Chapter 10: Mad Hatter's Tea Party

Peaches opens the gate to find three mammals sitting on chairs with a large table that has plates, cups and teapots along with food on the table.

The three mammals are, of course, The Mad Hatter, The March Hare and The Dorbadger

The Mad Hatter resembles Buck the weasel, the March Hare resembles Squint and the Dorbadger resembles Gupta

"Have you got any more muffins Dormy or even some jam scones, I love muffins! They're so tasty" The Mad Hatter laughed.

"I'm sure they're around here somewhere Hatter" The March Hare replied.

Soon Peaches walks up to them and said

"I'm lost…Can you help me?"

The two boys look at the female mammoth as the Mad Hatter replied.

"Sorry lass, No room"

"There's no room" said the March Hare.

Peaches looks around at the large table with empty chairs as she replied

"I beg your pardon but there's plenty of room"

The March Hare looks at the empty chairs at the large table as he looks at the Dorbadger and asked

"Why didn't you tell us sooner Dormy?"

"I spelt in" The Dorbadger yawned.

"Why are you here lass?" The Mad Hatter asked.

"I was wondering if you could help me with something and well…I'm kinda hungry" Peaches replied.

"Wow! That's different" The Mad Hatter replied.

"Yeah, We've being eating for hours and we're not even finished yet" The March Hare laughed.

"Waiter! Waiter. There's a hare in my soup" The Mad Hatter chuckled.

"Is it blond? We're missing a waitress!" The March Hare joked.

The two mammals laughed as the Dorbadger snores then The March Hare looks at Peaches and asked

"Would you like some wine?"

Peaches looks around and nervously replied

"I don't see any wine..."

"There isn't any and you're too young" The March Hare giggled.

"Then it wasn't very kind of you to offer it!" Peaches replied in disapprovement.

"It wasn't very kind of you to sit down without an invitation! This is a private tea party" The Mad Hatter remarked as he smirks at the mammoth.

"Well, I know it wasn't polite to barge in when I know I wasn't invited. But the table was laid out for a great many people" Peaches replied.

"My response to that is both profound and meaningful" said the Mad Hatter.

"Which is?" Peaches asked

"Get your hair cut!" The Mad Hatter laughed.

"You shouldn't make personal remarks like that, It's very rude" Peaches pointed out.

"Personal remarks are rude?" The March Hare asked.

"Indeed" Peaches nodded.

"Wow! You learn something new every day" The Mad Hatter replied.

"Make a note of that Dormy, It might be useful in the future" said The March Hare.

"Fine" The Dorbadger groaned as he got out a notepad and wrote it down.

"So what brings you here young lady?" The March Hare asked.

"Well I-!" Peaches began.

"CHANGE PLACES!" The Mad Hatter shouted.

Suddenly the three mammals bolted to different seats as Peaches looks at them in confusion.

"What was that?" Peaches asked.

"We decided to change places, It's traditional in our tea parties" said The Mad Hatter.

"I see" Peaches nodded.

"Now, I have a riddle for you" The Mad Hatter said as he looks at the Dorbadger.

"Ooooh what riddle is it this time?" The March Hare gleefully asked.

"Why is a raven like a writing desk?" The Mad Hatter asked

"Why is a raven like a...?" The Dorbadger started.

"He's not talking to you Dormy" The March Hare groaned

"Why not? Aren't I good enough?" The Dorbadger mumbled.

"You've heard it before" The March Hare replied.

"But he was looking at me when he said, "Why is a raven like a writing..." The Dorbadger yawned

"I'm asking the lass here" The Mad Hatter shouted.

Everyone was silent for a moment when Peaches brokes the slience by replying

"Why is a raven like a writing desk... you know, I think I can guess that one"

"You mean you think you know the answer?" The March Hare asked.

"Well...yes" Peaches nodded.

"Well, then, you should say what you mean" said the March Hare.

"I do! At least, I mean what I say, it's the same thing" Peaches replied

"It's not the same thing at all! You might as well say "I eat what I see" is the same as "I see what I eat!" The Mad Hatter pointed out

"You might as well say "I like what I get" is the same as "I get what I like!" The March Hare added.

"Well you might as well say "I breathe when I sleep" is the same as "I sleep when I breathe." The Dorbadger yawned.

"Well, it IS the same thing with you!" The Mad Hatter chuckled.

The Dorbadger then sleeps as the Mad Hatter then asked

"So what brings you here?"

"I was told by the Cheshire Cat that you would know some person who can help me get home" Peaches replied.

The March Hare and the Mad Hatter groaned as Peaches then asked

"What's wrong?"

"Cheshire thinks he's so funny" The March Hare replied.

"So...you don't know this person of whom I'm talking about?" Peaches asked.

"No, we spend a lot of time having tea here, We barely know anyone" said The Mad Hatter.

"Well...Why did he lie to me?" Peaches asked.

"That's just Cheshire, Always playing jokes and lying to people" The March Hare replied.

"Oh that's just great (!) I waste all my time here for nothing" Peaches groaned.

"Excuse me lass but if you knew Time as well as I do, you wouldn't talk about wasting IT. Time is a Him" The Mad Hatter pointed out.

"I don't know what you mean" Peaches said in confusion

`Of course you don't! Because you never even spoke to Time!" The March Hare replied

"Perhaps not but I know I have to beat time when I learn things from my father" said Peaches.

`Ah! Now that accounts for it, For example, It's early in the morning, just time to begin lessons! You'd only have to whisper a hint to Time, and round goes the clock in a twinkling! And ta-da! Time for dinner!" The Mad Hatter replied.

"Well that was how it was for us until last March, Just before we were mad" said The March Hare.

"What happened?" Peaches asked.

"Well it was a great concert by the Queen of Hearts herself" said The Mad Hatter.

"Hatter, Would you do the honors?" The March Hare gestured.

"Gladly March" said the Hatter.

Soon he got up to the table and sang

"Twinkle, twinkle, little bat!

How I wonder what you're at!

Up above the world you fly,

Like a tea-tray in the sky.

Twinkle, twinkle-"

He then stopped as Peaches asked

"What happened? Why did you stop?"

"Well, I'd hardly finished the first verse when the Queen jumped up and bawled out, "He's murdering the time! Off with his head!" The Mad Hatter replied as he sat back on his chair

"That's awful" Peaches gasped.

"And ever since then, he won't do a thing we ask! He stopped time for us" said The March Hare.

"I see" Peaches nodded.

"Have you found out the answer for the riddle of the raven yet?" The Mad Hatter asked.

"Um...No I give up! What's the answer?" Peaches asked.

"I haven't have the slightest idea what the answer is" The Mad Hatter shrugged.

"Nor me for that matter" The March Hare added.

"You know you really shouldn't be asking me riddles if you don't know the answers" Peaches pointed out.

"Want some tea?" The March Hare asked as he ignores what Peaches was saying.

Peaches just sighed as she didn't want to stay here for much longer.

"No thank you, I must be on my way"

Suddenly they heard a panicking voice heading their way as the four mammals saw the Late Sloth running as fast as he can with the watch in his paws.

"Oh dear! Oh dear! I'll be so late" The Late Sloth panicked.

Peaches then runs after the sloth as the three mammals kept on having their tea party as normal.

Peaches has finished joining the tea party

Now she is after the Late Sloth once more

What happens next?

Stay tune to find out!