I smell bacon and eggs. What? I sit up straight. I have never heard of anyone in Wonderland eating such an earthen breakfast before! Maybe it's Shander or Nance. Maybe even Alex. I get up and go to the kitchen. "Chess?!" I ask in wonderment. "What are you making?"
"Cheshire food," he responds.
"What is Cheshire food?"
"Food for a Cheshire Cat." Oh, dear. Here he goes in his annoying manner again. But I smile.
"What is in it?"
"Oh, you wouldn't like it. It isn't human food, and certainly not food for those from Earth."
"I didn't ask if I'd like it or not. I asked what was in it."
"True enough. But I don't think you'd want to know."
"I'm not-" I heave a sigh. "Never mind. Forget I even asked."
"How can you tell me what I can and can't forget?" I let out an exasperated breath.
"I'm going to get my things from Trea's house for the announcement. I'll be right back," I say, ignoring his question all together.
"I did not ask where you are going," he says. I don't catch the last part of what he says because I'm already walking out the door, but I'm sure that he said, "I was asking how you can tell me what and what not to remember?" I smile and shake my head, on my way to Trea's old house. Mine, now.
In the back yard of Trea's is the clothes line. The one where the suit is hanging to dry. I feel it. Dry as a bone. I take them off the hook and go inside to change. I pull my hair up on top of my head and put the dark grey hat on. All of my hair looks like it disappeared. I look in the mirror at the grey suit, silver shirt, and dark grey hat. With the heels on, the pants aren't too too long. They barely touch the ground. And the sleeves are still long on me, but thats the way I like it. It fits perfectly now. I realize that I get a special warm feeling while wearing the suit, like I feel at home. Smiling, I go back to March Hare's. After all, we are all going into the town circle together.
"Hey, Chess," I say, somehow knowing that he is about to appear.
"Augh!" his voice shouts from somewhere. "That's odd! How did you know I am here?!" Chess then appears in front of me.
"I don't know how I know. I just know, you know?" He stares at me for a minute and then dissapears. I guess I've figured him out. I don't know how to describe it, but... oh well. There's no use in trying to describe the indescribable. I knock on March Hare's door.
"In the back," March shouts. I smile. Remindes me of the first time I came here. Trea was with me then. I walk around to the back, in full assumption that he is making tea. Sure enough, he is at the tea table. So old and iconic after the adventures of Alice books.
"What's going on?" I ask. "Anything left to do here?" March Hare looks around. Alex is helping with the ribbons, Nance is putting flowers in the flower pots, Tweedles are making little flyers, constantly checking them with March Hare, and March Hare seems to be working on the speech. Shander is getting a little portable podium ready.
"There isn't much left to do, really," March decides. "Would you like to look over the speech?" I smile and shake my head.
"No, March. I'm sure whatever you do and say will be just right. You knew him better and longer than anyone else, I do believe. More than I ever did." His worried little face relaxes.
"Thank you, your Majesty." I again shake my head.
"We are friends here. I am just Alyssa to you," I say, smiling.
"Alright, Alyssa. As you wish. Was there anything special you wanted said or that you want to say?" I smile and think about it. But the words I want said can't and shouldn't be said. He was charming, his crooked grin was inticing, the eyes were enamoring and hypnotizing, he was just so... was just such an amazing man. He made me walk on air. Had something in his personality that I just can't get out of my head and he's a person that you just don't want to forget. There is so much that I could say... but it wouldn't do for a public announcement, especially about a King. Finally, I shake my head.
"No, there is nothing I can think of that I can say. Whatever you have will be more than enough. Thank you, March. Thank you very much."
"Tweedles," March Hare says, "Did you finish the fliers yet?"
"I'm on the last one," Dee says.
"No, I'm on the last one!" Dum replies.
"So you're on the last two, then," I say. March smiles at me.
"Is the podium done, Shander?" March asks.
"Yes, I just finished it," Shander replies.
"Good. And the flowers, Nance?"
"Yes, they are done. We can expect more from the people," Nance answers.
"Splendid. Need I ask about the ribbons, Alex?" Alex looks up, helpless. All the ribbons are going this way and that, resembling quite closely his shoe shoppe. I laugh and go to help him.
"I am so sorry, Queen Alyssa," Alex tells me. I smile.
"Its alright, Alex. It gives me something to do. Let me get that out of your hair!" Embarrassed, Alex scrambles to get it off of him, forgetting to put down the rest of the ribbons and it getting all over him even more so. I roll my eyes. I take the roll of ribbon and start winding it up. When I get to the tangled mess that consists of ribbon, grass, sticks, and Alex, I begin to de-tangle everything, tossing the grass and sticks as I go. When I'm done, his face is redder than a rose. I then teach him how to cut ribbons at an even length and how to keep everything in order. I think it is safe to assume that Alex doesn't know how to keep anything straight and organized. In the end, I have to take over the keeping everything organized. Finally, the cutting of the ribbons is done.
"I think we're ready," Nance says. I kinda look at her funny. It just seems strange that someone who has been in my life for less than a week is the one that is deciding if we are ready or not, if everything seems perfect or not. But, unfortunately, I agree with her. There is nothing left to be done. I look over at March Hare. His eyes are welling up.
"Hey, March..." I say. "You think you can do this?" Immediately, March stands up straight, puts on a smile, and looks me in the eye.
"Yes, I'll be fine. I can do this," he says, more to reassure himself than me.
"If you want, I'll do the spee-"
"No," he says, cutting me off. "This is something have to do, for him and myself."
"I can understand that." A few seconds later I ask, "Are you ready?" After taking a deep breath, he says:
"Yes. I'm ready."
"Then let's go."
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