ATEEZ IMAGINES

P. SH - Tea Party

My fingers trace the letters printed on the book in my hands. These past couple days my mind trails through the lands of wonderland.

I've been reading it since my nephew asked to read him a tale of adventure. Not having any such tale in my memory, I ventured out find the best tale of adventure on the dusty shelves in my own house.

Hopefully I found mom's very old, dusty copy of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. Dusting the cover off, I began my journey to the land of the unknown. 

A week later I'm captivated by every word printed on these stacks of paper. They seem to fly out whist my reading and I'm not lying when I say I saw the White Rabbit in my yard the other day.

I wonder how wonderful a tea party with Hatter, the March Hare, the dormouse and Alice would be. It would be even better if the White queen decides to join us and obviously with the Cheshire cat spying on our conversation's.

The weather is perfect today with the cold breeze blowing around. Winter is coming. My eyes close as my mind trails off to a now-very familiar place, Underland.

I follow the dormouse through the forest which leads my bare feet to a table filled with very familiar faces. Upon nearing them, I find Hatter, the March Hare, the White Mouse crowded at one corner. The dormouse takes his seat beside the White Rabbit stealing a piece of pastry from the table.

Hatter greets me a sweet smile and asks me to take a seat. "We have a visitor everyone. I guess you are the new rumoured wander of underland." I reply him with a simple nod. "What name have they christen you with, dear?"

"It is Seonghwa. It feels wonderful to eventually be blessed by your presence. I have dreaming of meeting everyone since I step foot in underland." My cheeks heat up as their eyes focus on me.

"I hope you've had quite a wonderful time here." Hatter chimes in joy welcoming me. "Would you care for some tea?" He picks the teapot whist waiting for my answer.

"Yes please. I'm quite thirsty after walking here." He pours the steaming liquid in the pristine white cup placed on the saucer. My hands tremble holding the hot vessel as I bring it to my lips, sipping the hot liquid.

"You look quite pale for a human." Hatter breaks the awkward silence in the air. Then points to the tarts and cakes which were a sight for sore eyes.

"Eat up, Seonghwa. It's all yours." The March Hare places few tarts with a red filing on the plate.

"Are these strawberry flavoured?" My eyes chime up with joy when Hatter nods and the strawberry tarts immediately fill my mouth as I cherish their very existence.

"Is it Six o' clock again?" I question the March Hare who was struggling with his pocket watch. "I fear a yes." He replies as his watch drops in the cup filled with tea.

"That's bad." I mutter unconsciously.

"I heard someone requested my presence." A deep voice surprises us with their unexpected arrival.

"Ti-Time?" The March Hare and White Rabbit tremble in in their seats.

"What a surprise, dear Time." Hatter courteously bows to him standing up from his seat.

"Here's a new butter-less watch for you, my dear." Time hands a shining pocket watch to the March Hare who cries tears of joy. 

"I guessing you were the one, gentlemen. The one who requested my presence." He gives me his precious attention and look anywhere but him. Time surely is intimidating.

"I merely wished to meet you once while my journey in under land." My voice barely makes it to the others as Time takes a seat beside me.

"I might have a timely possession for you, dear mortal." He then pulls out wooden box the size of my pinkie.

"I'm afraid, I'm not worthy of it." I hesitate accepting the souvenir.

"Time, pull us out of this loop first." Hatter complains, sipping his tea as anger clouds his face.

"Hatter. I'm not exchanging any words with you." He smashes his fist on the table and the cutlery shakes. "Your carol almost bled my ears. Gosh it still hurts." He covers his ears frowning from to the pain.

"Oh, dear mortal, take this gift back home. It will surely benefit you, in worldly matters." At his constant pleads I finally grab the wooden box off his hands and stuff it in my pocket. "Goodbye, Seonghwa."

Everything's dizzy around me and mind feels fussy as I open my eyes. Examining my surroundings, I figure out I just woke up from a long nap in my yard.

My pocket feels stuffed and my hands discover a wooden box in them. What a strange possession! My fingers graze over the treble clef craved on the top.

"Hyung!" My nephew's voice pierces my ears as he calls my name.

The wooden box drops on the ground and an eerie music starts playing. Shivers run down my spine as I pick it up before pushing it back in my pocket.