Chapter 34

I found a rocking chair in the gathering room. I'm rocking in it ceaselessly  Back and forth, back and forth, back, forth, back, forth, back- I stop. Some one is knocking on the door. No one knocks on the door. I make myself get up- Trea wouldn't turn away a guest no matter who it is or what the business  and I answer the door. An old gentleman is at the door. And I know who he is. "Won't you come inside, Old Man Time?" I ask, as cheerful as a solemn person can sound.
   "Thank you, Alyssa," he says.
   "Would you like some tea?"
   "No, thank you. I don't think that I'll be staying for long."
   "Oh, I see. So what brings you  here?"
   "I came to inform you that the hatter is not dead."
   "Excuse me?"
   "The King is not dead."
   "You are very mistaken, sir. I saw him for myself! He was already dead by the time I finished off the Jabberwalk."
   "Miss Alyssa. I'm telling you: Trea is alive."
   "You're lying to me! I saw him myself! He was in Tugley Wood, dead on the ground! I held his head! I know who Trea is, and I know he is dead!" Old Man Time shakes his head.
   "You doubt Time?" I roll  my eyes.
   "If Trea is, in fact, alive, then bring him to me alive. I will not believe it until then!" Old Man Time walks to the door. Hand on the door knob, he turns to me.
   "I would not lie to you, friend of Hatter. He was my friend, too. Believe me. Trea is alive." Without giving me a chance to state the truth to him again, he opens the door and walks out.

Day 6 after Trea's death

Old Man Time is old and decrepit  He doesn't know what he is talking about. He has known Trea longer than I have. He probably is unable to believe that his friend has died. Yes, that is his problem.

I squint at the window. Has dark really passed and light of day has come again? I cannot believe it. I look at Trea's suits again. I look down at the one I am wearing. I don't like any of the other suits the way I like this one. I slip into a random shirt and a pair of shorts so that I can wash this suit. I begin to clear the dishes in the sink, but stop short. I can use the tub in the toilet-and-bath room. Turning on the water, I think again of the early morning tea. 'It's all about tea for you, now isn't it?' The corner of my mouth tugs a little. I lose myself in my thoughts and in the rhythm of scrubbing. Maybe I will clean the rest of the house. It gets my mind off the pain and gives me something to do.
It dawns on me: there is no dryer. I'll have to hang the suit up out-side. There is no way that I'll be able to wear the suit today. I begrudgingly go back to Trea's closet to get a different suit out. I pick out the sea-green suit. What shirt will I choose... I find a shirt that is a light autumn red. I smile at the colors. I still like the grey suit and silver shirt best, though. I slip into the new suit and leave to pick up my shoes.