Our Sitting - room

This dialogue is a conversation between Alice and the Cheshire Cat, who lives with the Duchess. As we know, Alice’s first visit to her house was not very successful, because the Duchess didn’t pay a lot of attention to her, and the Cook turned to be crazy. But still, Alice was glad for she made a really good friend – the Cheshire Cat. And now, when the whole family, consisting of the Duchess, the Cook and the Footman in livery, was out, the Cheshire Cat asked Alice to come to their house and have fun. Well, let us introduce their conversation.

Alice: Hi, Cheshire Cat! How are you?

Cheshire Cat: Hello, Alice! How are you? I haven’t seen you for ages!

A: Oh, no! That’s not true! I’ve just talked to you at the Queen’s Croquet ground.

C: Really? I quite agree with you: the Queen is stupid.

A: That goes without saying, and now I’m so tired. Where can I sit down in this house? Is there any sitting -room here?

C: “Sitting” what?

A: Room, sitting - room. I mean a place, where I can sit comfortably and talk to you; I’m your guest after all!

C: Oh, I see now. We usually receive guests in the kitchen, and the Cook throws at them everything they like. It’s so exiting!

A: But the Cook is out, I’m afraid. Let’s go to the sitting - room, shall we?

C: OK. Come in, please. It’s the largest and the most comfortable room in our house.

A: Are you sure? It looks like our attic: the small chair is standing on the armchair, and the armchair itself is standing on the sofa! What utter nonsense!

C: It’s only natural. Listen to the story. About one hundred years ago there was a fat mouse on the ceiling. It was jumping from one lamp to the other, teasing me all the time. So, at last I lost my temper and put these pieces of furniture on each other to fetch the mouse.

A: And did you manage to do it?

C: Oh, no, not really. In fact, the mouse then jumped to a thick beautiful carpet, and I fell off the top of my construction and nearly broke my neck. But I’m not the one, who gives up easily. So, the mouse then ran to the left - hand corner and jumped.

A: Oh, it’s such a long story. Will you please just tell me how it ended? I can’t wait, because I’m so curious, you know.

C: Well, I was just going to eat that mouse, when I recognized a famous TV – star in it.

A: Such a pity, isn’t it?

C: Yes, it is! Last time I saw it, it flew across the curtains.

A: Well, and now have a look at what I’ve done, while you were talking. In the center of the mantelpiece there is a clock, and above it – an oval mirror. On the right there is a small table.

C: Eh… looks so strange, like after a great battle.

A: You are putting me off! You see that on each side of the sofa there is an armchair now. And by the table there is a small chair, what’s more…

C: If you ask me, I hate this chair!

A: Is there anything wrong with it?

C: I can’t stand it!

A: Why?

C: Why not? And where is the wireless?

A: Oh, it’s here, in the center of the room, just near the fireplace.

C: But I can’t see it.

A: Yes, you can’t see it, because it’s in the wall - unit and the television - set is on the little table now.

C: Our television-set is of the latest model. The Cook found it in the rubbish-chute… some years ago.

A: Really? How aw… that sounds great. And where shall we put the mirror?

C: Somewhere where I’ll be able to admire my beautiful coat and this fantastic tail.

A: May I have a look?

C: Don’t touch it.

A: I’m so sorry, dear Cheshire Cat.

C: Never mind.

A: Oh, I nearly forgot. We’ll hang this picture of the Duchess above the sofa.

C: But it used to be my carpet.

A: Still we’ll do it. And this table is for newspapers and magazines, not for the Cook’s boots.

C: Is that so? Well, I’ve always dreamt of throwing them away!

A: Dreams come true!

“American Dream”