Free Death of the Mad Hatter by Sarah Pepper Page A

Discovering that offset my awe because she discussed that theory with a toy.

 
     
     
     
    C HAPTER N INE
    ( Ryley: Present Time)
    The masonry work that had been used when building the brick wall next to the AP physics class door was well done. I’d know. I just walked right into it. It hadn’t budged. If I had been walking any faster, I’d probably have a goose egg. Conversely, if I weren’t inspecting Alice Mae’s homemade candy wrapper like it held the secrets to the universe, I probably would have noticed the gigantic wall that had always been there. I heard a few snickers but pretended not to notice and found my way next to Irwin, the smartest guy I knew.
    Dumping my bag on the floor, I shot up a quick prayer that, the physics teacher wouldn’t ask me to read anything. My algebra book wasn’t going to do me much good. Fortunately, I’d grabbed the right notebook. I convinced myself that it was the candy wrapper that had distracted me, not Alice Mae. I tore out my notes from yesterday and handed them to Irwin who was scribbling on his tablet.
    “ T-t-thanks,” he said, taking my notes. “I think my oo-orthodontist is trying to run my f-family dry with all these appointments. M-most p-p-p-people don’t have to g-g-go once a week.”
    I felt sorry for the kid. He might as well have a bull’s-eye on him. He was the epitome of a nerd—braces, glasses, curly long hair, plaid shirt with a vest, pants too short and distinct stutter. If we’d have a debate team, he’d be on it. But instead he played chess, was the backstage man for plays, and used his study period to teach mathematics to younger classmen. I had a soft place in my heart for Irwin. If I wasn’t good at baseball, we’d basically be the same person—a geek who was into physics and liked performing on stage.
    “ You’re in advanced chemistry, right?” I asked. After he nodded, I handed him the candy wrapper. “Can you tell if there is any substance laced in with this candy?”
    He pushed his glasses up after they had slid down when he inspected the wrapper. “Of c-course I can. Just g-g-give me a few d-a-ays.”
     
     
     

 
     
     
     
    C HAPTER T EN
    ( Alice Mae: First visit to Wonderland Continued…)
    A n old hag, whose white hair with purple streaks stuck out in every direction, slammed the door in M.H.’s face. He leaned against the indigo door, chipping the sun-curdled paint with his pointy fingernail. The door was the most presentable aspect of the entire makeshift house. It had been pieced together with twine and duct tape, and painted with giveaway samples from a paint store.
    “ You’d have me be publically humiliated rather than help out an old friend?” M.H. asked, so painfully pathetic that I wouldn’t have wasted another minute to open the door.
    “ We are not friends,” Genevine called out.
    “Friends. Confidants. Buddies… Foes with a common enemy—they all mean the same thing. It’s no secret you and the Queen of Hearts had a falling out,” M.H. said, speaking in his typical happy-go-lucky tone. He enjoyed covering up his true intentions with giddy commentary. “We’re on the same side.”
    “ We’re on the same side?” she said, mockingly. “And which side would that be? Clearly not the same side of this door.”
    “ The side that is against the Bleeding Heart.”
    Genevine cracked the door, but only enough so I could see one of her sea green eyes. Her soft green eyes turned dark. A parlor trick, no doubt.
    She wore enough makeup to supply a model convention for a year. But she didn’t look out of the ordinary, in this realm. Even M.H. had a particular fondness for the facial application that seemed to be accepted.
    “ Admit that I’m the most skillful designer, seamstress, and fashionista in Wonderland—including hat making—and I’ll consider helping you,” Genevine said, peering through the peephole in the door. “You should really just stick to Candy Making. You don’t suck at