The Answer is in the Book!

 “How did Alice fall down the rabbit hole?” asked Sadie.

Her mum yawned.

“No idea, love. Look, why don’t you leave your book and go outside and play?”

One day Sadie would solve the mystery, but for now, she would content herself making a daisy chain.

The sun’s warmth and the hum of the bees made her sleepy. In the distance was a large white rabbit heading towards the orchard.

“Hey, who are you?” she shouted before running after him.

A buried root caused her to fall forward into a hole. As she tumbled, the air grew colder. The colours became blurred as she spun around. Similar to being on a fairground ride, her stomach lurched before she landed. Disoriented for a minute, she closed her eyes. Upon opening her eyes, a massive badger loomed over her, its pointed claw raised in an accusatory gesture.

“Who said you could come down here?”

On her feet, her gaze was fixed on the enormity of the badger whilst thinking about her answer.

The badger scratched his backside and grunted, “Well?”

“I followed the rabbit, and then fell down a hole. Am I underground?” she asked.

“You aren’t very intelligent for a human, are you?”

Before she could answer, a massive marmalade cat entered, swishing his tail while doffing a hat.

“You have arrived. Badger, stop peering at her; anyone would think she wasn’t welcome. Follow me, Alice.”

“I am Sadie, not Alice. Animals don’t talk; I want to go home,” Sadie cried.

“You want the answer to a question. To discover the answer, you must first pose the question,” Cat said.

Bewildered, she stood frozen, unsure of her next move. A gentle paw nudged her onward.

Nothing for it. Down the winding passage, they travelled until they reached an emerald door. The cat knocked four times on the door before it opened to reveal the White Rabbit.

“Not another Alice,” he sighed, his whiskers vibrating with his exasperation. “You had better come in. Plenty of lemonade and cake. Help yourself.”

This scene reminded her of the Mad Hatter’s party from her Alice in Wonderland book. She shook her head as if to dislodge the confusion from her mind. Underground with odd characters. Maybe if she pinched herself, she would wake up?

A guy drinking tea handed her a plate. Nothing for it; she might as well tuck in. The decadent, melt-in-your-mouth chocolate cake transported her back to her ninth birthday. Chocolate cake and homemade lemonade. A smack of her lips as the sharp citrus taste tingled on her tongue before sliding down her throat.

“So, Alice, what is the answer?” Cat grinned.

Alice? Perhaps she had transformed into Alice and found herself lost in the whimsical chaos of Wonderland.

Her gaze fell on a book.

“Sit and read it, Alice,” they urged.

“I have already read it,” she said.

“So how did Alice fall down the rabbit hole?” they cried in unison.

The End