Alice (Inktober, Sunday, October 11, 2020)

For Inktober, Sunday, October 11, 2020. Prompt word: "disgusting." Tuckerization: Cindy Ross 

A reminder that volunteering for tuckerization only means a character in the story shares the participant's name. Other than that, there are no other similar characteristics implied. 

Alice

by Alan Loewen 

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 

“But I don't want to go among mad people,” Alice remarked. “Oh, you can't help that,” said the Cat: “we're all mad here.” 

“I swear that man has lost his mind,” Alice said. She sipped her coffee, looking to see signs of commiseration on her friend’s face. Around her, the other customers of Starbucks tried in vain not to overhear her tirade. “I mean, you know, giving him permission to use my name in a story was a courtesy. I thought he would write something delightful and amusing instead of putting me into a disgusting horror story.” 

Across the table, Cindy Ross sighed to herself. Alice was given to occasional histrionics. Cindy knew the author Alice referred to well, a writer who fancied himself a teller of dark fantasy tales that, in reality, either devolved into either sophomoric humor or melodrama. 

“Alice," Cindy said, "he made it clear in his announcement that if you volunteered to be in one of his stories, a character only shared your name, nothing else. Everybody who read the story with your name in it knew that.” 

Alice attacked a muffin and chewed angrily. Swallowing it down with a bit of coffee, she pointed the muffin at Cindy like an accusing finger. “How can you defend him?” 

Cindy swirled her latte within its cup and paused in thought. “Let’s take a look at the reality of this. First, nobody reads the guy anyway. He’s a hack. All his sales are either when he gives his stuff away for free or blackmails some friends to buy his latest badly-written book.” 

“But,” Alice interrupted, “he announced on my own Facebook account when he had written my story and published it.” 

“Then ask him to take it down.” 

Alice shook her head. “It’s too late. My friends have already read it. They’re already calling me Alice in Wonderland. Anyway, how could he have taken such a sweet story and made it so evil? What’s a Jabberwock anyway? I’m telling you the guy just isn’t right in the head.” 

Alice took the last swig from her cup and stood to leave. “Well, break’s over and time for me to get back to the office.” She looked at Cindy with apparent jealousy. “Must be so nice to be retired.” 

Cindy stood and slipped on her jacket. “I’ll walk you to the office,” she said. 

Outside at the crosswalk, they stopped waiting for the light to change. “Looks like nice weather for the next …” Cindy began, but she was suddenly interrupted by a stifled scream from Alice. 

Cindy spun about to see Alice in the clutches of a large white rabbit, its eyes crazed with madness. As other pedestrians began shrieking in fear and surprise, a black hole appeared under Alice’s feet, and she and the creature dropped through the sidewalk. A moment later, the sidewalk shimmered to show no hole and no trace of Alice or her kidnapper. 

Cindy grabbed her cell phone and then stopped. Who was she going to call? The police? Even with witnesses, what would she say? 

The cell phone chimed in her hand. 

Cindy, the text read, Alan here. Thank you so much for allowing me to use your name. Your story is now up on my website. Hope you enjoy it.