GiGi and the Cat- Tweedleton's Wilderness

Dearest Em,

Chapter Four begins;

For nature is one with rapine, a harm no preacher can heal;

The Mayfly is torn by the swallow, the sparrow spear'd by the Shrike,

And the whole little wood where I sit is a world of plunder and prey.

                                                                                  Tennyson-Maud

SHE VERY SOON CAME to an open field, with a wood on the other side of it. A finger post appeared stating 'The Wilderness-This way',. "Well, all right then" said GiGi to herself, as she made up her mind to go on "For I certainly won't go back just yet, not while the Queen needs me to be her Messenger".

Having no idea whatsoever where that thought had formed itself, along with some nonsense about the cat would agree, and that her knitting was to be a sleeve of care- she trampled on up the down whilst wondering what on earth was this all about anyway, why was she here and what was her purpose exactly?

And so went her rambling thoughts in this way, as she tramped up the Down and through the field towards the Wilderness. Her muttering thoughts seemed to become audible as she stared at the ground along the way- until at once she realised the mutterings weren't hers now, but someone elses entirely. She looked up to see a Rabbit (at least that's what she thought it first) marching backwards and forwards, whilst tapping and shaking a pocket watch, which didn't seem to be working. "Hurry up- hurry up- we haven't got all the time in the World!" she heard.

 GiGi looked at the Rabbit more closely- his voice, and surely his appearance? was known to her. This seemed to GiGi a little strange, as she wan't aware that she knew any six foot tall Rabbit-people who wore Dinner jackets and Top Hats. But the familiarity prompted her to call out to him, and interrupt his pre-occupation.

"Hello there! Hello there!" she said, as if to an old friend, and held out her hand for a greeting. Instead, the creature waved and smiled and addressed her directly.

"Do you know where you are going?" he said. "If you don't, then any road will take you there".

"Yes, no, I mean, not really. I wish I did, but then, maybe I do".

"Think again" he said "That won't do".

"Please would you tell me what you call yourself?" GiGi said, as she found that she suddenly really wanted to know.

"Franklin D.Rarebit" he announced with a sweeping bow, and doffing his top hat to her.

She heard herself giggle and found herself curtseying, and should have been polite enough to introduce herself, but there seemed to be no need. She felt that she knew him already, but that his appearance was all at once a Dickensian Artful Dodger, all mixed up with a Centaur, albeit with Rabbit legs- but familiar or not- she made her mind up not to comment about this. He spoke-

'She took her Besum Broom in hand,

Long time the vexome for she sought-

So rested she, by the Purgatree,

And stood a while in thought'

"Oh, Really!" GiGi burst out, as she was getting rather frustrated with all the nonsense today. "And what EXACTLY does that mean?"

Mr Rarebit, merely tapped his brow. "I give you this" He said and then gestured her along her way. " Watch yourself, be careful what you wish for, and HURRY UP- we don't have all the time in the World you know!" At this point he remembered his watch, shook it, and seemed to realise that it wasn't working. With a cheerful wave, he skipped away.

Two finger post appeared  "To the Middle of the Wilderness where DBH Tweedleton lives", and the other "The Right Way to the Wilderness where DBH Tweedleton lives", but as they both pointed the same way, there was nothing to be done.

"I do believe" said GiGi to herself "That all this nonsense just means the same thing! Well I'll go in, but I won't stay long, as it is getting dark, and I really should get to the Bored Meeting. I've lost sight of the Cat, or the plot anyway..."

Her thoughts trailed away as she turned a sharp corner, where she came upon a strange little man, so suddenly that she could not help starting back. In a moment she recovered herself- whilst noticing that the man appeared to know her.

"Ooh, ah, yes!" was all he said as a greeting. "Now, I needed to speak with you quietly." With this, he glanced at the book in his hand, which now gained his attention. He made a tutting sound, and turned the pages admiring the contents and shaking his head all at the same time.

"You wanted something?" GiGi said.

"What?" the man seemed distracted by her question, and returned to his book "Nohow, no- ooh just look at this. I shall add it to my collection!"

GiGi tried again. " You said that you wanted to speak with me quietly"

"Yes, yes yes." He turned gilt edged pages. "I just bought this one. Couldn't help myself! Had to get out of the Tulgy Wood for a bit, and visit Cecil Court. Poetry, Poetry!!! Let me read you a little!"

GiGi tried once more. "You did say, that you wanted to speak with me quietly?"

"A poem, now where is it. You like poetry don't you!"

GiGi said she did, but that it was getting dark, so perhaps not a long poem, and perhaps he could be so kind as to show her the way out? 

"Hmm, it's the other you know, he's at it again. We're all for it some bother again. I remember all the bother before!" With this, he tutted and pulled at his beard, and looked rather sorry for himself.

"Perhaps I can help- If you will tell me how?"

This seemed to fall on deaf ears- as the man turned page after page, until satisfied. "AHAH, now!"

He cleared his throat and declaimed.

"The sun was shining"

Here, GiGi ventured to interrupt "If it's very long" she said as politely as she could "Would you first tell me which road-"

DBH smiled gently and began again,

"The sun was shining on the sea,

Shining with all its might,

He did his very best to make

The billows smooth and bright.

And this was odd because it was

The middle of the night.

The moon was shining sulkily

Because she thought the sun

Had no business to be there

After the day was done-

'It's very rude of him' she said

'To come and spoil the fun"

The sea was wet as wet could be

The sands were dry as dry.

You could not see a cloud because

No cloud was in the sky

No birds were flying overhead

The Monstrous Crow had gone.

The Plumber was a Lifeboat man

Who walked about this land.

He wept like anything to see

Such quantities of sand.

If this were only cleared away,

He said, it would be Grand..."

At this point, GiGi turned and began to walk off- with DBH calling to her;

"Your Broom, here, don't forget that! It's what you came for after all. Take it, and get on with your cleaning. We're all waiting you know!"

GiGi shook her head in bewilderment, and headed off without any idea of the way back in the dark.
Consoling herself with the Rabbit's advice- she didn't know where she was going- so today it seemed quite sensible- that any road would get her there. The words from the rhyme that the Tweedleton spoke came back to her 'The Plumber was a Lifeboat man' sounded at once odd, but familiar, and as she looked down across the way, she thought she recognised the Bay. Screwing up her eyes, she thought she saw Grumpa and a Cat, in a boat, heading out to sea.

"It's Grumpa and Storm!" She said out-loud, and yelled and waved at them- but they paid no attention whatsoever, and headed off wherever it was they were going.

"Oh well", she said to herself- "I suppose something will make sense at some time or another. Best just get on- the Bored Meeting won't go on forever- I hope!"

Using her broom as a walking stick she turned left and sort of knew where she was going now. Just them the wind whipped up and GiGi's hat flew off of her head and away.


That's all for tonight my little one! Until next time, be a good girl for Mummy and Daddy,

Your ever-loving Grand-mother, GiGi xxx