Isabel in Sproutland

Chapter 8: The Cheshire Chicken

Mr. C: 'Twas brillig, and the slithy toves, did gyre and gimble in the wabe. All mimsy were the borogoves, and the momeraths outgrabe.
Isabel: Now where in the world do you suppose that...
Mr. C: Uh... lose something?
Isabel: Oh! Hehe, Oh uhhh... hehe... I- I was... no, no, I- I- I- I mean, I uhh... I was just wondering...
Mr. C: Oh uhh, that's quite all right! Oh, hrmm, one moment please... Oh! Second chorus... 'Twas brilllig, and the slithy toves, did gyre and gimble in the wabe...
Isabel: Why, why you're a chicken!
Mr. C: A Cheshire chicken. All mimsy were the borogoves...
Isabel: Oh, wait! Don't go, please!
Mr. C: Very well. Third chorus...
Isabel: Oh no no no... thank you, but- but I just wanted to ask you which way I ought to go.
Mr. C: Well, that depends on where you want to get to.
Isabel: Oh, it really doesn't matter, as long as I g...
Mr. C: Then it really doesn't matter which way you go! Ah-hmm... and the momeraths outgrabe... Oh, by the way, if you'd really like to know, he went that way.
Isabel: Who did?
Mr. C: The blue duck.
Isabel: He did?
Mr. C: He did what?
Isabel: Went that way?
Mr. C: Who did?
Isabel: The blue duck!
Mr. C: What duck?
Isabel: But didn't you just say... I mean... oh dear!
Mr. C: Can you stand on your head?
Isabel: Oh!
Mr. C: However, if I were looking for a blue duck, I'd ask the Mad Floogal.
Isabel: The Mad Floogal? Uh... no, no, I don't- I don't...
Mr. C: Or, there's the April Boomer. In that direction.
Isabel: Oh, thank you. I- I think I shall visit him.
Mr. C: Of course, he's mad too.
Isabel: But I don't want to go among mad people!
Mr. C: Oh, you can't help that. Almost everyone is mad here.  Ha... ha ha ha ha ha! You may have noticed that I'm not all there myself....  hahaha... and the momeraths outgrabe...
Isabel: Goodness. If the people here are like that, I- I must try not to upset them. How very curious!