Alice and the Tweedles were sitting on the path.
"Which of you is Dum, and which of you is Dee?"
"I'm Dee," said the Tweedle. "He's Dum."
"Are you named after someone in your family?"
"No," said Dum. "Our father was reading a mystery story and he said, DUM DEE DUM DUM, when he got to a good part, and decided that should be our names when we were born."
"I never would have guess that," said Alice, taken back.
"Yeah, I don't think anyone knows that story," said Dee. "Now, how do we grow up?"
"Well," said Alice, "the first thing you have to do is get rid of childish thoughts and start to think like a grown-up."
"We don't understand," they said. "We don't know how grown ups think."
"Good point. You also have to stop dressing like children," she said.
"Uh," said the Tweedles. "How do we change our thoughts and what should we wear?"
"Okay, let's start with something simple. Here's what you do. When people come along the path, instead of stopping them, and telling them they cannot pass, ask them if they're having a nice day. Smile and tell them how happy you are that the sun is shinning, and then wave goodbye as they go on their way."
The Tweedles stood there with their mouths open.
"If you do that people will be happy to see you. They will look forward to chatting with you. Let's practice," she said, standing up. "You stand on the path and I'll walk toward you."
The Tweedles stood in their usual place, blocking the road, and Alice walked toward them.
"You cannot pass," they said.
"No. No. No. You're supposed to say, Hello, are you having a nice day. Let's try it again."
After several more attempts, the Tweedles finally said, "Hello. Are you having a nice day?"
"I am," said Alice. "Thank you for asking. I hope you're having a nice day as well."
"You do?"
"I do," said Alice. "The weather is perfect," she continued. "The sky is so blue and the sun is so warm."
"It's always like that," said the Tweedles.
"It's called small talk, it's just something to say in a friendly way."
"It is?"
"Yes. It is. Oh, look here comes someone. Now be polite and ask how her day is going."
"Oh no, it's the Tweedles," said the woman, fearfully.
"Hello," said the Tweedles. "We hope you're having a nice day."
The woman stared at them. "You do?"
"We do. The sky is blue and the sun is warm."
"Yes. Yes, that's true," said the woman, looking up. "You boys are looking fine today and I have freshly baked cookies I'm taking to my friend. Would you each like one?"
"Yes," they said. "On this very nice warm and sunny day."
The woman handed each of the Tweedles a cookie and went on her way. The Tweedles waved goodbye.
"How did that feel? Isn't that better than being mean to people?"
"She wasn't afraid of us."
"No. Because you were nice."
"She gave us cookies."
"Because you were nice."
"We don't understand."
Alice sighed and realized this task was going to take a lot longer than she thought it would. She also realized that she didn't know how grownups thought either. She decided to wing it and see what happened.
The hatter was making drapes and had half a coat, with great cuffs, laying on his table. He was humming and the cat was back on the windowsill.
"Meow."
"Yes?" asked the Hatter.
"Meow."
"I have never made a dinner jacket for a cat, or anyone else, for that matter. Where would you even wear it?" he asked, turning to look at the cat who simply shrugged. "Fine. I'll use the fabric left over from the drapes."
"Meow."
"Yes, I've made my own clothes, but I've never made clothes for anyone else."
"Meow."
"Yes. You'll be the first."
"Meow."
"You're welcome and that cloud does look like the caterpillar."
"Meep."
The rabbit was napping in his warren. His dreams were troubling at first, but then turned into rainbows and flowers, so he relaxed and slept soundly, which was good, because he needed to be rested for what was to come.
The mouse was organizing his thoughts. On the one paw, he was looking forward to changing things up a bit, on the other paw, he was more than a little concerned. He was also wondering if he should get out of the teapot and move into an office.
The caterpillar was smoking and coughing a lot. He wondered if he was allergic to the mushroom he was sitting on. So he smoked some more.
In other words, the thoughts of everyone in Wonderland were changing and Alice was dancing in a meadow with the Tweedles, who for once in their very long lives, were smiling.
Meanwhile the Red Queen had a headache and decided she needed a new hat.
The other Queen, was out riding her unicorn and noticed that the sky was a different color blue and the flowers didn't look the same.
Alice stopped dancing lone enough to pick some chamomile and dogwood, so that the changes that were taking place wouldn't be so upsetting.
Most importantly Alice found out that the Door Mouse is actually a dormouse, a mouse who sleeps around six months of the year and is only truly awake at night. She ran to apologize to him for calling him the wrong name but he said he didn't notice since they sound exactly the same. She said he was right about that and no harm was forthcoming. Alice was hoping the mouse could have opened the door back to her original reality but now, she supposed that he couldn't, since he wasn't actually a Door mouse.
Photo: Haley Lawrence
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