S3 E29 Chat with a Gnat in Chapter 3 of Through the Looking Glass

SPEAKER_00 0:12

Good evening. Welcome to the Comforting Voice Podcast. I'm your host, Shasta Ray, and I'm joined in the studio tonight by Emmy the Minimicaw. She's sitting right next to me here on the desk. She's making a complete mess again, and she's got a little dish of pellets and snacks, so you may get some birdie ASMR yet again. And then, of course, the giant dog just made himself comfortable outside the studio door. He kind of sounds a lot like Darth Vader when he breathes, so we keep him outside on the other side of the door. He's holding the fort down. He's doing his job guarding the studio door from invaders in my house. So he's doing his job. We are hitting the middle of June. Oh my gosh, today was a hot day. It hit 100 degrees where I was at. I had to run some errands. Luckily, I'm in a real dry atmosphere, so it doesn't feel as bad as you know when you're in a real heavy humidity or something with those kind of temperatures. But my goodness, it was very, very hot out today. And yeah, kinda wears you out. It just zaps your energy. So I don't know about you, I'm ready for a bedtime story. Are you ready for a bedtime story? Let's settle in and get comfortable, get ready to relax, get ready to doze off. And you know what that means? You're gonna go through your sleep prep. So let's do that really quick. Give yourself a really good stretch. Reach your muscles through your arms and legs, into your hands, into your feet, fingers, toes, and then give your fingers and toes a really good wiggle and release that stretch. And then you can do that twice if you really feel like you need to offload some stress or tension. Follow that up with a really good productive deep breath, maybe two, and let's do that new thing we've been doing, that little new technique. Inhale to about the count of four, hold it for about three seconds, take another quick little inhale to top it off, hold for another second or two, and then exhale slower to about the count of six. You can do both of those however it works for you. You can take your deep breath first, do a couple stretches, follow up with another deep breath, do your stretches first, do one of each. Do what works for you, but do at least one of each. Make sure you're comfortable, you've got everything you need at your fingertips, and your listening device is set at that perfect volume for you. So you can just drift off to sleep worry free, or sit and enjoy the story worry free, whatever it is. And really quick, before you fall asleep, don't forget to check out comfortingvoice.com. All of my links are there. The coloring book universe link is there. You can get your Thrive gear there. Oh my gosh, it's a great place to be. And all of the episodes can be heard right there on the website, and that link is really easy to tell people about. Comfortingvoice.com. Doesn't get more easy than that. There you go. I think that's all the news I've got for you and all the announcements and all of the stuff that you say in a podcast. So let's just put our focus on the story tonight and get started on finding out what Alice is up to this week. So last week we had talking flowers, we had a red queen that could run faster than anything and not get anywhere, and lots of interesting nonsense. And so here again we are reading Through the Looking Glass by Lewis Carroll, and this week we're on chapter three titled Looking Glass Insects. Of course the first thing to do was make a grand survey of the country she was going to travel through. It's something very like learning geography, thought Alice, as she stood on tiptoe in hopes of being able to see a little further. Principal rivers there are none. Principal Mountains I'm on the only one, but I don't think it's got a name. Principal towns, why what are those creatures making honey down there? They can't be bees. No one ever saw bees a mile off, you know. And for some time she stood silent, watching one of them that was bustling about among the flowers, just as if it was a regular bee, thought Alice. However, this was anything but a regular bee. In fact, it was an elephant, as Alice soon found out, though the idea quite took her breath away at first. And what enormous flowers they must be, was her next idea. Something like cottages with the roofs taken off and stalks put to them. And what quantities of honey they must make. I think I'll go down and no, I won't just yet, she went on, checking herself just as she was beginning to run down the hill, and trying to find some excuse for turning shy so suddenly. It'll never do to go down among them without a good long branch to brush them away, and what fun it'll be when they ask me how I like my walk. I'll say oh, I like it well enough. Here came the favourite little toss of the head, only it was so dusty and hot, and the elephants did tease so. I think I'll go down the other way, she said after a pause, and perhaps I may visit the elephants later on. Besides, I do so want to get to the third square. So with this excuse she ran down the hill and jumped over the first of the six little brooks. Tickets, please, said the guard, putting his head in at the window, and suddenly everyone was holding out a ticket. They were about the same size as the people and quite seemed to fill the carriage. Now then, show your ticket, child, the guard went on, looking angrily at Alice, and a great many voices all said together Like the chorus of a song, thought Alice. Don't keep him waiting, child. Why his time is worth a thousand pounds a minute. I'm afraid I haven't got a ticket, Alice said in a frightened tone. There wasn't a ticket office where I came from. And again the chorus of voices went on. There wasn't room for one where she came from. The land is worth a thousand pounds an inch. Don't make excuses, said the guard. You should have bought one from the engine driver. And once more the chorus of voices went on with the man that drives the engine, why the smoke alone is worth a thousand pounds a puff. Alice thought to herself, then there's no use in speaking. The voices didn't join in this time as she hadn't spoken, but to her great surprise they all thought in chorus. I hope you understand what thinking in chorus means, for I must confess that I don't. Better say nothing at all. Language is worth a thousand pounds a word. I'm going to dream about a thousand pounds tonight, I know I will, thought Alice. All this time the guard was looking at her through a telescope, then through a microscope, and then through an opera glass. At last he said You're travelling all the wrong way and shut up the window and went away. So young a child, said the gentleman sitting opposite to her. He was dressed in white paper. Ought to know which way she's going even if she doesn't even know her own name. A goat that was sitting next to the gentleman in white, shut his eyes and said in a loud voice She ought to know her way to the ticket office even if she doesn't know her alphabet. There was a beetle sitting next to the goat. It was a very strange carriage full of passengers altogether, and as the rule seemed to be that they should all speak in turn, he went on with she'll have to go back from here as luggage. Alice couldn't see who was sitting beyond the beetle, but a horse voice spoke next. Change engines, it said, and was obliged to leave off. Sounds like a horse, Alice thought to herself, and an extremely small voice close to her ear said, You might make a joke on that something about horse and horse, you know. Then a very gentle voice in the distance said She should be labelled lass with care, you know. And after that, voices went on saying she must go by post as she's got a head on her, and she must be sent as a message by the telegraph. Or she must draw the train herself the rest of the way, and so on. What a lot of people there are in the carriage, thought Alice. But the gentleman dressed in white paper leaned forwards and whispered in her ear, never mind what they say, my dear, but take a return ticket every time the train stops. I won't, Alice said rather impatiently. I don't belong in this railway journey at all. I was just in the woods just now, and I wish I could get back there. You might make a little joke on that, said the little voice close to her ear. Something about you would if you could, you know. Don't tease so, said Alice, looking about in vain to see where the voice came from. If you're so anxious to have a joke made, why don't you make one yourself? The little voice sighed deeply. It was very unhappy, evidently, and Alice would have said something pitying to comfort it. If it would only sigh like other people, she thought. But this was such a wonderfully small sigh that she wouldn't have heard it at all if it hadn't come so close to her ear. The consequence of this was that it tickled her ear very much and took her mind off the unhappiness of the poor little creature. I know you're a friend, the little voice went on, a dear friend, and an old friend, and you won't hurt me, even though I am an insect. What kind of insect? Alice inquired a little anxiously. What she really wanted to know was whether it could sting or not, but she thought this wouldn't be quite a civil question to ask. What then you don't? The little voice began, when it was drowned out by a shrill scream from the engine, and everybody jumped up in alarm, Alice among the rest. The horse, who had put his head out of the window, quietly drew it in and said, It's only a brook we have to jump over. Everybody seemed satisfied with this, though Alice felt a little nervous at the idea of a train jumping at all. However, it'll take us to the fourth square, and that's some comfort, she said to herself. In another moment she felt the carriage rise straight up into the air, and in her fright she caught the thing nearest to her hand, which happened to be the goat's beard. But the beard seemed to melt away as she touched it, and she felt herself sitting quietly under a tree while the gnat, as that was the insect she had been talking to, was balancing itself on a twig just over her head and fanning her with its wings. It certainly was a very large gnat. About the size of a chicken, Alice thought. Still, she couldn't feel nervous with it after they'd been talking together for so long. Then you don't like all insects? The gnat went on as quietly as if nothing had happened. I like them when they can talk, Alice said. None of them ever talk where I come from. What sort of insects do you rejoice in where you come from? The gnat inquired. Oh, I don't rejoice in insects at all, Alice explained, because I'm rather afraid of them, at least the large kinds, but I can tell you the names of some of them. Of course they answer to their names, the gnat remarked carelessly. Um I never knew them to do it. What's the use of them having names? the gnat said, if they don't answer to them. It's no use to them, said Alice, but it's useful to the people who name them, I suppose. If not, why do things have names at all? I can't say, the gnat replied. Further on in the wood down there, they've got no names. However, go on with your list of insects, you're wasting time. Well there's the horsefly, Alice began, counting off the names on her fingers. All right, said the gnat. Halfway up that bush you'll see a rocking horsefly if you look. It's made entirely of wood and it goes about by swinging itself from branch to branch. What does it live on? asked Alice, with great curiosity. Sap and sawdust, said the gnat. Go on with the list. Alice looked up at the rocking horsefly with great interest, and made up her mind that it must have just been repainted. It looked very bright and sticky. And she went on. Well there's the dragonfly. Look on the branch above your head, said the gnat, and you'll find a snap dragonfly. Its body is made of plum pudding, its wings of holly leaves, and its head is a raisin burning in brandy. And what does it live on? Mince pie, the gnat replied, and it makes its nest in a Christmas box. And then there's the butterfly, Alice went on after she had taken a good look at the insect with its head on fire, and thought to herself, I wonder if that's the reason insects are so fond of flying into candles because they want to turn into snapdragonflies. Crawling at your feet, said the gnat. Alice drew her feet back in some alarm. You can observe the bread and butterfly. Its wings are thin slices of bread and butter, and its body is a crust, and its head is a lump of sugar. What does it live on? Weak tea with cream? A new difficulty came into Alice's head. Supposing it couldn't find any, she suggested. Then it would die, of course. That must happen pretty often, Alice remarked thoughtfully. It always happens, said the gnat. After this, Alice was silent for a moment or two, pondering. The gnat amused itself meanwhile by humming round and round her head. At last it settled again and remarked I suppose you don't want to lose your name. No, Alice said a little anxiously. And yet I don't know, the gnat went on in a careless tone. Only think how convenient it would be if you managed to go home without it. For instance, if the governess wanted to call you to your lessons, she would call out come here, and there she would have to leave off because there wouldn't be any name for her to call, and of course you wouldn't have to go, you know. Oh, that would never do, I'm sure, said Alice. The governess would never think of excusing lessons for that. If she didn't remember my name, she would call me Miss. Well, if she said Miss and didn't say anything more, the gnat remarked. Of course you'd miss your lessons. And that's a joke. It's a joke I wish you would have made. Why do you wish I had made it? Alice asked. It's a very bad joke. But the gnat only sighed deeply while two large tears came rolling down its cheeks. You shouldn't make jokes, Alice said, if it makes you so unhappy. Then came another one of those melancholy little sighs, and this time the poor gnat really seemed to have sighed itself away, for when Alice looked up there was nothing whatsoever to be seen on the twig, and as she was getting quite chilly with sitting still so long, she got up and walked on. She very soon came to an open field with a wood on either side of it. It looked darker than the last wood, and Alice felt a little timid about going into it. However, on second thought, she made up her mind to go on. For I certainly won't go back, she thought to herself, and this was the only way to the eighth square. This must be the wood, she said thoughtfully to herself, where things have no names. I wonder what'll become of my name when I go in. I shouldn't like to lose it at all because they'd have to give me another, and it would be almost certain to be an ugly one. But then the fun would be trying to find the creature that got my old name. That's just like the advertisements where people lose dogs. Answers to the name of Dash and wears a blue collar. Just imagine calling everything you meet Alice till one of them answered. Only they wouldn't answer at all if they were wise. She was rambling on in this way when she reached the wood. It looked very cool and shady. Well, at any rate, that's a great comfort, she said as she stepped under the trees, after being so hot to go into the um into the what? She went on, rather surprised at not being able to think of the word. I mean to get under the under the this under this, putting her hand on the trunk of a tree. What does it call itself, I wonder? I do believe it's got no name. Why, I'm sure it hasn't. She stood silent for a minute thinking, then she began again. Then it really has happened after all. And now who am I? I will remember if I can. I'm determined to remember. But being determined didn't help much, and all she could say after a great deal of puzzling was El I know it begins with L. Just then a fawn came wandering by. It looked at Alice with its large gentle eyes, but didn't seem at all frightened. Come here, then, come here, Alice said as she held out her hand and tried to stroke it, but it only started back a little, and then stood looking at her again. What do you call yourself? The fawn said at last, such a soft, sweet voice it had. I wish I knew, thought poor Alice. She answered rather sadly nothing, just now. Think again, it said. That won't do. Alice thought, but nothing came of it. Please, would you tell me what you call yourself? she said timidly. I think that might help a little. I'll tell you if you move a little further on, the fawn said. I can't remember here. So they walked on together through the wood, Alice with her arms clasped lovingly around the soft neck of the fawn, till they came out into another open field, and here the fawn gave a sudden bound into the air and shook itself free from Alice's arms. I'm a fawn, it cried out in a voice of delight. And dear me, you're a human child. A sudden look of alarm came into its beautiful brown eyes, and in another moment it had darted away at full speed. Alice stood looking after it, almost ready to cry with vexation at having lost her dear little fellow traveller so suddenly. However, I know my name now, she said. That's some comfort. Alice, Alice, I won't forget it again. And now which of these finger posts should I follow, I wonder? It was not a very difficult question to answer, as there was only one road through the wood, and the two finger posts both pointed along it. I'll settle it, Alice said to herself, when the road divides and they point different ways. This did not seem likely to happen. She went on and on a long way, but wherever the road divided, there were sure to be two finger posts pointing the same way, one marked to Tweedledum's house, and the other to the house of Tweedledee. I do believe, said Alice at last, that they live in the same house. I wonder why I never thought of that before. But I can't stay long. I'll just stop and say, How do you do? and ask them the way out of the woods, if I could only get to the eighth square before it gets dark. So she wandered on, talking to herself as she went, till, on turning a sharp corner, she came upon two fat little men, so suddenly that she could not help starting back, but in another moment she recovered herself, feeling sure that they must be. Well, that's a very interesting way to leave off on the very end of a chapter. Some of these old stories have such interesting verbiage and ways of speaking. So, anyway, I think she has found what we're going to experience as Tweedledum and Tweedledee next Friday. You don't want to miss it. Make sure you subscribe on your favorite app so that you get notifications. And until Tuesday, sleep tight, good night, and bye-bye.