Thad Hatter's Arc

Chapter 2 of 6

Thad stepped back and studied his teahouse. The glass walls gleamed. The music played. But something was missing. He needed to learn what made a real tea party work. His fingers drummed on the table. What did guests need most? Tea, obviously. And lots of it. He spotted a garden tucked behind the teahouse, with wooden shelves lining glass walls. Bottles and books filled every surface. The colors matched his teahouse—dark indigo, magenta, gold, and white. A counter sat in the center, perfect for mixing and tasting. Thad grabbed a book titled "Tea Blending for Beginners." He opened it and read about combining flavors. Chamomile with honey. Mint with lemon. He mixed samples at the counter, sniffing each blend. Some smelled terrible. Others made him smile. After hours of practice, he created three perfect blends. But how would he serve tea to hundreds of guests at once? Thad walked outside and found a steam cart decorated in his colors. Gold wheels. White trim. A magenta boiler that whistled when heated. He pushed it beside the teahouse and filled it with water. Steam poured from the top. The cart could boil enough water for dozens of teapots at once. Thad tested it three times. It worked perfectly. One more problem remained. Guests would need somewhere to wait before entering. Thad arranged tables and chairs outside the teahouse entrance. The furniture matched his theme—twisted metal frames, colorful cushions, tea party designs carved into every surface. He set teacups on each table. Now arriving guests could sit and get excited before the real party began. Thad stood back and nodded. His tea garden was ready. His cart was ready. His waiting area was ready. Soon, the guests would come.