Alice in Wonderland by Kennedy Lewis
The assignment: FAIRY TALES RECONSIDERED.
Kennedy’s back story for Alice suggests a less-than-wonderful Wonderland.
My name is Rita. I’m a 32-year-old woman.
We’ve all watched “Alice in Wonderland” at one point in life, right? What am I saying. Of course, we have! Everyone remembers the inquisitive little girl, with golden blonde hair, bright blue eyes and that damn blue dress.
Although it may be hard to believe, I was once that little girl. I once wore that blue dress, my messy hair was all gold and pretty then, too. Nobody could take their eyes off me for even a second. I was the talk of the town, or I guess the movie set.
I remember so clearly the day I was picked for the role. I was 7 years old. The exact day it happened, November of 1958, my mother basically sold me off for Hollywood money.
I had just woken up on the same bug infested mattress I slept on for most of my life, when my mother suddenly burst into my room. She packed all my clothes into a tiny K-mart bag and told me to get my nice clothes on, which could be compared to a yellow shower curtain.
I asked ‘why?’ She snapped at me “Get your damn clothes on and keep that mouth shut.” I didn’t ask any more questions and slipped into my dress. If you knew one thing about my mother, it was that she had a bad temper.
Kennedy Lewis
October 12, 2023