The Mad Hatter's hand touched the ends of the girl's hair.
The girl shrank back.
The metal clasp by her feet gave a soft clink.
The Mad Hatter stopped at once.
He looked down at the clasp, a hint of displeasure appearing on his face, as though a speck of dust had settled on the rim of a teacup.
"Shh."
The Mad Hatter held his index finger to his lips.
"Alice mustn't move around."
Tears still clung to the girl's chin.
Frowning, the Mad Hatter reached out to wipe them away.
The girl couldn't dodge him. All she could do was close her eyes.
"You won't look pretty if you cry and ruin your face."
The Mad Hatter's voice was very soft.
So soft it sent a chill down one's spine.
"The tea party has been waiting a long time. The White Rabbit has run three laps, the Dormouse has woken up twice, and the hat is ready too."
He held up the blue hair ribbon.
The metal clasp on the ribbon drew close to the girl's hair.
"Look. Such a perfect fit."
The row of students wearing black hats on the right clapped in unison.
Clap.
Clap.
Clap.
Their applause was so synchronized it had no trace of life.
The Mad Hatter turned his head in satisfaction.
"Manners."
He smiled.
"Good children sit on the left, bad children wear hats, and Alice sits in the middle."
The girl's lips trembled, her voice so quiet it was nearly drowned out by the nursery rhyme from the old speakers.
"My name isn't Alice."
The smile froze on the Mad Hatter's face.
The tea party fell silent.
The students wearing black hats on the right all turned their heads at once to look at the girl.
The Mad Hatter slowly bent down.