CHESHIRE

Dedicated (in full senerity and respect) to

Robin Williams

Author's Note (8.12.2014):

In light of Mister Williams' passing, I would like to dedicate this piece to him. He inspired so many things in my life and it is with a heavy heart to see him go. I wish the best for his family and may He, the Lord God be with you always.

This piece was written back in February and is about overcoming depression, anxiety and fear. It was written for people like me, who experience stress and mild depression from time to time and for people who are desperately searching for a way out. There is always a way out.

"In the finding of grief and misery there is always the hope that life goes on. It does." -Cheshire Cat, Chapter 11: In the Finding of Grief and Misery, "Cheshire"

I didn't write that because I thought it sounded good or that it was just a forced phrase put into a character's mouth. I wrote it because it's true.

Sidenote, If anyone believes that I am using Robin Williams' death as a promotional gimmick then you have my permission to speak to me directly and tell me that I'm a complete psychopath who hasn't a heart. If you want the truth, it is in light of this that I promote this piece to prevent suicides and depression from occurring. Why would I, a person who suffers from depression, promote something about depression when a person whom I deeply respect and care about recently passed from depression? That's called spite and it's not the person I am. Also, if anything, I have reached out to several people recently (on this site) who are dealing with problems. I wrote this story for them. It wasn't because of fame or the chance to be spiteful. I wrote it because I know that it could help to some degree. Even if it's a small degree, it's still a small degree and that's better than nothing.

Sorry about the lengthy note, but I felt like words needed to be said.

I hope you enjoy this piece and if you suffer from depression or have had thoughts of suicide- please don't go yet. To quote Walt Whitman (and to pay further tribute to Robin Williams): "That the powerful play goes on and you may contribute a verse."

The powerful play is humanity and you have the potential to better it. So in the words of Mister Williams himself, What will your verse be?

The greatest thing in family life is to take a hint when a hint is intended-and not to take a hint when a hint isn't intended.
-Robert Frost

So I'm trying to put it right
Cause I want to love you with my heart
All this trying has made me tired
And I don't know even where to start

Maybe that's a start

-Alexi Murdoch, "Song for You"

Chapter One: The Difference Between Here and There

"Why if it isn't Miss Alice, so good of you to stop by again." Cheshire said with his namesake smile.

"I'm sorry," Alice asked, dress a bit torn at the bottom and face a bit dirty but otherwise sound. "you must be confused with another Alice, I have no idea who you are or where I am, and I told the same thing to that infernal rabbit and that miserable mouse."

"Infernal and miserable?" Cheshire asked, skeptical of whom she was referring to. "If you are speaking of the March Hare and the Dormouse, they happen to be respectable acquaintances of mine." He disappeared into his smoke and surrounded her in a rather intimidating fashion, as if he were about to do her in, "I suggest you re-think you're words Miss Alice," the cat said with a tone, "you may damage yourself further."

"What are you talking about? I'm fine." Alice said, realizing that the feline was referring to her wound from the Bandersnatch.

"You must suffer from severe memory loss." Cheshire said, his head only reappearing, still circling around Alice like a blue and green smoke tornado. The cat's smile grew slyer than a fox's. "Surely one can remember an encounter from the Bandersnatch." Cheshire said as he pulled on Alice's dress, "Here, let me mend it for you."

He did so, still circling around.

"What do you want with me?" Alice asked.

Cheshire laughed to himself, one would think him to be sinister. He then reverted back to his normal self as he sat in his iconic position on the tree.

"I request your unique ministration," Cheshire said, "if I am sanctioned to use the term that is."

"What is it?" Alice said, rather annoyingly.

"Now that attitude is the type I never endorse," Cheshire replied, "I may be an astute fellow, but even those with bipolar disorder of the second type have a peaceful median (which is my current status) as well as a set of standards, I expect you to abide by them."

"You have bipolar disorder?" Alice asked.

Cheshire smiled and nodded, "Of the second type," he said, "do not confuse the two. Anyhow, I need your help in finding Mr. Bishop."

"Who's Mr. Bishop?" Alice asked.

Cheshire sighed and opened his paws face up, "That's the problem my dear, I haven't the slightest idea who he is, I have just been instructed to find him."

"Why do you need to find him?"

Cheshire rolled his eyes as he made his way to the Hatter. "Questions, questions, questions, are they the only type of speech that come out of your mouth? Really Miss Alice, if I knew the reason of why I have to find him then I wouldn't be enlisting your help."

"Well you're not getting off to a great start." She said, following him through the woods.

"I know, how about this," the cat said rather sarcastically as he disappeared again this time completely, leaving Alice alone.

"Hello?" Alice asked, looking around, sensing fear in the darkness. She made her way towards a tree and waited for several moments.

"Can you stand on your head?" A voice asked.

Alice backed away from the tree, hearing the voice from above her and saw Cheshire standing on his head and balancing his body like a seal does a ball on his nose.

Alice smiled, "You are one crazy cat."

Cheshire laughed hysterically as he disappeared again, only to reappear in front of her. "If I were sane," he said, "then I wouldn't be smiling." He smiled his biggest smile.

"That doesn't make much sense, but alright, where were you taking me anyway?" Alice asked.

"To the Hatter and the Hare," Cheshire asked, "that is if you want to go there."

"Well," Alice said looking in the direction the cat was taking. "that way looks a bit unsafe, are there any other ways to get there?"

"That depends on where you want to go." The cat said with a knowing déjà vu type of smile.

"It doesn't matter," Alice said, "as long as I get out of here."

"Get out of here or get out of there?" Cheshire asked.

"What?" Alice asked a bit confused.

"Well, you can get out of here," the cat said, "which would mean where you are standing right here. " He said, pointing to Alice's feet, "Or," he said continuing, "you could get out of there." He said, looking around and moving his paws around as if to showcase the forest.

"You repeated yourself." Alice said.

"No I didn't, you weren't listening to me," Cheshire said, "you aren't in the forest, you're on the path, so therefore, you cannot be here," he said, pointing once again to the ground. He moved over and weaved himself within a few trees, transforming into smoke and revealing his head to her. "and there at the same time. For if you were then well," he said reverting back to his original state, "I might have to call you crazy."

"I'm not crazy. What you're saying makes no sense, the path is in the forest so I'm technically in the forest."

Cheshire sighed in annoyance, "This conversation gets repetitive, boring, and superficial after a while Miss Alice so you might as well quit while you're behind."

"Isn't the expression quit while you're ahead?" Alice asked.

"Well aren't you precocious." Cheshire said with a bit of disdain, for he hated precocious people. "It seems that you won't be able to help me if you have no sense of your own direction so I'll just leave you alone." He turned and went the other direction, leaving Alice alone again.

"Wait!" Alice called, "you can't leave me here like this!"

Cheshire stopped, turned himself around and quickly got into her face, "I most certainly can Miss Alice, and by the way you're treating me I believe I will."

"Treating you, look at how you're treating me!" Alice protested.

"Quite right," Cheshire said, "apologies, mad people forget their places sometimes, now what mundane imbroglio have you got yourself in this time?"

"I honestly don't know." Alice answered truthfully.

"Well, that is quite an imbroglio, I would advise you to go in that direction." Cheshire said pointing towards the direction he was taking Alice originally.

"But that way looks-" Alice started to say,

"Complaining are we?" Cheshire asked, cutting her with his smile again, "You'll never get anywhere standing here. Now tell me, where do you want to go?"

"It really doesn't matter," Alice said, "I've already told you this."

Cheshire smile grew bigger, "Do I really have to say it Miss Alice?"

"Say what?" Alice asked.

Cheshire lowered his head in a sigh, as he once again lead to way to the Hatter. "Never mind, just follow me, you're obviously not understanding the psychology of this place, that or you are and you're just being vindictive." He stopped a moment, "Are you?"

"Am I what?" Alice asked.

"Are you being vindictive with me, my friends and my fireside?" Cheshire asked.

"Fireside? You don't have a fireplace." Alice said.

"True, but I do have a fireside." Cheshire answered.

"No you don't."

Cheshire smiled slyly again, "You don't need wood and heart to make a home Miss Alice. You just need good food, decent company, and a nice cup of tea every now and then."

"Speaking of tea," Alice said, "it's about that time of day."

"It most certainly is," Cheshire replied with a laugh to himself, "you're going to love this."

"Oh really, why is that?" Alice said.

Cheshire stopped, forcing Alice to stop as well, "Is it your birthday by any chance?" Cheshire asked.

"No, why?" Alice asked.

Cheshire laughed louder and smiled bigger, "Then you're really going to love this!"

He turned back to her a moment later, "By the way," Cheshire said, "when I said that I was making perfect sense, like always, you weren't listening."

Alice smiled, "I'll have to remember that once I had a child of my own and say to him/her, 'there's a Cheshire Cat somewhere in the world who likes to propose that you listen to him once he says that he's crazy, don't.'"

Cheshire laughed to himself, "Good advice."