Wonderland Calling

I have changed the title. Does it fit in more? Thanks for the much muchy reviews. It was filled with much much muchiness. Excuse me; I'll just answer the phone. I'm afraid Wonderland is calling. Teehee. Get it?

Klang.

The bell by the door rang. The wooden door to the shop swung with a creaking noise as Alice opened it. She walked in slowly and gently, quite afraid of what she'd find. She didn't even know why she had the urge to enter the store.

Alice stood in the middle of the small boutique. On either side of her were rows and tables filled with the most curious hats perched atop mannequins. It was the most organized mess of a shop she ever saw. On the north side of her was a counter. It was empty except for a bell on the side, and some scraps of cloth and lace.

What was she looking for? Frustration began to well up on her. What had she expected to find anyway? She was in a hat shop, and in a hat shop were only two things: hats and more hats. What is it with her and finding things? Perhaps she should busy herself more in finding herself.

She turned around about to leave. She wasn't surprised that Lord Ascot's lazy butt didn't stand up to run after her to find out if she was alright. In fact, Lord Ascot might have been too busy being distracted by his nails to wonder what caused Alice to make such an outburst. It was normal for old curious Alice to make inappropriate declarations or outlandish actions, but the new Alice? Everyone thought it was the failed engagement that had changed lively, outspoken Alice into a prim and proper lady. She made herself believe it, too. She started for the door.

"我能帮你？/ wa nang pa hi ma?"

Alice snapped around, turning to see the source of the voice. Her eyes darted to the man's own, her old habit never failing. It was a disappointing shade of black, almost grey. At least it wasn't squinted. She was expecting someone Asian, because his Mandarin sounded natural when he spoke. After she dismissed the eyes, she began to notice his other features. A just right nose sat in the middle of his light-toned, oval face. His brown hair was combed back neatly and was crowned with a simple hat. He was wearing an English suit, and for a moment she thought she was back in England, in those quaint boutiques her mother dragged her to as a teenager.

"I don't speak Mandarin." Alice said, bold but apologetic. The young man behind the counter smiled.

"I said, may I help you?" He laughed freely after his statement. It was as if social standing didn't exist at all. It made Alice realize for the first time that it didn't exist at all in China! She laughed with him. It was the first time she had laughed in three years.

"Nothing, I'm afraid," she said, after the laughter died down. "I was just looking for something."

"Well, it must be hats, because you would have to be mad to enter this shop looking for something other than a hat!" Somehow, Alice felt that she wasn't the only one tired of speaking foreign languages. She laughed with him, realizing his chuckles were hilariously contagious.

"It's rather maddening," she admitted.

"Well, once you entered the shop, you're mad too! We're all mad here!" Alice started to eyed him suspiciously, looking for hints of alcohol. She was starting to believe that he was really mad.

"Yes, somehow, I don't doubt that. You do seem absolutely insane." Alice started backing to the door.

"No, wait!" the man said. He seemed to want Alice to stay, which made Alice more afraid. "Perhaps, I might interest you in a hat. When I set up business here, I realized too late that most Chinese people have too elaborate hair to stuff under a hat."

"They are quite dainty," Alice said, not wanting to disappoint the man. After all, there was no reason to hurry back to boring old Ascot.

"Of course," he beamed. "They were made by the most extravagant tailor in the world!" No doubt he took much pride in his creations. Alice stared enchantedly, completely transfixed. She was bewildered by his aura, but she didn't know why.

"Really now? How amazing! Then you must be a…" Alice left the sentence trailing, and the store man continued it happily.

"A hatter!" exclaimed he. "I'm Terrance, the hatter."

Sorry, if this is poorly edited (it's 11 pm here and I have classes tomorrow at 6 am and a paper to finish) and is very short. I want to keep it short so readers won't get bored. There's much more to Terrance, but do tell me if you're bored by the idea of Terrance. Is Alice OOC? Please review!