Complete The Thought

Alice watched the wet grey rock walls that framed the banks of the Styx glide past. Charon at the tiller and wielding the paddle in an efficient manner was taking her and Cerberus towards the soft light at the end of the tunnel. She snuck a morsel of cake from her pinafore pocket offering it to Cerberus.
"Be prepared", that particular motto seemed very apt especially at this uncertain time in her young life. She thought that a full sized 3-headed dog, one that was used to defending the gates of Hades, would be a useful guardian even though the light beyond did look inviting. The glow at the end of the tunnel grew brighter making Alice, [big] Cerberus and Charon squint into the unfolding scene...

The soft light at the end of the tunnel was still a distant glimmer. She stroked Cerberus's heads, trying to be equal in her affectionate stroking of the big 3-headed dog, head by fluffy head.
Charon was singing softly to himself... Oh, that's nice she smiled to herself, okay the song was called "Willin", but Alice...Dallas Alice, that lyric she had always thought of as her very own.

For all those who know the song, enjoy. And for those who don't ... YouTube? {Little Feat}

Lyrics for: Willin'

I was warped by the rain
Driven by the snow
I'm drunk and dirty, don't you know
But I'm still, oh I'm still,... willin'

Out on a road, late last night
I saw my pretty Alice, in every headlight
Alice... Dallas Alice

At this point Alice joined in and not to be left out Cerbrus added an alto-howl to Lowell George's gritty-howl
Chorus:
And I've been from Tuscon to Tucumcari
Tehachapi to Tonapah
I've driven every kind of rig that's ever been made
I've driven down the backroads so I wouldn't get weighed
And if you give me weed, whites, and wine
And show me a sign, I'll be willin' to be movin'

Now I smuggled some smoke, some folks from Mexico
Baked by the sun, every time I go to Mexico, and I'm still

And I've been kicked by the wind
Robbed by the sleet
Had my head stoved in but I'm still on my feet
And I'm willin'... oh I'm willin'

the glow at tunnel's end grew nearer...

but then Alice was a little confused. Was the glow from the warm and life sustaining sun, or was it perhaps still the glow from Charon's hand? As the tunnel entrance grew ever nearer, Alice suddenly....

realized that she didn't want to go to class. Taken aback, she thought for a minute. Why didn't she want to go to class?

Class always filled Alice with a peculiar dread, when she considered the person who lead the lesson. She was a wizened old lady, stooped over, mauvey-blue hair tightly drawn into a neat little bun that literally pulled her face flesh back with it. Her shrewd eyes pierced into the very soul of any youngster who had anything other than lessons to say. Why, only a week ago, when Alice was....

a normal 8 year old girl with no thoughts of rabbit holes, and ferry-men and big doggies with 3 heads, well the mauvey-blue haired, tutor had been a dread... Reading, Writing, and 'rithmetic... hmm, well Alice could see that seriously; algebra and econometrics, sheesh, where would that fit into her daily life? The movement of the gondola steered by Charon and the knowledge that Cerberus was 'on guard' gave her that lovely sense of safe haven and serentity, she closed her eyes...and the dream unfolded...

...the dream unfolded....A grey mist fell over the purple sands. Alice looked at the lime green water that lapped gently upon the shore. "Cerberus" she said "We aren't in Kansas anymore..." Cerberus looked up and remarked "You halfwit, that's a completely different story." Just then a white rabbit came running swiftly along, causing Alice and Cerberus to....

whip out a rifle and with amazing speed and accuracy blew the head off the rabbit, "there's dinner for tonight" said Alice. the rabbit
s head proclaimed loudly, "A lovely day to you too mam, i'm sorry but my gun is in my pocket and i can't reach it. How did you know that this is how we say hello here."

"I think I read about it in a book of etiquette once", answered Alice. "Although, I must admit it is quite a strange ritual. It is almost as strange as the time my kitten Dinah got into the jar of Orange Marmalade"...

Dinah, darling Dinah... She was a big kitty now with little kittens of her own. Marmalade was always their Sunday treat. Sticky stuff, but tasty too : )

Alice deep in dreamland, shifted a little in her corner of the Gondola. A deep snore, roused her slightly ... must be Cerberus, she thought through her dream haze. Alice drifted cradled in the arms of morpheus, back down the deep well of dreamlife... the mood had shifted, she knew that much...

And it was with a crack of thunder that our dear gnarled gnome literally jumped up out of his nice warm bed. He shook his grizzled bumpy head back and forth to chase out the last traces of his delicious dreams of Alice, the White Rabbit and all those adventures back there in dreamland. The blast of a bent and tired tuba could be heard throughout the land. Oh my stars, the Rumbiques were at it again, invasion for the mystical waters that grant a life lived forever.... When will peace pervade? The old tuba blatted one last grunt and .....

the lazy gnome made his way out the door, into the courtyard, where the others stood waiting. To defend what was theirs by right was truly annoying, these Rumbiques were such quarrelsome creatures. Ahhh well, a good fight can be delicious, too, thought our gnarled little friend...

The gnome a veteran of scenarios such as this looked around the courtyard. The odds did not look good, mind you he'd survived long enough to know that the key to survival was in superior weaponary. He unslung his favourite toy of the moment, which he kept strapped to his back; even while asleep [slept on his side]. This was a sophisticated piece of death dealing machinery. His smile at the Rumbiques was full of evil intent...

The other gnomes looked at our hero with great trepidation. You see, upon his back was a backpack that contained a nuclear weapon, and although his aim was deadly, his feet often tripped upon the other, sending his bulk sprawling comically upon the dusty ground. Why oh why did he have the glory of carrying a weapon such as this?? Ah well, the bleating tuba sounded one final blast, as the Rumbiques were now just outside the gates of the gnome's tiny village. Suddenly ...

An amazing sparkly fireant appeared and whispered he possed all the secrets of the universe. The gnome......