Title: If It's Not Broken, Don't Fix It.
Prompt: 071 Broken
Summary: Alice listens to the Mad Hatter and March Hare's new business plan.
Alice's Age: 12
Just another drabble for the challenge.
It was another bright and cheery day in Wonderland and Alice was on her way to the Mad Hatters house. She had just been visiting the Queen and the White Rabbit and had decided to drop in on the Hatter and Hare before she had to go home.
She really wasn't surprised to find them at the Hatters house. They were rarely anywhere else at tea time. Though for them anytime could be tea time so really that wasn't much of a help. However this time she did find them there.
"Hello Mr. Hatter, Mr. Hare." Alice called out as she walked into the yard.
"Alice!" The two men sprung up from their chairs. "You're just in time."
"For what?" Alice laughed as they ushered her over to the table.
"We're setting up a new business." The Hatter grinned.
"What sort of business?" Alice asked caught up in the excitement.
"We're glad you asked." The Mad Hatter replied and the March Hare pulled a rope that unfolded a sign. The sign read
The Hatter and Hare Fix It Shop
If it's not broken, well fix it!
Alice finished reading the sign and glanced over at the still smiling Hatter and Hare.
"Why are you fixing things....if they're not broken?" Alice asked with a skeptical look.
"So that they don't get broken of course!" The March Hare put in as though it were obvious.
"Haven't you ever heard of the saying.'If it's not broken, don't fix it?'" Alice asked with an amused smile. "You're supposed to wait for something to break before you fix it."
"Why would we wait for it to break? If we do it then it would be an annoyance for the person." The March Hare replied.
"How true that is." The Mad Hatter. "If we fix it before it breaks, then everyone wins."
There was a pause as the Hatter and Hare were grinning at a logic that seemed to escape Alice.
However after a moment she thought of something. "Well if it's not broken, then how do you know if you've fixed it?"
"If it doesn't break, of course." The Mad Hatter replied.
"So if it breaks any time after you "fix"it. Do you still get payed?"
There was another pause, this time longer.
The March Hare scratched his head. "You know, we didn't think of that."
The Mad Hatter sighed. "Well I guess it's back to the drawing board then."
"You know." Alice spoke up. "You could always just fix things that are broken."
It took a moment but....
"Alice you're a genius!" The Mad Hatter exclaimed, while the March Hare shook her hand as though she had just won a prize.
Grabbing a marker out of his pocket he went over to the sign and scratched out the not.
The sign then read.
The Hatter and Hare Fix It Shop
If it's ___ broken, well fix it!
"That's much better." The Hatter declared once he was finished.
"Now we'd better go and put the sign out front." The March Hare nodded.
"Alice would you like to stay and be our assistant?"
"I'd love to but I can't." Alice replied regretfully. "I have to get home before my mother thinks I've run away."
"Alright then. But stop by tomorrow then." The Hatter replied. "I'm sure we'll have plenty of jobs set up by then."
Alice laughed. "Alright. See you tomorrow Mr. Hatter, Mr Hare." With a wave she started on her way home.