Present: Jabberwocky War, London
J ack is calming the Jabberwocky down, as I tread lightly upon the beast’s back.
“I’m sorry father,” Jack says. “I didn’t mean it.”
“Get out of my face or I will burn you to the ground,” the Jabberwocky growls.
“I love you, you know?” Jack says.
In the back, I’m about to laugh. Now that Malice ran away into the dark, and the evil Constance is nowhere to be seen. Still, I think it’s a good move on Jack’s part. Keep distracting your father, Jack.
The Jabberwocky doesn’t notice my first few steps, which is promising if I want to reach the back of his head.
“What did you say?” the Jabberwocky growls.
“I love you,” Jack says. “You’re the love of my life.”
Now I have to cup my mouth to stop the wheezing laughter, so much that my wounded back hurts again. A little too much, Jack.
“I mean, I don’t know how to express that I missed you,” Jack says. “Forget about Alice now. Make me your apprentice.”
“You never wanted anything to do with me,” the Jabberwocky growls.
Perfect. The beast is getting emotional. As he is considering, I can keep climbing up to his head.
I do it on all fours, biting the sword between my teeth. I’m barefoot but my insides still hurt a little, too.
If only he didn’t stink so bad, though the layer of mucus on his back may be the reason why he can’t feel me climbing.
“I was wrong, Dad,” Jack says then shrugs and says, “I mean, Father.”
Who calls Jabberwocky Dad?
I’m still climbing upward when the Jabberwocky decides to have an intimate moment with his son and lowers his gigantic head and half of his torso down.
I hold onto some of the sticky jagged edges on his back barely stopping myself from sliding down.
And though I can’t see what's going on between Jack and his father, I see Constance arriving in the distance with the Cheshire following her.
Perfect. Bad. Timing.