Chapter 5

Advice From A Caterpillar

The Caterpillar and Reince looked at each other for some time in silence: at last the Caterpillar took the hookah out of her mouth, and addressed him in a languid, sleepy voice.

‘Who are you?’ said the Caterpillar.

This was not an encouraging opening for a conversation. Reince replied, rather shyly, ‘I — I hardly know, just at present — at least I know what the GOP was when I got up this morning, but I think it must have been changed several times since then.’ Sounding slightly desperate, Reince added, ‘Will . . . will you be voting for Mitt Romney in November?’

With narrowed eyes, the Caterpillar stared at Reince for such a very long time, he shifted about uncomfortably. And then at last she slowly said, ‘Who . . . is . . . Mitt Romney?’

This caused Reince to fidget even more agitatedly because it sounded somehow threatening. Cautiously he asked, ‘Well, will you be voting for any Republicans?’ and then nervously straightened his tie.

The Caterpillar put the hookah back in her mouth and seemed lost in contemplation. At last she put it aside and fixed Reince with the most forbidding glare he had ever experienced. ‘Who . . . are . . . the Republicans?’ the Caterpillar asked so harshly that Reince suddenly wanted to cry.