Meanwhile at City Hall, Ned was running late again for a meeting with the Council. He rushed through the council chamber doors, completely out of breath. Chairman VonFrood shot him a dirty look but the other council members waved friendly.
Not long ago, the City Council members never listened to Ned. They called him a boob! But after Ned saved Whoville from impending doom, and became one of the Greats, the Council had come to trust him.
They apologized and were much kinder to him now. But Chairman VonFrood still didn't like Ned for some reason.
After everywho recited the Whoville Pledge, VonFrood brought the meeting to order.
"Mr. Mayor, what plans do you have to contribute to this year's Fall Festival?" he asked.
Ned wrung his hands around his tie and smiled nervously.
He had so many ideas for this year's Fall Festival. Last year, there was an evening hay ride through a haunted trail. There was a pumpkin pie eating contest that Ned had participated in and won. The Mayor really knew how to have a good time.
Ned gathered the plans from his suitcase and began reading them aloud.
"Um...well...this year, I thought we could bring out the parachute. It is in need of some refurbishing, but once that's done, our guest can ride in it and visit with me. What do you think?"
The council members ooh'd and aww'd in delight of Ned's idea. VonFrood wrinkled his nose like he'd caught a whiff of something foul.
"Mr. Mayor," he said. His top lip tightened which was not a good sign. "Only a fool would want to be confined in a hot air balloon with you! Don't you remember what happened last time?"
Ned hung his head in embarrassment as he remembered. A few years back, Ned lost direction of where the wind was blowing and accidentally crashed the hot air balloon into the Eiffelburg Tower. Fortantely, no Who was hurt.
"I guess it was kind of a stupid idea," Ned admitted.
"That's because you're a stupid person," VonFrood said and then added more silently, "Sally must be so proud."
The council members shuddered in snickers. Ned took a deep breath and tried not to let that comment get to him. Even though the council members were all much nicer to Ned, he didn't expect it to last forever. VonFrood was still in control. By now, Ned just wanted the meeting to be over with. No Who was listening to him.
"I have other ideas," Ned spoke up over their laughter.
VonFrood sneered and folded his arms across his chest. The other council members followed his lead. "Really?"
"Uhh..." Ned glanced at his plans. He suddenly wasn't so sure about them anymore.
"Well, I hope so for your sake. After all, if the Fall Festival is a failure," the Chairman gave a sly smile. "it'll be your fault."
"No! No! No!"
Ned flicked his pen out of his left hand. He leaned his elbows on his desk and sighed.
All of his ideas seemed terrible: the pumpkin patch ring toss, the leaf art contest, the scavenger hunt. Ned crossed every one of them out. He could hear VonFrood's disapproving voice in his head each time he wrote down a new idea
Ned crumbled another sheet of paper. His pet fish, Finwick looked concerned through the glass bowl. Ned brought the bowl to his lap for comfort.
"What am I going to do Finwick? Chairman VonFrood hated all of my ideas. He's given me until the next meeting to come up with something else."
The red fish blinked and blew bubbles. Ned took it as a sign of sympathy from his friend.
"That VonFrood," he continued. "He's such a bully. I don't understand why he hates me so much. What did I ever to him?"
Ned rummaged his drawer for a small can of fish food as he vented and vented. "And then he had the audacity to call me stupid. I am not stupid! I was a mathlete in high school! What was he doing? He was in the drama club. He's the stupid one. And I will have him know that my Sally loves me to peices. She calls me her cuddle buddy and makes me cookies!"
Finwick looked at Ned, waiting patiently for his dinner to be served. Ned dashed the fish food into the bowl and watched Finwick dart to the surface.
"I'll show him...I just need to come up with some better ideas," Ned mumbled.
Ned then placed Finwick back on his desk and then picked up his pencil. He needed to concentrate. He didn't want VonFrood to laugh at him again.
Suddenly there was an urgent knock at the door. As Ned got up to answer it, the door had already swung open before his hand could meet the doorknob.
JoJo stood before Ned with a nervous look on his face. He shuffled his hands.
"JoJo? What are you doing here?" Ned asked. It wasn't like JoJo to just randomly show up to City Hall.
"I have...I have to tell you something," JoJo began.
Ned looked back at his plans on the desk. Normally it excited him when JoJo wanted to share his problems, but right now, Ned really didn't have time to stop and chat. His name and reputation was on the line and in the hands of VonFrood.
"That's great!" Ned said. "We can talk about it at dinner. Okay?"
He gave JoJo a gentle push out the door and ignored JoJo's protests.
"See you when I get home," Ned said in the most loving tone possible. With that, he shut the door and locked it.
