Chapter Eight
A Song, a Plot, Some Merriment or Not?
A Song
As the sleigh rose higher and higher into the wintry sky, above the clouds and under a veil of twinkling stars, Alice’s sight suddenly returned, and she cried out, “I can see again – I knew it was that dreadful snow getting in my way.” The Cat meowed. “And thank you for saving me, Cat.” The Cat meowed for a second time. “Sorry, Cat,” Alice apologised. “Thank you for saving us both, the Mouse and I, from that dreadful wintry waste down there.” The Cat grinned. Then turning to Father Christmas, she said, “But how did you know where we were, and that we needed your help?”
“Father Christmas smiled, and he said, “Your hand.”
“My hand?”
“Yes,” said the old man rubbing his beard, releasing an abundance of sparkling rainbow colours that floated gently onto the floor of the sleigh. “What are you holding?” he asked.
Only then did Alice realise that she was still holding onto the cube he had given her, earlier. “Oh, Father Christmas, you are such a dear,” she said laughing. The old man laughed with her a merry ho, ho, ho…”
Noticing the myriad bright stars in the black sky above her, Alice exclaimed, “Why, it’s night time again, and look at all those wonderful stars – they are so pretty, Santa.” The old man gave Alice a stern look. “Sorry.” she said, “Oh, Father Christmas – It’s so Christmassy.”
“And so it should be,” he replied in his best ho, ho, ho, “there are only two days left until it’s here.”
“Only two days left?” said Alice, in shock at how fast time was going in her new adventure. “I do hope that I am home in time to put my stocking over the mantelpiece…” Father Christmas laughed again and began steering his reindeer into the final approach to his workshop.
Inside, the workshop was all action with elves running about in all directions, busily occupied with all of the last minute preparations necessary to ensure that Father Christmas’s big night – Christmas Eve – ran smoothly.
Clicking his fingers, the old man said, “Sit down, Alice, and I will see about getting you and that cat of yours some refreshments.” On hearing this, the Cat meowed. Three little elves running over to him, awaited his instructions. “Please bring some fine food for Alice and the Cat,” he said. The Cat meowed for a second time, delighted at the thought of finally getting some food, even if it wasn’t the promised Grand Supper. The little people rushed off with great haste, disappearing through a small, green painted door. In less than a few moments two of them returned, each carrying a large tray overflowing with fine food and drink.
“Here you are, Alice,” said the two elves in unison, each offering her a tray.
“Eat your fill,” said Father Christmas to Alice, as the third elf emerged through the door, carrying a tray laden with food specially prepared for the Cat.
Seeing so much fine food, Alice’s only complaint was the difficulty she had in deciding what to eat, first. The Cat, however, had no such problem and he began scoffing the food like there was no tomorrow. Then she remembered, Alice suddenly remembered the Mouse tucked away in her apron pocket, and delving a hand in, she carefully withdrew him. The Mouse was still fast asleep. Tickling his tummy, she whispered, “Little Mouse, it’s time to wake up.” The Mouse’s whiskers twitched, at bit, but he remained fast asleep. “Little Mouse,” she said again, though slightly louder this time, “little Mouse, we have arrived.” The Mouse, however, continued to sleep peacefully, in fact it rolled over, curled into a ball and began snoring.
“MOUSE!” the cat hissed. “IT’S FEEDING TIME!”
The Mouse awoke with a start and shot up Alice’s sleeve, all the way up to her shoulder where it hid shaking with fright.
Giving the Cat a most annoyed look, Alice, trying to calm the frightened Mouse, said, “Don’t you be minding him, Mouse, we have arrived safely in Father Christmas’s workshop, and we are wondering if you’d like something to eat – you did say you were hungry, earlier.”
Edging his way down, the Mouse peered cautiously out from her sleeve. “I am rather hungry,” he whispered. “Might there possibly be a piece of cheese?”
Picking up a plate with a huge wedge of cheese upon it, Alice laughed, saying, “Of course there is – as much as you can eat.”
Seeing the cheese, the Mouse scuttled down Alice’s hand, then onto the table, where after giving the Cat a cautious glance, it ensconced itself on the plate where it began eating the said cheese, with gusto.
Happy for the Mouse, Alice turned her attention to other matters, and she said, “I know that I’m being a bit presumptuous...” She took a bite of a chicken
drumstick, “...but, Father Christmas, do you think your little helpers might possibly sing me another song?”
“Why don’t you ask them, yourself?” he replied, waving a hand, catching the elves’ attention.
“Can I?”
“Of course, and the request can be for as Christmassy a song as you like.”
“In that case,” said Alice, returning the chicken drumstick to her plate, and wiping her hands in her apron, “I shall ask for ‘Christmastime Is
Nowhere At All.’ They do know it, don’t they?” Alice needn’t have worried, for no sooner had she named the song, the elves, gathering closely together, began singing it. It went as follows:
“Christmastime is nowhere at all,
It’s nowhere at all, if it’s not in your heart.
If it’s not in your wishes, right there from the start,
Christmastime is nowhere at all.
Christmastime, a time to be glad,
A time to rejoice in all that you have,
But let us remember this time of good cheer,
Is also a time to erase every fear.
Christmastime is nowhere at all,
It’s nowhere at all, if it’s not in your heart.
If it’s not in your wishes, right there from the start,
Christmastime is nowhere at all.
Christmastime, it’s a time to be glad,
It a time to rejoice in all that you have,
But let us remember this time of good cheer,
Is a time to share blessings, this is my prayer.”
After the elves had finished singing, Alice enthusiastically applauded their efforts, showing her gratitude for their wonderful rendition of her favourite Christmas song. Going over to them, she personally thanked each and every one.
When Alice had finished eating, Father Christmas took off his hat, and after settling his flowing white hair and scratching his head, he said, “I’ve been thinking…”
“Thinking?” said Alice.
“Yes, I’ve been thinking about that loss of eyesight you experienced, back there.”
“I wasn’t really blind,” she explained. “It was all that snow...”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes, well, I think so…” she replied, thought secretly remembering the King of Hearts warning to be careful lest Life and Death might reappear.
“And you don’t think it might be anything to do with that figure you met?” he asked, his head lowered but eyes fixed firmly upon her.
“Life and Death?” Alice whispered, scared to say it any louder, lest he might hear.
The old man nodded.
“I, I don’t know…” she replied, her voice trailing off.
Jumping up from his seat, Father Christmas, suddenly changing the subject to a cheerier note, said, “Come on, Alice, we have a lot more work to complete before we are finished.”
After that brief conversation, about Life and Death, neither Alice nor Father Christmas said anything more about him, or his alleged meddling with her eyesight. With Christmas Eve less than forty-eight hours away, everyone’s thoughts were focused firmly on getting the children’s presents ready for delivery.
Over the following two days Alice found no time for sleeping, and, anyway, as far as she was concerne
d, time at the top of the world had little by way of similarity to time back home, so it was fine with her. Forgetting about sleep, she busied herself helping Father Christmas and his elves as the final countdown to Christmas fast approached.
Although the Cat made an effort to help Alice, his heart wasn’t really in it and he kept fading away whenever he was most needed. So, offering him a soft cushion, Alice suggested he take a nap. She giggled as he stepped onto it and immediately fell fast asleep, fading away in the process with only his tail still visible. The Mouse, meanwhile, having returned to Alice’s apron pocket, was sleeping soundly.
A Plot
Far away, the bony figure – Life and Death – glided silently above the snowy ground, making preparations for the final purging of Alice.
Some Merriment
Finally, everything was made ready, every toy finished, every last sweet wrapped, and every present addressed and packed into the huge red sacks Father Christmas delivered them in.
“Well,” said the old man, rubbing his hands across his rotund belly, gazing at the clock on his workshop wall, which told the time in seasons and days, rather than hours and minutes, “I’d say we are about ready, and in record time too.” On hearing this the elves let out a tremendous cheer, throwing their colourful hats high into the air. “And let’s not forget young Alice,” he reminded them. “She’s been a blessing, and a real joy to work with.” Another equally loud cheer erupted throughout the workshop.
Father Christmas continued, he said, “And since we have some time on our hands I suggest we have a fine party.” A third and even louder cheer erupted, with Alice cheering the loudest.
Once the party had been sanctioned, the elves ran about preparing for it almost as fast as the race of little people – The Orlu – in the mystical land of Onisha, would have done. Sliding the workbenches to the sides of the room, they created an open area of polished floorboards in which to dance and merrymake.
Sitting back in his favourite chair, Father Christmas clapped his hands to the music, which had already begun. “Come on, Alice,” he said, “let’s be hearing you sing.”
To be put on the spot, so, embarrassed poor Alice, and she nervously fumbled with reasons as to why she was unable to comply. The old man, however, would have none of it, and he said, “Come on, I’ll sing along with you.” Getting up from his chair, Father Christmas walked across to the centre of the cleared area, and bid Alice to do likewise. She smiled a weak smile as she trailed after him. When she reached the very centre of the open space, everyone stopped what they were doing, and silence descended in anticipation of the singing that was about to begin.
Waving a hand to a group of elves, who had procured some musical instruments, Father Christmas signalled for them to come over.
“I’m not sure if this is a good idea...” said Alice, who was feeling nervous at the prospect of her impromptu performance.
“Now, don’t you be worrying,” said the old man as he began speaking to the elves who had assembled around them. Once he was satisfied they knew exactly what he wanted, Father Christmas asked them to get ready. Then turning to Alice, he said, “It’s all arranged, Alice, all that you have to do is follow my lead.”
“All right, I’ll do it,” she replied in a chirpier tone, having resigned to the fact that she would be singing, “but if I make a mess of it, don’t blame me.”
“You’ll do just fine,” said the old, amicable man. With everything thus agreed, Father Christmas cleared his throat and began singing:
“Christmas Eve, so still I know, but something’s in the air. Now you, Alice…” he said.
Alice sang, “Christmas Eve, so still I know, but something’s in the air.”
“Good, good,” he said, “now do the same with the rest.”
Alice, accompanied by Father Christmas, sang:
“Christmas Eve, so still I know, there’s something in the wind.”
“Christmas Eve, so still I know, there’s something in the wind.”
“It’s Christmas Eve, and still I know it’s now we need our friends.”
“It’s Christmas Eve, and still I know it’s now we need our friends.”
“At Christmas Eve, it’s here I know, a time to make amends.”
“At Christmas Eve, it’s here I know, a time to make amends.”
“That was great, Alice, now the whole song, together, from the beginning…”
“Christmas Eve, so still I know, but something’s in the air,
Christmas Eve, so still I know, there’s something in the wind.
It’s Christmas Eve, and still I know it’s now we need our friends,
Christmas Eve, it’s here I know, a time to make amends.
Christmas Eve, so still I know, the magic’s all about,
Christmas Eve, so still I know, so near to Christmas Day.
It’s Christmas Eve, and still I know, so full of blessed truth,
Christmas Eve, it’s here I know, a time to thank my God.
Christmas Eve, so still, I know, but something’s in the air,
Christmas Eve, so still I know, there’s something in the wind.
It’s Christmas Eve, and still I know it’s now we need our friends,
Christmas Eve (it’s here I know); a time for Virgin Birth.”
Alice and Father Christmas had no sooner finished singing, when another round of applause, far louder than anything before it, broke out, signalling everyone’s delight with the impromptu performance
Sitting down, resting after her singing, Alice’s throat felt so incredibly dry, and she asked might she have a glass of water.
“Water?” Father Christmas replied, with a merry ho, ho, ho. “We have something far better than that.” Clicking his fingers, the old man whispered a few words to a female elf that had suddenly appeared, as if from nowhere. Signalling her understanding, the little woman scampered away, disappearing through one of the small, green painted doors.
Wondering what sort of drink the old man had in mind, Alice imagined all sorts of strange concoctions she might be offered. She imagined carrot and root beer, asparagus and lemonade, ginger nut and toffee – even liquorice and lemon juice, but none of these were in any way close to the wonderful drink the female elf was about to give her.
Seeing the little door open again, Alice’s heart skipped a beat when she saw the female elf emerge; struggling under the weight of a huge tray with a pitcher and silver goblets perched precariously upon it. Fearing the worst, thinking she might at any moment collapse under the weight, and thus spill the promised drink all over the floor, Alice stood up, offering to help carry it. The little woman smiled, but declined her kind offer. Alice’s eyes, however, continued to watch her intently, until she had placed the tray safely on a small table in front of her.
Clapping his hands, Father Christmas strolled over to the table, where, lifting the pitcher, he poured a goblet full of the pale coloured liquid. “Here you are, Alice,” he said offering her the first taste.
Accepting it, Alice peered in, thinking the murky liquid resembled skimmed milk – and she hated skimmed milk.
“Go on,” he said, “drink it.”
“It’s a bit cloudy,” she said sniffing the brew, hoping it smelt better than it looked. It was at this moment, at this precise moment, that Alice got her first hint of how wonderful the drink promised to be, for the aroma she inhaled sent her senses into overload. “Yummy,” she said. “It does smell rather good!”
“It is good,” said Father Christmas as he began filling the remaining goblets. “Go on, try it.”
Taking a sip, Alice was overwhelmed by how tasty the drink actually was. The aroma was nothing compared to the taste that exploded in a million fizzing bubbles within her mouth. A taste of chocolate, mango and vanilla – without doubt the best-tasting drink she had ever tasted.
Finishing her drink in the one long swig, Alice said, “It’s fantastic! What is it called?”
“Fizzing Fruit jui
ce drink,” said the old man proudly.
“Fizzing Fruit juice drink, I’ve never heard of it,” she replied.
“That’s because it comes from a very special place…”
“Where?”
Lifting a finger to the side of his nose, Father Christmas said, “Somewhere as magical as the North Pole and my workshop combined, somewhere that, if you are ever fortunate enough to be invited to, will change your life forever.” After refilling Alice’s goblet, he offered the remaining drink to the elves that had been playing the music.
Or Not
After the party was over, and everyone had eaten and drunk their fill, Father Christmas said, “Listen, everybody.” A hush descended onto the room. “We have one hour to go until I set off, so rest awhile. I will see you all by my sleigh, then.” After saying this Father Christmas retired to bed, for his last rest until every last toy had been safely delivered. Following his lead, the elves made their way through the many small doors lining the room, also retiring for a much-needed rest.
Left alone, at a loose end, Alice wandered about a workshop devoid of toys, everything having been carefully packed into the many large sacks stacked ready for delivery that night. “Hmm, I wonder what that is,” she said, noticing a scrap of paper lying on the ground. Picking it up, Alice turned it over and discovered that it was a handwritten note – from Life and Death. “How can this be,” she asked, unwilling to believe what she was holding. It read:
“Everything’s ready for Christmas, you see,
Every last parcel and present,
But don’t you forget that your purging is not done,
And until that time comes the Rabbit stays missing.”
Signed: L+D
“Have I not suffered enough?” Alice asked. “Without him threatening me with this, this purging, whatever it is?”
Although the note had unsettled her, Alice decided to say nothing about it. Tucking it away safely in her apron pocket, she said, “No, it’s far too close to Christmas for me to be worrying that nice man and his elves. I shall say nothing about it, and that is that.”
Alice in Wonderland on Top of the World Page 8