Her arms still hurt when she sat up after sleeping. She climbed from her bed and stretched out the sore muscles. When she opened the wardrobe she was surprised. She had never worn this dress before. She'd worn ones like it when they appeared from time to time. She suspected the red and green ones were for Christmas. But this one was blue.
Alice pulled the corset out and fitted it over herself then, with the use of the closed wardrobe knob, she tightened the laces at the back and tied them into a neat bow at the middle. The corset cover followed to prevent the pretty dress from being damaged by the corset. Instead of a petticoat, this time she tied a cushion to her waist over her backside. Finally she was able to pull on the dress and fasten the buttons that trailed to her bosom. She twisted and pinned her hair up to show off the neckline of the dress even though she knew no one save her would see. She donned a charm necklace and a pair of dark boots.
She wasn't sure what holiday it was that called for such fancy dress. She would have to consult the books on holidays. She entered the library and plucked the books from where she placed them and rested in her chair to read. She wore something floral a while ago. That meant spring right? The time when flowers were supposed to come out. She was midway through a book about Summer when the shrieking music from the day before caused her to squeak. This time she leapt from her chair, gripped her skirts, and rushed as briskly as her outfit would allow. She stood outside the door and caught her breath for a moment before clutching the gilded handle. It turned!
The room was dark, but the light from the hallway revealed its contents. A man sitting on a bed held a string instrument in his arms and shielded his eyes from the light.
"Who are you?!"
The man leapt from the bed, grabbed an object from the floor, and lifted it to strike. Alice screamed and backed away quickly. Her heavy skirts impeded her movements and she fell. The man's face showed a look of surprise.
"Ah jeez. Sorry dude, uh, dudette." He extended a hand to help her up.
Alice accepted the help as it was difficult to rise in this dress. She gave pause at the warmth of his hand. It was much larger than her own, the fingertips rough. This was another person. Another human being. She wasn't alone anymore. Once standing, she quickly let go. Where were her manners?
"I am Alice. Welcome to my home. What might your name be?"
"Alfred. Your home? This is my place? Wait what the fuck is that!" He pointed at the oil lamp wall fixture.
"Do not use such language! You are in the presence of a lady!"
"What?" Alfred looked about fearfully "How did I get here?"
"I do not know."
Alice wracked her brain for what to do. Ah! As a hostess she should lead her guest to the parlor to entertain him. What for she had no idea. But entertain him she would.
"Follow me please." Alfred followed but kept his focus on his surroundings, openly gawking.
Alice opened the door and let him in first. He chose the floral silk chair near the fire place.
"Would you like a cup of tea, Alfred?"
"Nah. I hate that leaf water shit."
That was incredibly rude of him to speak to her in such a way, but Alice was the hostess and needed to be polite so she refrained from correcting him. She folded up the cushion in her skirt so as to sit without crushing it as she rested on the edge of her chair. She poured herself a cup and doctored it to her liking. She took a sip of her drink before resting the cup back in its plate.
"Where are you from, Alfred?"
"The US."
"The US? Please do forgive me, but I've not heard of this place."
"What? How? It's like the most important country in whole world. The United States of America."
"Oh! America! Yes I've seen it on a map before. My apologies. And how is it there may I ask?"
"It's rad I guess. Ain't you ever seen one of our shows? I know they play them over there."
"I don't believe I have."
"Don't you have a TV?"
"What is a TV?"
They were interrupted by a loud chime. Alice nearly spilled her tea out of surprise. The grandfather clock continued to chime the hour. It was a sound Alice had never heard before. The hands on the clock face moved for the first time in her memory.
"Oh yeah, it's lunch time. You got anything to eat?"
"Excuse me?"
"You're excused. Where's the food at, homefry?"
Alice felt something she had only read about in books. Her face felt flush and she feared she would faint. She was feeling anger. She wanted to cause physical harm to her guest. How could one be so rude? How was it possible? She had to stay level headed. She was a lady after all. So she showed him to the dining room as a good hostess should and stewed her anger in silence.