Chapter 2: Unhappy Anniversary

9pm and Ellen had finally finished her homework. So, she and Sarah started going over a list her mother was holding. "Timothy Andrews?"

" Yes" said Ellen

" Judy Atling?" asked Sarah

"Mom, Judy Atling is to me what Elysia Beanpole is to you." Ellen stated

"O, dear." Sarah commented

"James Burrows?" asked Sarah

"Yes." Said Ellen

"Roger Getset?" asked Sarah

"Yes!" said Ellen

Many names later Sarah gets to the last person on the list

"Norma Snaptrip?" asked Sarah

" I guess" Ellen sighed

" Is something going on between you and Norma?" asked Sarah a little concerned

"She lied to me about Roger so I'd break up with him." Said Ellen

"How do you know she was lying to you?" asked Sarah

"She said she caught him making out with Judy. He would never do that to me!" said Ellen

"Honey, I've known a lot of guys like Roger Getset. They were great guys the problem was eventually they all lost interest because I wasn't popular enough. Now, I know it hurts to hear this but maybe Roger has moved on. You need to believe that Norma is telling you the truth. She's never lied to you before. Why would she start now?" Asked Sarah

Ellen just nodded.

"Ok… well, that's everyone. Of course you're Aunt Samantha and your cousins Horton and Aloysius. " said Sarah

"Do they have to come they are so weird." Said Ellen " Aunt Sam only eats green eggs and ham. Where do you even green ham. Horton believes in creatures called Whos. Whatever those are supposed to be. Aloysius thinks bottled air is a good invention. Why would we need that if air is around us for free?" said Ellen

"I know the O'Hares are a little odd, dear but their family. And especially when it comes to my sister Samantha I learned a long time ago not to ask too many questions. Especially, ones you don't want to know the answers too." Said Sarah

"Ok but that bottled air thing still confuses me." Said Ellen

"Maybe Aloysius knows something we don't." said Sarah

"If he's psychic maybe he can tell me why Once-ler Beanpole is running away." Said Ellen

"What was that?" asked Sarah

"Just this rumor I heard at school. Once-ler Beanpole is dropping out of school and running away from home. Things must be rough there." Said Ellen

"Things are never rough for the Beanpole family. They live in sangria-la." Sarah pointed out

"What about the murder of Mr. Beanpole that was rough." Said Ellen

"Bradley was a good man. It's the rest of that family who think they rule the world." Said Sarah

"Well, Elysia's family do own the town." Said Ellen

"I don't need to be reminded of that." Said Sarah

"Now, music… " said Sarah

Meanwhile over at the Beanpole trailer

"Now, remember you have to be out of here by 11pm. My mother doesn't like having guests over." Said Once-ler

"No need to tell me that. By the way, do you think we should add some local myths?" asked Norma

"Villville doesn't have any myths." Said Once-ler

"Yes, it does. My grandmother told me one." Said Norma "About truffula trees."

"What exactly is mythical about truffula trees?" asked Once-ler

"Well, it's not the trees exactly… it's the protector. Their guardian, if you will." Said Norma

"Trees have protectors?" Asked Once-ler

"It's a myth. You shouldn't take it so seriously. Wouldn't that be cool though." Said Norma "We should add it as part of the project."

"No we shouldn't." said Once-ler

" Why not?" asked Norma

"Because they'll laugh at us. I would prefer not to be laughed at anymore." Said Once-ler

"Is that why you're doing it?" asked Norma

"Doing what?" asked Once-ler

"Running away." Said Norma

"I'm not running away. I'm trying to find a place to start a business. Besides, I'm not sure when I'm going exactly." Said Once-ler "I was going to tell Ellen how I felt before I left anyway and right now just doesn't feel right."

"I wouldn't tell her right away. She'll just blame me if you do. I've been pushing the idea. " Said Norma

"You have?" asked Once-ler

"Yea. It's why when I told her about Roger today she didn't believe me." Said Norma

"I wouldn't either. You are the town gossip." Said Once-ler

"No. I believe that title belongs to your mother. I'm just the high school gossip." Said Norma

"Still with a reputation like that. It's hard to tell when you're being honest and when you're stretching the truth because of a rumor you heard." Said Once-ler

"I've never lied in my column." Said Norma "So, are you going to help me figure out what to do about Ellen or not."

"No. Firstly, our families are in the middle of feud. Second, I think the best thing to do is nothing. Eventually, she'll find out on her own." Said Once-ler

Norma sighed "I guess you're right. Now, about the project…."

"It's getting late. Let's finish it this weekend." Said Once-ler

"Ok, see you at school tomorrow." Said Norma

Norma leaves the Beanpole trailer and looks over at the Peach house. She then walks home. She thought that maybe Once-ler was right and it would be better if Ellen found out about Roger on her own.

A week later. Ellen was getting ready for her date. She tried on 20 outfits and couldn't decide what to wear. Finally she decided on a red shirt and skinny jeans. Ellen was so excited about going on her anniversary date with Roger. She went to the restaurant EVERYONE took their dates. When she got there Roger was sitting in a booth and she sat down across from him. "Hey, Roger." Said Ellen

"Hey, Baby." He said kissing her on the forehead.

"I feel like I haven't seen you all week." Said Ellen

"O, I've been very busy." He said

"O. ok." Said Ellen

"Ellen, we need to talk about something." Said Roger

"Ok…" said Ellen brightening up

"It's very important." He said " We've had a lot of fun. I've enjoyed every minute of our time together."

"Me too." Said Ellen

"It's just that… I think it's time we moved on." Said Roger

"What?!" exclaimed Ellen

"I'm sorry. It's just that I found someone else." Said Roger

" Then it's true, isn't it?" asked Ellen

"What are you talking about?" asked Roger playing dumb

" ISN'T IT!" screamed Ellen "You 've been seeing Judy Atling behind my back!"

"Yes. " said Roger

"Why?" asked Ellen

"Come on. You knew you and I were never going to be together forever. We're from two different worlds. I'm from the rich funeral parlor world. You're from well the normal world which is pretty far beneath it. Also, I'm part of the popular crowd and you aren't. This is just the way it has to be." Said Roger

"You're a dick! I hate you and I never want to see you again!" Ellen says as she gets up to leave.

"Where are you going?" asked Roger

"I'm leaving! I'm not having dinner with a jerk who wants to throw my heart around like it's a beach ball and we're characters on Jersey Shore. In case you haven't noticed. I'm not Snooki!" yelled Ellen "So, bye."

Ellen stomps out of the restaurant and bumps into Norma

"Norma!" said Ellen

"Hey, Ellen. How did your date go?" asked Norma

"He broke up with me." Said Ellen "Norma, I'm sorry. I should have believed you when you told me he was cheating on with me." Said Ellen

"I'm sorry too. I should have thought of a better way to tell you." Said Norma

"Best friends?" asked Ellen

"Forever and ever." Said Norma

As they walk down the street Norma finds a truffula seed on the ground " I guess it's my lucky night." Said Norma then she hands it to Ellen " On, second thought I don't need luck. You take it." Said Norma

"I could use luck. " said Ellen taking the seed and putting in it her purse. "You know the more I think about it. The more I realize Villville is very odd. We have legends about the trees here and even believe the seeds are lucky. Odd." Said Ellen

" Still when things seem dark it's good to have something to believe in. Don't you think?" asked Norma

"Yea. By the way, Norma. It's ok you can put the break up in your gossip column if you like." Said Ellen

"You sure?" asked Norma

"I want everyone to know what a jerk Roger Getset is. " said Ellen "And Norma?... Thanks"