Alice Through the Looking Glass by Kari Sutherland

Author:Kari Sutherland
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Disney Press
Published: 2016-04-12T00:00:00+00:00

IN THE WINDING streets of Witzend, people and creatures gathered in clusters to whisper about the results of the coronation. Keeping her eyes fixed on the lanky frame of the Hatter ahead of her, Alice wove through the groups.

“Excuse me?” she called. “Excuse me? Tarrant!”

Hatter spun, his face still tight with emotion. Alice pulled him into a hug, wanting to comfort him after that terrible exchange with his father. He was surprised, and his expression melted into bemusement.

“It’s you, isn’t it? It’s really you!” Alice said, echoing what Hatter had once said to her.

“I’m sorry,” Hatter replied. “Have we met?”

Alice stepped back, beaming up at him. “Yes! I mean, no. I mean, not yet. I’m Alice.”

“Funny. I feel I should know you.” Hatter’s voice had returned to its usual quirky cadence.

“We met once,” Alice explained. “When I was young.”

“I’m afraid I don’t recall,” Hatter said.

Alice smiled. “Because it hasn’t happened yet.”

“When will it happen?”

“Years from now. When you’re older,” Alice answered.

Hatter cocked his head to the side. “I’ll meet you when you’re younger…and I’m older?”

“It doesn’t make much sense, I know.” Alice bit her lip as Hatter worked through the conundrum.

Suddenly, his face broke into the familiar grin Alice had missed. “Of course it does!” he exclaimed. He started walking again, his steps more buoyant as Alice kept pace. “You’re Alice—my new, old friend! You’re bonkers, aren’t you?”

“Am I?” Alice asked.

“All the best ones are,” Hatter said, leaning in conspiratorially. He plucked a ribbon from one stall, then a purplemelon fruit from another. “You must meet my friend Thackery Earwicket!”

As they passed a crooked house, Hatter reached out and snatched a few tail feathers from a borogove bird perched on the windowsill. It let out a disgruntled squawk and fluttered away.

“He lives out by the old mill,” Hatter continued. His fingers busily wove the ribbon around the fruit and feathers, attaching them to some fabric he’d pulled from his vest.

As the two of them exited the village and strode toward Tulgey Woods, Hatter drew a pair of scissors from a holster on his hip and snipped at the ribbon.

“I’m hoping he’ll put me up for a bit,” Hatter chattered on. “Will you join us for tea?”

Before Alice could answer, he whirled, presenting her with a stunning purple-and-blue hat he’d fashioned from the fruit, ribbon, fabric, and feathers. Delighted, Alice immediately placed it on her head. Hatter produced a hand mirror from one of his pockets and held it up with a flourish so she could admire herself.

“And the pièce de résistance,” he said. Leaning forward, he tugged the ribbon on the hat. Immediately, its pink, white, and black feathers fanned out like a peacock’s tail. Alice clapped her hands, impressed.

Linking arms, the two of them continued along the path until Hatter paused at an old oak tree with a hollow in its side.

“Can you keep a secret?” he whispered. Alice nodded and her friend’s face became wistful. “This tree is magical,” he said. “Every night when I was a boy, I would make a wish, and the next morning the tree would have granted it.

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