"`Twas brillig, and the slithy toves
Did gyre and gimble in the wabe:
All mimsy were the borogoves,
And the mome raths outgrabe.
"Beware the Jabberwock, my son!
The jaws that bite, the claws that catch!
Beware the Jubjub bird, and shun
The frumious Bandersnatch!"
He took his vorpal sword in hand:
Long time the manxome foe he sought --
So rested he by the Tumtum tree,
And stood awhile in thought.
And, as in uffish thought he stood,
The Jabberwock, with eyes of flame,
Came whiffling through the tulgey wood,
And burbled as it came!
One, two! One, two! And through and through
The vorpal blade went snicker-snack!
He left it dead, and with its head
He went galumphing back.
"And, has thou slain the Jabberwock?
Come to my arms, my beamish boy!
O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay!'
He chortled in his joy.
`Twas brillig, and the slithy toves
Did gyre and gimble in the wabe;
All mimsy were the borogoves,
And the mome raths outgrabe,"
Aisling read, pronouncing each word carefully so as not to let her accent slip into it. Beside her, Riley sat all curled up, and snuggled close, already half asleep.
"Sis'er. . . wha's a jabberwock? Or any of those big wor's....?" The little girl asked, peering up at her sister through half-lidded eyes. Aisling set the faded copy of "Alice Through the Looking Glass" aside and ruffled Riley's hair softly, shrugging.
"I donnae really know, Riley. Tha's th' fun o' th' poem."Riley nodded a bit and rolled over, moving more onto the bed and away from her sister.
"Mmm........ burbled..... be' i's made o' wa'er, don' ye thin', sis'er.....?" The little one fell asleep before Aisling could answer her though. The teenager looked down at her sleeping little sister for a moment before sighing and getting slowly to her feet, trying to manage the precarious and painful position of standing without her stick, as she didn't want to wake Riley.
Slowly, she made her way over to the door of the vardo and stepped outside, easing herself into a sitting position on the steps, knowing she'd regret it later but alright for now. She wasn't quite sure what she was going to do. The girls' father was in jail, and their mother was going down today to try and get him out. She'd left Riley in Aisling's care (or perhaps it was the other way around) until she came back. . . but that was early this morning, and Aisling had the feeling she wouldn't be coming back.
Well, no matter. Keagan could probably sort some of the mess out, but her parents HAD stolen that money. . . and she refused to be a burden on the carnival, or to let anyone else take care of her little sister. If it came down to it, she would even leave and find work in the city somewhere. It wouldn't be easy, but she'd manage. She could deal with things, damaged legs or not!
She just. . . didn't know how. Hopefully their mother would be coming back with their father later this evening. That's what Riley hoped, and Aisling tried to bring herself to hope for it too. But she made mental plans, just in case.
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