Horton Hears A Who: Jojo's Feelings
by: Terrell James
Chapter 1: Jojo's True Confessions
On Whoville High School, Jojo's music class was doing good. His music teacher, Mrs. Ridgeway discussed about how music will take away your bad days and feelings. After the discussion, Jojo turned to the piano and started to play a rendition of a Ashlee Simpson song, which made the entire class go in awe. After finishing the song, tears streamed from Jojo's eyes and went back to his seat and crying softly about 10 seconds before the bell rang. Jojo wiped his eyes and started to leave the classroom until Mrs. Ridgeway came and talked to Jojo.
"Is there something wrong?" asked Mrs. Ridgeway, with her hand on Jojo's shoulder.
Jojo sniffled and said, "Nothing's wrong. Just a little sad, that's all."
Mrs. Ridgeway looked at Jojo really concerned and said, "Come with me."
Jojo and Mrs. Ridgeway walked back in the classroom and talked to him comfortly. She then said, "Is this about your father?"
Jojo sighed heavily, trying to find his voice, he said, "It is about my dad. He keeps telling me that I should be the mayor of Whoville. I really don't want to upset him so much."
Mrs. Ridgeway then said, "I knew what would be your problem. I'm really sorry about this. You've been in tears for nearly a week. I always try to tell students that it's okay to express themselves when they're sad, angry and stuff like that. Why didn't you tell me this before?"
Jojo said, "I was afraid that you wouldn't understand. I just wished he would realize how I feel."
"I'd understand. Wait here. I have an idea." said Mrs. Ridgeway, as she went in her closet and pulls out a videocamera to figure out what's bothering Jojo and why he was afraid to tell his dad how he feels. As she set the camera up, she asked Jojo, "Is it okay if I ask you a few questions in a videocamera?"
Jojo looked nervous, but said, "I guess so."
As she turned it on and press the 'record' button, she started asking Jojo some questions to really tell his dad how he feels. She asked, "When did this start?"
Jojo said, "It started when I was about 11 years old and he told me that I should be one of the greats. I kept it inside of me for so long and I really don't want to disappoint him."
"Do you ever feel that he loves you?" asked Mrs. Ridgeway.
Jojo nodded his head and told her, "As I got older, I felt as if he never really understood my feelings and I always feel like running away from home and never coming back home." His eyes were filled with tears and his voice started to crack a little bit and then said, "It feels like I'm by myself and I'm lost in my own space where nothing really matters and no one cares about me. So, no. I never feel like my dad really cares about me and it makes me feel like crap. I just wish he would understand me and just be happy to be who I am and not someone I will never be." He said with a teardrop in his face.