Experiences
Behind the door leading to the kitchen section there was no longer the ballroom. Instead Alice came with her charge into a large, friendly forest. The sun was shining and a refreshing breeze was blowing. Glad to have escaped from the narrow and oppressing kitchen Alice heaved a sigh on relien and strolled further into the forest. As Piglet had calmed down in the meantime and appeared to be sleeping, Alice talked a little to herself.
At that moment the baby started to grunt. Alice pulled back the blanket to find out what was bothering it, and saw to her horror that she was really carrying a piglet in her arms, which grunted noisily at her.
And irritated she abandoned the creature behind the next bush, and it disappeared squeaking in the forest.
After Alice had strolled a while on her own in the forest, she saw the Cheshire Cat sitting on a tree. She was just - on course with a grin on her face - combing her hair and waved to Alice in a friendly way.
C.Cat: That depends first of all on where you want to go.
Alice: I don't really mind.
C.Cat: Well, in that case it doesn't matter which way you take.
Alice: ...as long as I get somewhere in the end.
C.Cat: If only you have enough persistence, you always get somewhere.
On the one hand the permanent grin on the Cheshire Cat rather got on Alice's nerves, and her neck was already aching from looking up all the time. On the other hand she admired the casual behaviour on her new acquaintance, and all on a sudden she felt rather small again. So she tried to look more serious and grown up, and made another attempt.
C.Cat: I certainly do.
Alice: What kind of people live around here?
C.Cat: (pointing in the respective direction)
In this direction lives a hatter and in that direction the March Hare. But it dosn't matter who you go to - they're both crazy.
Alice: I don't feel like going to see crazy people.
C.Cat: You won't be able to avoid it. Round here everybody is crazy. I'm crazy, you're crazy.
Alice: How do you want to know that I'm crazy?
C.Cat: You must be crazy. You wouldn't be here otherwise.
Alice: And how do you know that you are crazy?
C.Cat: So many people tell me they're crazy for me. And therefore I must be crazy myself.
Alice: What has the one thing got to do with the other?
C.Cat: Never mind. By the way, will you play croquet with the Queen today?
Alice: I would like to, but I haven't received an invitation yet.
C.Cat: Well, we'll see each other there.
And saying that she finished her combing and climbed into the treetops until Alice could not see her any more. But just as Alice wanted to go on, the grinning face reappeared between the leaves.
Alice: It has turned into a piglet.
C.Cat: That's just what I had expected. Nomen est omen.
She dispappeared again behind the foliage, only to pop up once more on a different branch a short time later.
Alice: Who?
C.Cat: It's alright. Forget it. I only thought...
Alice: Maybe you could decide whether you want to stay here or not. The constant back and forth is getting on my nerves.
The Cheshire Cat grinned even wider than usual and returned to the treetops again. This time she did not reappear; and Alice walked in the direction that was to take her to the March Hare. Soon she got to a small hill with a church on top on it. Alice looked at the weathered walls for a while, but she could not find any sign with a name on it. So she simply entered the church through the big entrance doors.