I would like to dedicate this to Laney, for fueling my love of trees, (truffula or not), the Lorax, and even my crush on the Once-ler. Laney, this one's for you.
Unless someone like you cares
A whole awful lot, it's not going to get any better
It's not- Dr. Seuss
They broke through the thick plastic that covered the rich soil, then, Audrey planted the tree, right there, in the middle of Thneedville, for all to see. Then, 'Wait!' called out a thick, old, bossy voice. 'What?' was whispered throughout the town, causing confusion.
A short, orange looking poof of fur ran to the middle of the town square. 'I am the Lorax' he announced. 'And I speak for the trees, and there is something important that you must all know!' 'What is it. Mr….' Audrey asked. 'Lorax, and this is the Once-ler, we bring good news, ' 'What?' Ted asked, eagerly. 'That isn't the last seed.' Everybody gasped.
'I found it when I was visiting the Once-ler. He insisted on coming to help repair what he destroyed.' The Once-ler nodded. 'Where did it come from?' Audrey asked. 'I found underneath the Unless stone, I guess a wind blew it there, where it went dormant for a while' he said, holding up the seed for Audrey to see, and then take. She picked it up gently, and held it in her palm, observing it closely. 'This is wonderful' she whispered.
'Stop!' Mr. O'Hare yelled. 'I demand that you all stop, and think about what you are doing,' 'we're trying to help the Earth' Audrey and Ted said in unison. 'How do you know it will help and not hurt' 'because trees make air' 'what? , she's lying' he yelled. 'No. I'm. Not. Trees make air through photosynthesis' 'what' Mr. O'Hare yelled again, playing dumb. 'They don't.. She, she, she just made that word up' he called out again. Everybody was giving them questioning looks, wondering whom to believe. Then, a man, who they had never heard speak, spoke up.
'You don't know me, but my name's Sai, I'm jus the O'Hare delivery guy, and it seems like trees might be worth a try, so I say let it grow' everybody began to sing along. 'My name is Dan' 'and my name's Rose, and our son Wesley kind of glows, and that's not good so we suppose, we should let it grow' everybody clasped hands, and the Lorax whispered to the Once-ler, 'It's not too late' then, Audrey handed the seed to the Once-ler who, dug a small hole with his gloved, green hands, and put the seed inside. He was pulled into the group of singing townspeople, and then, leave it to O'Hare, 'It may be time to start a new, and maybe change my point of view… Nah, I say let it die!, Let it Die, let it die, let it shrivel up and.. Come on, who's with me' he paused, taking in the looks from the townspeople. None of them were nice either, then 'Nobody' yelled out the smallest of all, Cindy Lou Who, 'You Greedy dirt bag' Sai yelled out, then, music to the Lorax's ears 'Let it grow, let it grow, let the love inside you show, they are just two tiny seeds, but they're all we really need, so we say let it grow!' the Lorax looked at Audrey and Ted, 'Why do you care about trees?' he asked. 'Because, trees are wonder, they are the source of life, for humans and animals' she said smiling. Then, she turned to Ted, kissed him and whispered, 'Ted, this is the best birthday ever'