“Well well well, aren’t we demanding?” the Catipillar said with a smirk on his face. Alice wanted to smack him, but decided against it, seeing how she needed answers. Alice crossed her arms and tapped her foot, thinking of something to say to convince him to help her. Then it was her turn to smirk. What an evil thought, but she hoped it would work. “You know, Sir Catipillar, of the human culture I take it?”

“Why, yes. Of course I do. I know everything.” he replied proudly. “Then I’m sure,” Alice began, smiling smugly, “You know of human delicacies, true?”

“What are you getting at, girl?” the Catipillar asked, apparently nervous and mildly confused. “And I am quite hungry, you know…” Alice continued, much to the Catipillar’s obvious dismay. He was now sweating, and shifting his tremendous weight, as if to try to turn over and run on his stubby, little legs for his miserable, little life. Alice was thoroughly amused at the Catipillar’s discomfort, and began to walk slowly towards him. He now looked at her in terror, mouth agape and eyes bulging. “No, Miss Alice, please. I -”

“Miss Alice, is it now? I was so used to you calling me girl…” Alice was savoring this power. She didn’t know what had come over her, but she loved it. “I can put my hunger aside, if…”

“Y-y-yes, of course. You want to be of your regular size again, correct? I, yes, me. I can help!” He was now frantic, and Alice restrained herself from giggling. “The mushroom to my left. It can unshrink you. But you must know… One side will unshrink you, and the other will shrink you more.” Alice considered this bit of information. “Well, which one is which?” Alice asked. “Well, a witch is a witch, my girl, but that’s another subject,” the Catipillar replied enigmatically. “You’re not going to eat me, are you?” 

“Heavens no, disgusting! I was merely… toying with you.” Alice laughed. She hopped down from the mushroom and began inspecting the one refered to by the Catipillar. She would just have to guess, because she hadn’t the time to bother with the tub of lard.

Alice decided to just take a piece from each side. Now Alice’s decision was which one to eat, and how much should she consume? The last thing she needed was to be a giant again… and if she ate the wrong one? Would she shrink into nonexistance? Well, the only way to find out would be to try… now to decide if she should eat the one in the left or the right hand. Well, last time she asked this “left-right” question, she went with left, soooo… right it is. She barely licked it, hoping that would do the trick, and up she sprouted to her correct size. Sighing with relief, Alice dropped both peices of mushroom and looked around her.