Welcome, everyone
and especially all of you
who are here from
Would you like some tea?
I'll be Mother...
To Begin at the Beginning.
The Prologue.
Oh, dear, what can the matter be?
Dear, dear, what can the matter be?
Oh, dear, what can the matter be?
Bunny's so long at the Fair.
She went to the fair in a dress trimmed with roses
her new stripy stockings and shoes for her toeses!
She smiled very sweetly and won her Blue Ribbon
But she hasn't been seen since the Fair!
Chapter One
Look at the clock!
Indeed. Half-past three
is time for tea.
Time for tea and cake.
There's scones to bake.
And, hey! There's cake!
Tea in the garden
shaded from the sun.
There'll be games and forfeits,
all kinds of fun.
But Miss Rabbit isn't here yet.
That's why we've not begun.
Ella brought a gift
tied with a blue bow.
Polly made the cake,
with icing soft as snow.
The tea is hot, but we can't start,
without our guest, you know.
Chapter Two
The sun, it moves around the sky
(It doesn't, really. It just looks that way)
And we get hungrier as time goes by.
And Rabbit better hurry
or there'll be no cake to try!
Ella 'Can we start now?'
Polly 'No.'
Ella 'May we start now?'
Polly 'No.'
Ella 'Can I test the cake?'
Polly 'No!'
Oh my! Half past four?
It's not funny any more.
We're hungry for cake.
And Miss Rabbit's very late.
Polly checked the clock,
stood up, and smoothed down her frock.
'I don't see her at the gate.
Why are Rabbits ALWAYS late?'
She sighed. 'Sit here and please be nice.
Stone Rabbit will have some advice.'
Chapter Three
Polly went off to find Stone Rabbit.
A wise old bunny, made of granite.
While Ella sat and pouted at the cake.
And thought about what mischief she could make...
Old Stone Rabbit looked calm and serene
even when she was told Bunny hadn't been seen
since the Fair. 'Don't worry,'she said 'things will be fine.
I'm sure she'll be here.She's just taking her time.
Be patient. Be hopeful. She'll be back before nine.'
So Polly walked back to the table and tea.
She wanted a cuppa, or maybe three.
But she gasped with shock!
Oh dear! What did she see?
Miss Polly is startled, until she sees Ella moving.
And, wait a minute, the skeleton is laughing!
She's very annoyed but Ella thinks it funny.
'It was a lot more fun than waiting for that Bunny!'
The Skeleton is giggling, she thought it was jolly
but Polly keeps fussing until Ella is sorry.
And Bunny is still missing and it's getting late.
They must hunt for her, it's pointless to wait.
Chapter Four
They find Mr Steambike
with his transport extreme
He fires up the Steambike
and, as it starts to steam
suggests that the Tin Men
should join with their team.
The Tin Men are rusty and old and tall.
And Ella has always been scared of them all.
So Polly will ask them to help on the trail.
And Ella will see if Bunny's in the mail.
The Tin Men are flattered, of course they'll assist.
And Miss Rabbit's so sweet, she'll be terribly missed.
And off they go, with a clank and a hiss
looking diligently for one rabbit Miss.
Miss Ella climbs up to the mail box to check.
She peers inside, where it's cool and it's black
but there's no rabbit in there, no parcel, no pack.
The dolls meet up at the old Wishing Well.
They throw in a penny and make that old spell.
And as their coin makes a splash of bubbly foam,
they wish for Miss Rabbit to quickly come home.
Chapter Five
They're not sure what to do for the best.
Then Ella says, 'Let's go on a Quest!
Over the lawn and past the overgrown rose tree
and down through the meadow and back, for some more tea.
And look everywhere for bunny ears or tail
and keep looking , so our quest doesn't fail.'
The brave little dolls venture abroad
on the dried Summer grass that make up the yard,
and many strange things they saw on the ground..
Here are few of the things that they found.
A pumpkin, still small and new.
And hey! That's a crystal shoe!
Fan and gloves, left on the ground?
That'll be some rabbit, I'll be bound!
But not Miss Rabbit, it's not she.
She doesn't wear gloves, you see?
What about this? A bottle of 'Drink Me' ?
Dangerous things, that's what Alice once told me.
And if Rabbit has drunk one and shrunk very small,
there's no point in doing this search at all.
A peach tree covered in lace and flowers
the very best of gracious bowers.
And in it, a princess, quite asleep.
They tiptoe away, so her dreams she'll keep.
Chapter Six
Polly looks up to the sky above,
where the sunset is pink and blue as a dove.
And says,'Dear Ella, so brave and true,
there's only one thing left to do.
Miss Rabbit isn't here, so I must go seek her.
And you must stay here, so there's someone to greet her.
And Polly bridled the mare, with blue ribbons and posies
and rode out in the starlight and pale Summer roses.
And she's out there still, while little Ella and I
sit waiting for the bunny who got lost at the Fair.
To be continued...
Well, what I was going to do for my first Mad Tea Party
was an adventure with Miss R White.
But Miss R White never came home from the Fair.
No, she's out there, somewhere,
I hope I get her back!
For more Tea Party Madness
visit
where hot tea and iced cakes are being served,
and there is colour and sweetness and more,
for everyone.
Vanessa is waiting and she has laid out
such a glorious spread.
Maybe Miss R White is there already?
