Chapter 3: Wonderland, Again
"I've almost got you!" I said to the rabbit with determination.
"I'm late.' The white rabbit said in mock panic, his voice dry as though this was boring.
Just as I was about to reach him I tripped on an overgrown root, seeming to come out of nowhere, the dark green moss covering it made me lose my balance and I could see the rabbit hop away.
It stopped looking back and whispered "Catch me if you can, Alice. I'll be seeing you in Wonderland."
I was dumbstruck, what had he just said? How did he know my name? Why am I worried about what he said? A rabbit was just talking to me! I should be questioning my sanity! But for some reason I felt just fine, I could see my white pearls glowing against the dark grass that grew in patches over the hard dirt, no wonder I had my breath knocked out of me. I slowly started breathing again, the air was cold and crisp, surprising my lungs. A little blue caterpillar crawled in front of my face, making me realize I was still on the ground, still in the woods and it was getting dark. I stood up and brushed myself off, I looked at my shirt and found it was still clean, still stark white. I was getting worried at this point, but instead of turning around and going back home, I followed the rabbits path, it was almost like he had purposely made it easy for me to follow, a broken branch here leaves brushed out of the way there .
As I moved slowly along the path more and more forest growth came, making it hard for me to see his path. I knew it, I was lost, but just then I heard singing. Small voices and a light up ahead. The forest became more friendly, less bracken scratching me and the black forest became green. The path became wider and I was able to see where I was going. I looked down at the edge of the path and saw little flowers, I realized it was them that were singing. They had a most elegant air to them and when the saw me looking they sang louder and put more heart into it like they were very proud that there voice had caused me to stop.
(To the tune of "Off to See the Wizard")
"Alice is back,
Alice is back.
We sing in joy,
the little girl has grown!
Alice our little girl is back!
Oh, he will jump for joy when he sees,
Our little Alice is back!"
"Excuse me." I asked the flowers "Who will jump for joy when he sees I'm back? I'm afraid that you must have me confused, I have never been to these woods."
(To the tune of "Mary had a Little Lamb")
"When you were a little girl,
little girl,
little girl
The hatter cared for you.
Why you must remember?"
"The hatter? Who is he? I am sure that I have never met him."
Then an amazingly red rose looked at me and said:
(Just think nursery rime)
"Alice, my mother may have called you a weed, but I know you are more than that.
You saved the Hatter from going mad, and now that you were gone he was sad.
But you may bring him back?
I warn you, he has changed, he is not the boy you once had known,
He is a mad man now,
crazed because you left.
His only friends, a mouse and a hare will help you find your way.
Bring our Hatter back?"
"But I don't even know who he is!"
"You will remember Alice, give it time."
With that they continued with there original song, and I walked off. Who is the Hatter? Is he dangerous? They said he was insane! How could I trust someone like that? As I walked the sound of the flowers singing faded and I tried to make sense of their riddled songs.
DA Word: Dice