Happy Birthday Pudge!
"Lunchtime!" Pudge calls, "Come get it while it's nice and hot!" All of us run from the garden and onto the patio, to eat whatever Pudge made us. Frabjous, Bander, and I are having a blast, Mimsy is making out with
Manxome, while Mome watches jealously, Tumtum is dancing in the flowers with Callooh and Burbles while Vorpal spies on her from behind tree. Tulgey, Uffish, Snacky, and Brillig are attempting to knock down a nest of stinging bugs. The "teachers" are conversing in the shade. But we all drop what we're doing when Pudge calls out lunch. Pudge is the head of the village. She also is the one who keeps the garden looking its best. We all used to joke about how the queen of the butterflies is named Pudge, but we got used to it. The village is relatively small, with only Pudge, her sister Cinnamon, her pet butterfly sparkles, and about ten others. Pudge takes care of us all.
"Attention!" calls out Alice, "I have an announcement involving my group! I have decided that today is the day that we shall finally leave Pudge's garden and continue deeper into the forest on our journey to the upper world!" A stunned silence follows this.
"But all of us are happy!" argues Tumtum, "We don't want to leave anymore!"
"But we must!" Alice shouts, "Wouldn't you rather live where you belong?"
"I want you all to stay with me." argues Pudge. "Don't you like it here? With me?"
"Perhaps some of us will choose to stay, and some will choose to go." suggests Vorpal.
"All who wish to continue to the upper world to a land of wonders, come over to me, all who wish to remain and rot away in this garden, over there." says Alice. No one joins Alice.
"Please? For me!" Alice says with tears in her beautiful blue eyes, "The upper world is even nicer than this!" Slowly, Bander moves over to Alice. Vorpal soon follows. Brillig, Frabjous, Tulgey, Uffish, Snacky, Mom, Callooh, all the teachers except Absalom, and I cross over to Alice. The only ones left who want to remain are Absalom, Burbles, Mimsy, Manxome, and Tumtum.
"Absalom, are you sure? If you came back with us you could turn into your human form again." says Alice, with sadness in her eyes.
"Yes, I'm sure. I'm rather fond of flowers."
"Bye-bye!" cries Callooh as he waves farewell to Burbles, his favorite companion.
"Tumtum." I whisper, "Are you coming?"
"No." she says, her eyes shining with joy, "This is where I belong."
And for all I know, Absalom is still watching Mimsy kiss Manxome, and Tumtum dance in the flowers with Burbles, her long pink hair flowing in the breeze, and Burbles laughing with delight.