Another Day in Villville
Disclaimer: I do not own the Lorax book or movie
Chapter 1- The last train to Vermont
Once-ler Beanpole now 14 years old started each day much the same way his father did. He got up. Took a shower. Got dressed. Cleaned the house. Then he went about waking up the various members of his giant family. He started with his brothers ,Bret and Chett , who were by far the hardest to wake up in the morning. After several minutes of "Come on's" and "Wake up, fellas" there was only one thing Once-ler could think to do. He took out a sucker horn and pressed it as hard as he could. Bret and Chett each popped out of bed like Jack in a boxes. "What? Was that?" asked Chett
"Sorry, guys. It was just me. Breakfast will be ready soon so you two need to get up, get dressed, and get downstairs. OK?" said Once-ler "And please hurry. You know how mom gets if things aren't perfect in the morning."
Once-ler watched as Bret and Chett got out of bed and each started to get ready. He nodded to himself as he watched them do this and then went to his aunt and uncle's bedroom. His aunt was already in the bathroom taking a shower but Uncle Ubb was still sleeping. Once-ler went to shake him awake. Ubb grabbed onto his arm and pulled him into bed hugging him tighter and tighter in the middle of a nightmare Once-ler surmised. "Uncle Ubb… Uncle Ubb, you're hurting me. UBB!" Once-ler yelled waking up Ubb. At that moment Grizelda walked out of the bathroom fully dressed.
"What is going on in here?" Grizelda asked annoyed
Ubb let go of Once-ler "Grizelda dear, this isn't what it looks like."
"Of course not. You pulled Once-ler into bed while he was trying to wake you up to let you know breakfast was ready. Give me some credit. The boy might be gay but you? I don't think so." Said Grizelda
"I'm not gay. Not that there would be anything wrong with it if I was." Said Once-ler
"You're a 14 year old boy who cooks, cleans, and knits. Some people might question that." Said Grizelda.
"I do all of that to make my mother happy. " said Once-ler "That is all, Aunt Grizelda."
"Fine." Said Grizelda
Once-ler then left to check-in with his mother. She was sitting in bed reading and looked up when Once-ler entered the room.
"Oh, Oncie. I've been waiting for you." Said Elysia
" Good morning, mother. How are you this morning?" asked Once-ler
" So far no complaints." Said Elysia "Although the day has just begun. Have you started breakfast yet?"
"Not yet. I was just about to." Said Once-ler
"Then get to it." Said Elysia
Once-ler went down to the kitchen and started making breakfast for his family. By the time he was done they were all sitting at the breakfast table including Elysia. No one talked while they ate and before they knew it it was 8am. At that time there was a knock on the door. Once-ler looked out the trailer window to see who it was. It was Norma Snaptrip a friend of his from school.
"Well? Who is it?" asked Elysia
"Norma Snaptrip." Said Once-ler
"Snaptrip? What is doing here?" asked Elysia annoyed
"I don't know." Said Once-ler
"Well, don't just stand there. Find out." Said Elysia
Once-ler opened the front door "Hi, Norma"
"Hi, Once-ler" said Norma
"What are you doing here?" he asked
"Well, Ellen has a special doctor's appointment today. So, I thought we could walk to school together." She said
"Ok. Just give me a minute." He said. Once-ler turned to his mother. "Heading to school, mother. Love you." Kissed Elysia on the cheek, picked up his bag, and walked out the door.
"By the way, got your mail for you." Said Norma
Norma handed Once-ler a letter. He opened it without looking at who it was from and started reading. He dropped the letter on the ground in shock.
"Once, are you ok?" asked Norma
Once-ler couldn't respond because the truth was he didn't know if he was ok.
"Once? What's wrong? You look like you saw a ghost or something." Said Norma
"It's nothing." Said Once-ler not wanting to discuss his crazy family life.
"Ok… if you don't want to talk about it." Norma said casually then quickly grabbed for the letter still sitting on the ground. Once-ler tried to beat her to it but no luck. She quickly read the letter and then looked at Once-ler. "It's from your father."
"I know." Said Once-ler
"But you told me your father was dead. " asked Norma
"I know. I'm sorry. I didn't except to ever hear from him again and it hurt less if he died instead of abandoned us." Said Once-ler
"Once, I don't understand if he abandoned you why would he ask you to come stay with him?" asked Norma
"He tried to take me with him. To a place called Quechee." Said Once-ler.
"You didn't want to stay there? Quechee is very nice." Said Norma
"You've been there?" asked Once-ler
"My family goes there every summer and winter. It's a great place to relax not as hectic as Villville." Said Norma "Although, if you don't participate in a sport it's boring. Is that why you didn't want to stay there?"
"No. It was my father. He was acting very oddly the night he took me. He always taught me that no matter what I should never think anything bad about my mother because she loves me in her own way. But that night he kept saying that he was wrong and that he didn't love anyone but herself. " said Once-ler
"And he was right. Elysia Beanpole doesn't know the meaning of the word love." Said Norma
"Hey! That's not true .My father just deluded himself into thinking that!" Once-ler yelled "He was sick and he knew it. It's why he let my mother take me home."
"Once, do you have any idea how crazy that sounds?" asked Norma
"No one asked your opinion, Norma." Said Once-ler
"I'm sorry but before we drop the subject I think I should give you some advice. If you want to find out the truth. THE REAL TRUTH you'll take your father up on his offer and go see him. Just for a day or two. In fact, I'll go with you. We'll leave afterschool." said Norma
"All right. I'll go." Said Once-ler
(****)
The bell finally rang and instead of heading home Norma and Once-ler ran to the train station. They bought two tickets to Quechee and found two seats in front.
" My mother is going to kill me when she finds out about this." Said Once-ler
"Relax. She won't find out." Said Norma "Besides, even if she did what could she do?"
"Have you met my mother? She related to the mayor . The possibilities are overwhelming. " said Once-ler
"But you said she loves you." Said Norma "She shouldn't be upset that you are going to see your father."
"She does love me. She just has a temper." Said Once-ler
" That's the nice way to put it" said Norma
"Can't you be nice for once." Said Once-ler
"All right. I'm sorry. Everything will be fine. Don't worry." Said Norma trying to cheer her friend up.
The train sped past all the sights of Villville including a psychologists office where Norma saw Ellen and waved. Ellen hid her face behind a board and finished then puzzle she was working on. After several hours the train stopped in the Lebanon, NH train station. When Norma and Once-ler got off the train they were greeted by an old woman.
"Once-ler! It's so wonderful to see you, dear. And who is this?" the old woman asked looking at Norma
"Grandma this is my friend Norma Snaptrip. Norma is this my grandmother Molly Beanpole."said Once-ler.
"Hello, Norma." Said Molly
"Hello, Mrs. Beanpole. It's very nice to meet you." Said Norma
The three of them took the bags and walked out of the they walked out a few things were bothering Once-ler. How did his grandmother know he was coming? Leaving Villville couldn't be this easy. Something bad was going to happen. Once-ler could just feel it.