S3 E13 Wonderland Gets Weirder in Chapter 7 of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland

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Good evening! Welcome to the Comforting Voice Podcast. I'm your host Shasta Ray, and I'm joined in the studio by Emmy the Mini Macaw. She's over on the bird stand having a snack right now. She should be screaming very soon. I promise to edit that out when it happens. I've got the giant dog out in the hallway making loud noises with his sinuses. And um, yeah, everything's good in our world. It snowed today though. Oh my gosh. Mid-April and we had snow most of the day. Nothing stuck, but it was cold and miserable out. It's a good day to be inside. So anyway, how are you? How is your week? And are you ready to get your weekend off to a good start? I hope so. I am. I am looking forward to the weekend. Okay, let's get you comfortable before we get started on our reading and make sure that you're completely happy for the at least the time being while you're here. So you pretty much know the drill at this point in time. For all the newbies out there, you're in for a treat. Kick back, get comfortable, get your pillow all mushed up into that position that's best for you, and give yourself a really good stretch. Just reach all the way through your arms, through your legs, into your fingers and toes, wiggle your fingers and toes, and then release that stretch. You can even stretch a couple different ways, whatever works for you, do what you like, and then follow that up with a really good, productive, deep breath. Inhale to about the count of four, hold it to about the count of four, and then exhale to about the count of six. Do that two or three times, and you're gonna be off to a wonderful night's sleep. You're gonna feel rested, you're gonna wake up all refreshed and ready to take on the day. Yep, that's how it is. So then, really quick, before you fall asleep, don't forget to check out the website comfortingvoice.com. There's a contact form there. You can just send me an email right from the website. You can leave a voicemail right from the website. You'll see a little icon, looks like a microphone. And if you're on a device that has a microphone on it, like your phone, a tablet, whatever, you can just say hey, you can put in a request, you can give me or Lawn, uh, add a girl, add a boy, that sort of thing. And I would love to know where you're from. Besides just saying hey or giving me a suggestion for content, you can find all of the fun links there. I've got the coloring book links. Of course, everyone knows what the buy me a coffee is. It's gonna take you to my buy me a coffee page. And the buy me a coffee page is where you can get yourself the digital gratitude journal. They have a tab there, it's kind of labeled weird. I think it's extras is what they call it. That's where you can get the gratitude journal, and it's designed for use with tablet devices. So check it out. Okay, so through the magic of audio editing, I took a quick break. We're back. The pickle chicken is right here with me on the desk, just as predicted. She was just going nuts over there. She sounded like some sort of screaming meme. I don't know what it was. It was terrifying. Do you want to say hello? So anyway, while we were on that break, I went upstairs and got my Thrive mug and filled it with some coffee because I'm gonna be up late, and that's gonna do the job. So if you would like yourself some Thrive gear, check out the Thrive Shop while you're on the website, comfortingvoice.com. It's a good place to be, lots of stuff to check out, and it all supports the show, so thank you in advance. So we are reading Alice's Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll, and tonight we are on chapter seven A Mad Tea Party. There was a table set out under a tree in front of the house, and the March Hare and the Hatter were having tea at it. A dormouse was sitting between them fast asleep, and the other two were using it as a cushion, resting their elbows on it and talking over its head. Very uncomfortable for the door mouse, thought Alice. Only as it's asleep, I suppose it doesn't mind. The table was a large one, but the three were all crowded together at one corner of it. No room no room they all cried out when they saw Alice coming. There's plenty of room, said Alice indignantly, and she sat down in a large armchair at one end of the table. Have some wine, said the March Hare in an encouraging tone. Alice looked all around the table, but there was nothing on it but tea. I don't see any wine, she remarked. There isn't any, said the March Hare. Then it wasn't very civil of you to offer it, said Alice angrily. It wasn't very civil of you to sit down without being invited, said the March Hare. I didn't know it was your table, said Alice. It's laid out for a great many more than three. Your hair wants cutting, said the Hatter. He had been looking at Alice for some time with great curiosity, and this was his first speech. You should learn not to make personal remarks, Alice said with some severity. It's very rude. The Hatter opened his eyes very wide upon hearing this, but all he said was Why is a raven like a riding desk? Come, we shall have some fun now, thought Alice. I'm glad they've begun asking riddles. I believe I can guess that, she added aloud. Do you mean that you think you can find out the answer to it? said the March Hare. Exactly so, said Alice. Then you should say what you mean, the March Hare went on. I do, Alice hastily replied. At least I mean what I say. That's the same thing, you know. Not the same thing a bit, said the Hatter. You may just as well say that I see what I eat is the same thing as I eat what I see. You may just as well say, added the March Hare, that I like what I get is the same thing as I get what I like. You might just as well say, added the Dormouse, who seemed to be talking in his sleep, that I breathe when I sleep is the same thing as I sleep when I breathe. It is the same thing with you, said the Hatter, and here the conversation stopped, and the party sat silent for a minute while Alice thought over all she could remember about ravens and writing desks, which wasn't much. The Hatter was the first to break the silence. What day of the month is it? he said, turning to Alice. He had taken his watch out of his pocket and was looking at it uneasily, shaking it every now and then and holding it to his ear. Alice considered a little and then said The fourth. Two days wrong, sighed the Hatter. I told you butter wouldn't suit the works, he added, looking angrily at the March Hare. It was the best butter, the March Hare meekly replied. Yes, but some crumbs must have got in as well, the Hatter grumbled. You shouldn't have put it in with the bread knife. The March Hare took the watch and looked at it gloomily. Then he dipped it into his cup of tea and looked at it again. Buddy could think of nothing better to say than his first remark It was the best butter, you know. Alice had been looking over his shoulder with some curiosity. What a funny watch, she remarked. It tells the day of the month and doesn't tell what o'clock it is. Why should it? muttered the Hatter. Does your watch tell you what year it is? Of course not, Alice replied readily. But that's because it stays the same year for such a long time together. Which is just the case with mine, said the Hatter. Alice felt dreadfully puzzled. The Hatter's remark seemed to have no meaning in it, and yet it was certainly English. I don't quite understand you, she said as politely as she could. The Dormouse is asleep again, said the Hatter, and he poured a little hot tea upon its nose. The Dormouse shook its head impatiently and said without opening its eyes, of course, of course, just what I was going to remark myself. Have you guessed the riddle yet? The Hatter said, turning to Alice again. No, I give it up, Alice replied. What's the answer? I haven't the slightest idea, said the Hatter. Nor I, said the March Hare. Alice sighed wearily. I think you might do something better with the time, she said, than waste it in asking riddles that have no answers. If you knew time as well as I do, said the Hatter, you wouldn't talk about wasting it. It's him. I don't know what you mean, said Alice. Of course you don't, the Hatter said, tossing his head contemptuously. I dare say you never even spoke to time. Perhaps not, Alice cautiously replied. But I know I have to beat time when I learn music. Ah, that accounts for it, said the Hatter. He won't stand beating. Now, if you only kept on good terms with him, he'd do almost anything you liked with the clock. For instance, suppose it were nine o'clock in the morning, just time to begin lessons. You'd only have to whisper a hint to time, and round the clock goes in a twinkling half past one time for dinner. I only wish it was, the March Hare said to itself in a whisper. That would be grand, certainly, said Alice thoughtfully. But then I shouldn't be hungry for it, you know. Not at first, perhaps, said the Hatter, but you could keep it at half past one as long as you liked. Is that the way you manage? Alice asked. The Hatter shook his head mournfully. Not I, he replied. We quarreled last March, just before he went mad, you know, pointing with his spoon at the March hare. It was at the great concert given by the Queen of Hearts, and I had to sing Twinkle, Twinkle, little bat, how I wonder where you're at. You know the song, perhaps. I've heard something like it, said Alice. It goes on, you know, the Hatter continued in this way. Up above the world you fly, like a tea tray in the sky. Twinkle, twinkle. Here the door mouse shook itself and began singing in its sleep. Twinkle, twinkle, twinkle, twinkle, twinkle, twinkle, and went on so long that they had to pinch it to make it stop. Well, I'd hardly finish the first verse, said the Hatter, when the queen jumped up and bawled out He's murdering the time off with his head. How dreadfully savage exclaimed Alice. And ever since that, the Hatter went on in a mournful tone, he won't do a thing I ask. It's always six o'clock now. A bright idea came into Alice's head. Is that the reason so many tea things are put out here? she asked. Yes, that's it, said the Hatter with a sigh. It's always tea time, and we've no time to wash the things between wiles. Then you keep moving around, I suppose, said Alice. Exactly so, said the Hatter, as things get used up. But what happens when you come back to the beginning again? Alice ventured to ask. Suppose we change the subject, the March Hare interrupted, yawning. I'm getting tired of this. I vote, the young lady tells us a story. I'm afraid I don't know one, said Alice, rather alarmed at the proposal. Then the Dormouse shall they both cried. Wake up, Dormouse. And they pinched it on both sides at once. The Dormouse slowly opened his eyes. I wasn't asleep, he said in a hoarse, feeble voice. I heard every word you fellows were saying. Tell us a story, said the March Hare. Yes, please do, pleaded Alice. And be quick about it, added the Hatter, or you'll be asleep again before it's done. Once upon a time there were three little sisters, the Dormouse began in a great hurry, and their names were Elsie, Lacey, and Tilly, and they lived at the bottom of a well. What did they live on? said Alice, who always took a great interest in questions of eating and drinking. They lived on treacle, said the Dormouse, after thinking a minute or two. They couldn't have done that, you know, Alice gently remarked. They'd have been ill. So they were, said the Dormouse. Very ill. Alice tried to fancy to herself what such an extraordinary way of living would be like, but it puzzled her too much, and she went on, but why did they live at the bottom of a well? Take some more tea, the March Hare said to Alice very earnestly. I have had nothing yet, Alice replied in an offended tone. So I can't take more. You mean you can't take less, said the Hatter. It's very easy to take more than nothing. Nobody asked your opinion, said Alice. Who's making personal remarks now? The Hatter asked triumphantly. Alice did not quite know what to say to this, so she helped herself to some tea and bread and butter, and then she turned to the Dormouse and repeated her question Why did they live at the bottom of a well? The Dormouse again took a minute or two to think about it, and then said It was a treacle well. There's no such thing, Alice was beginning very angrily, but the Hatter and March Hare went sh and the Dormouse sulkily remarked If you can't be civil, you better finish the story for yourself. No, please go on, Alice said very humbly. I won't interrupt again. I dare say there may be one. One indeed, said the Dormouse indignantly. However, he consented to go on. And so these three little sisters, they were learning to draw, you know. What did they draw? said Alice, quite forgetting her promise. Treacle, said the Dormouse, without considering it all this time. I want a clean cup, interrupted the Hatter. Let's all move one place on. He moved on as he spoke, and the Dormouse followed him. The march hare moved into the Dormouse's place, and Alice rather unwillingly took the place of the March Hare. The Hatter was the only one who got any advantage from the change, and Alice was a good deal worse off than before, as the March Hare had just upset the milk jug into his plate. Alice did not wish to offend the Dormouse again, so she began very cautiously. But I don't understand. Where did they draw the treacle from? You can draw water out of a water well, said the Hatter, so I should think you could draw treacle out of a treacle well. Eh, stupid? But they were in the well, Alice said to the Dormouse, not choosing to notice this last remark. Of course they were, said the Dormouse. Well then This answer so confused poor Alice that she let the Dormouse go on for some time without interrupting it. They were learning to draw, the Dormouse went on, yawning and rubbing his eyes for it was getting very sleepy. And they drew all manner of things. Everything that begins with an M. Why an M? said Alice. Why not? said the March Hare. Alice was silent. The Dormouse had closed its eyes by this time and was going off into a doze, but on being pinched by the hatter, it woke up again with a little shriek, and went on That begins with an M, such as mouse traps, and the moon, and memory, and muchness. You know you say things are much of a muchness. Did you ever see such a thing as a drawing of a muchness? Really, now you ask me, said Alice, very confused. I don't think then you shouldn't talk, said the Hatter. This piece of rudeness was more than Alice could bear. She got up in great disgust and walked off. The door mouse fell asleep instantly, and neither of the others took the least notice of her going, though she looked back once or twice, half hoping that they would call after her. The last time she saw them, they were trying to put the door mouse into the teapot. At any rate I'll never go there again, said Alice as she picked her way through the wood. It's the stupidest tea party I ever was at in my whole life. Just as she said this, she noticed that one of the trees had a door leading right into it. That's very curious, she thought. But everything's curious today. I think I may as well go in at once. And in she went. Once more she found herself in the long hall and close to the little glass table. Now I'll manage better this time, she said to herself, and began by taking the little golden key and unlocking the door that led to the garden. Then she went to work nibbling at the mushroom, she had kept a piece of it in her pocket, until she was about a foot high. Then she walked down the little passage and then she found herself at last in the beautiful garden among the bright flower beds and the cool fountains. Oh my gosh, it took us seven chapters for her to get her way into that garden, but she's finally there. I guess we'll find out next Friday what that garden is all about. What do you think, Emmy? Well, I am out of coffee, so I'm gonna go get a refill. I'm gonna get editing this so I can have it published and out into your eardrums. We'll catch you Tuesday for our regular ramble chat mishmash of goodness. And until then, sleep tight, good night, and bye bye.