The Darkside

Not In Love

Alice was startled. "No room?" She repeated. "But..." She gestured around at the table. "...there's empty seats." 

The man with the top hat looked surprised, and confused. He examined the table and chairs. "So there is..." He whispered quietly. "So many empty..."

Alice interrupted him. "Mr. Hatter?" She asked. "May I sit down?"

The man jerked his head up. "Hatta, please. Just Hatta." He hesitated. "At least, I believe so." He waved at an empty seat, no longer looking at Alice. 

She sat down politely and poured herself some tea. Then she offered some to Ches, who accepted.

Hatta turned to the rest of the guests. "Does any of you know why a raven is like a writing desk?" He asked.

No one answered, but the lady in red stiffened, and so did the raven.

Hatta sighed. "Very well, then. You see, I just can't seem to remember."

Alice looked up from pouring another cup of tea for the march hare. "Mr. Ha- Hatta, would you like us to guess?" She asked. She gave the tea to the hare as Hatta's eyes rested on her again.

"Why, yes. That would be delightful. Why do you think a raven is like a writing desk?" He stared unflinchingly into her eyes.

"Um," Alice began, then remembered her sister's lessons on spelling. "Well, 'raven' and 'writing' both start with the 'r' sound." She said.

Hatta sat back. Alice hadn't realized he was leaning forward. "Quite true." He mumbled. "Or is it?" He tugged at a strand of white hair peeking out from under his hat. "But not what it is, I think."

Alice nodded. "Oh."

The red lady stood. "Thank you, Hatta, for the lovely party, but I really must be going." She said abruptly.

The raven fluttered to her shoulder and nodded. 

Hatta sighed, looking up. "Raven, Cath, won't you stay for just five minutes?" He asked, but as the last words made their way out of his mouth, he froze. "You don't need them..." He whispered.

The red lady- Cath- walked over and touched Hatta's shoulder. "Hatta? Are you all right?" Raven fluttered his wings again.

Hatta looked directly at Alice. "One can never be all right. Only mostly right." He said.