick, well-worn textbook and slammed it on the desk, causing both it and Alice to shake.
"If you have no intention of listening to my lessons, Miss Alice, I will be happy to let your father know immediately. That way, we can both use our time as we desire."
"Oh, no, sir! Please! It won't happen again."
"No, it won't," he said very quietly, and Alice suddenly wished to sink into the floor. No matter how similar he seemed, his voice and harsh demeanor always broke the spell. In the end, he would never come close to the Mad Hatter. For some reason, this thought made Alice feel very sad.
Alice stayed on task the rest of the lesson, even managing to answer several trick questions thrown her way. The lesson concluded with no further disruption. But in the back of her mind, and in lessons before, and in lessons after, all she could hear was the ticking of a clock.