Chapter Two : Marshmallows And Meetings
The sun was shining bright down on the Truffula valley, awaking all the barbaloots and the swommee swans and the humming fish. And a young woman, as well. She stretched her arms high, ran her fingers through her slightly-mussed brown hair and did her best to keep her dark-green eyes open. She slipped out of her bed and into her bathroom, where she clothed herself in a frilly white sundress, a puffy yellow shawl, and thin brown sandals.
The woman smiled before she ran towards her bedroom window, opened it and leaned over the edge, shouting with all her might, "Good morning, Truffula valley!" She giggled when a few barbaloots waved up at her and when she heard the whistling replies of the humming fish.
This was Mattie's morning routine ever since she managed to make a home for herself in the Truffula valley, along all the adorable animals and the beautiful Truffula trees. The trees were the whole reason she had wanted to live in the valley; she had heard from others that the trees were gorgeous, and she wanted to be surrounded by them the moment she laid her eyes on them.
Mattie grabbed her daisy necklace, and grinned as she stepped outside. The warm sun gave her sweet shivers as she spun down her porch steps, hopping over the small barbaloots that awaited her at the bottom.
"Good morning, Pipsqueak." She said, reaching down to pull him up into her arms, and he giggled as she did. "And how are you doing?"
Pipsqueak smiled and hugged her neck in response, and it was Mattie's turn to giggle as she reached down into her pocket. The barbaloots sniffed the air, and smiled widely as he began to crawl around Mattie's torso.
She giggled once again and pulled out a small piece of chocolate, which Pipsqueak snatched up and quickly shoveled down. "Hey, hey! Slow down, Pipsqueak! I don't have an unlimited supply of those, you know."
He only giggled before jumping down and scurrying off. Mattie smiled, turned in the opposite direction Pipsqueak had run off in and headed down the large hill.
This was how Mattie spent the majority of her days living in the Truffula valley; cuddling up with and occasionally feeding the barbaloots, walking down to the pond and singing tunes with the humming fish, and then dancing for hours with the swommee swans. She liked it that way, and she hoped it would never ever have to change.
When she opened her mouth to sing with the orange fish, Mattie heard and odd sound, followed closely by a voice. "This is the pla—ace!"
She blinked, before looking up and glancing around. "Was that…a guitar?" Mattie looked down at the humming fish, who only shrugged up at her.
"These Truffula trees are just-a-what I ne—ed!" The voice sang out again. "Gonna chop one down and make my thne—ed!"
Mattie raised a brow, and began walking back up the large hill. The humming fish followed after her as they all passed her house and kept walking a little longer, before they crouched down behind a bush. Mattie still had that brow raised as she tilted her head.
A man, a very tall man who was probably around her age, was dancing around with the barbaloots and the swommee swans and the humming fish, singing a song. He had black hair and wore a fedora over the messy mop, with a white shirt and a gray vest and gray-striped pants with black shoes. Mattie blinked and turned to the humming fish beside her, who only shrugged once again. She looked back to the man, who was now digging through the back of his large wagon.
"So, now our friendship can begin; hand in hand, and wing in fin. There's nothing you and I can't do, so let's all make my dreams come tru—ue!" As the man began yodeling to the tune of the song, he threw dangerous objects out of the wagon that landed incredibly close to a few humming fish, barbaloots, and even a baby swommee swan.
Mattie winced as the sharp objects fell, before she chuckled when the animals glared up at the man. Serves him right… The could've taken a barbaloot's arm off! She watched as the animals closed in on the man, their teeth bore menacingly.
The man held up two large bags in front of him in defense, but one of the barbaloots jumped on them and ripped the front open, sending puffy white objects flying up into the air then raining down all around. The animals were suddenly enticed with the puffs of white, and they all fumbled to grab some.
A few rolled Mattie's way, and she picked one up and squished it between her fingers before sniffing it. "A marshmallow?" She looked at the man, who now had a happy smile on his face. "Must really like 'em if he had two bags that big with him…"
The man suddenly turned around to the bush Mattie was hiding behind. "Who's there?"
Mattie blinked, quickly turning to the humming fish. They pointed up at her, and she frowned. "Thanks for ratting me out, guys… No chocolate for you tomorrow." She let out a giggled as they pouted, but quickly slapped a hand over her mouth.
"Ah-ha! I heard you that time!" He pointed a thing finger at the bush. "Reveal yourself!"
Mattie popped up from behind the bush, startling the man as he jumped back and almost tripped over his long legs. She chuckled at his clumsiness, and he frowned and pointed at her again. "Why are you? And what are you doing here; I thought no one live in the Truffula valley?"
"Yeah, no one 'cept me!" Mattie pointed back at him. "What are you doing here?" She looked him up and down.
"Wha—? I should be the one asking the questions, lady!"
"No, I'm the one who should be askin', sir!"
The man blinked, then rubbed the bridge of his nose. "You know—Look…" He exhaled. "I'm the Once-ler." He extended a hand.
Mattie looked down at his hand, then back to his face. "Hmph. Mattie." She gave the hand a quick shake before leaning back and folding her arms. "So…Mister Once-ler… What are you doing in the Truffula valley?"
"I should be asking you that, Mattie." The Once-ler pursed his lips out at her.
The two then eyes each other for quite some time, looked each other up and down with crossed arms and narrowed eyes before they both make a 'Hmph' sound and turned away from the other.
"…I happen to live here, for you information."
The Once-ler tilted her head towards her. "What? You…live here?"
Mattie nodded. "That's right. I've lived in the valley for…" She brought up her hands to count on her fingers. "For almost fifteen months."
A smile soon appeared on the Once-ler's face and he rubbed the back of his neck. "Wow… More than a year, huh?"
"Wow, indeed, Mister Once-ler." Mattie smirked. "Now, tell me what you're doing here."
"O-Oh… Well, I'm here…to make my revolutionary invention."
He was about to continue when some loud humming and harmonizing was heard from the pond Mattie had been at. She turned in its direction before looking back at the Once-ler. "Well, I'd absolutely love to hear about this invention of yours, Mister Once-ler, but I've got a few humming fish who are in desperate need of my beautiful voice!" She sang the last two words as she twirled and hopped backwards a few steps.
The Once-ler blinked as she walked away, before lifting a hand to wave. "O-Okay! See ya around, then!"
Mattie waved back as she disappeared below the hill. "See ya, Mister Once-ler!"
