Chapter 2: Happy Birthday, Sweet 16!

"Grandma?" asked Ted completely astonished " Grandma, what are you doing here?"

"Just visiting an old friend,dear. But, the question is what are YOU doing here? It's Friday, aren't you and your girlfriend supposed to be on tree duty?" asked Norma looking through Ted as if she could see into his soul that way she did sometimes. Norma then looked over and saw the kids laughing outside "I see, the rumors are still floating around. Teddy, I'm surprised at you. You were never one to follow what everyone else believed. Why don't I walk to the two of you home. Ellen, wants to be left alone. Besides, trees are not gonna grow themselves, you know." said Norma shooing Ted and Audrey away from the front door.

As Norma shoos. An old woman with gray hair and faded blue eyes comes into the light "Are you still here, Norma?" asked the woman in a voice that was very raspy as if she hadn't spoken in several years. For a woman who never came out into the daylight she had aged pretty well. "We were just leaving, Ellen and I was going to shoo the children at the gate away for you."

"It's quite all right. I deserve this. It's my punishment for encouraging that jackass." said Ellen. "We heard it was more than one person that picked on your daughter." Ted blurted out. Audrey and Norma glared at him. " I don't have a daughter. Never did; but someone decides they are not good enough for society and it's always the same rumor isn't it? A couple has a daughter who was bullied and killed herself and I'm the mother who went crazy after her daughter died and am now vowing revenge. I wish that was the case but I'm not the victim. I'm the murderer. " Ellen stated ominously.

A murderer…it was probably too harsh a word to use but Ellen wasn't sure how else to describe herself not after the warnings about what would happen if she got involved with a member of the Beanpole family and when she thought about the consequences of what happened when she did. So, a murderer she was.

"Ellen Peach, you are not a murderer. You had nothing to do with this. You were just being supportive." said Norma breaking Ellen from her thoughts. "supportive to a man who's big dream was to murder things… the environment, his goodness, our marriage… and all I did to get all that accomplished was to say yes. that makes me a murderer." said Ellen.

Actually, deep down Ellen knew that wasn't true. She had no way of knowing that things would turn out the way they did and that the man she knew and loved would change into a thoughtless miser. But still all warnings that people had told her about the Beanpoles rang through her ears and it's why everyone thought she was some crazy old woman mourning the loss of a daughter who committed suicide. However, like Norma always had these two kids seemed different. As if they wouldn't judge her for what happened but may in fact do quite the contrary and trust her. Ellen was right in fact because whenTed and Audrey looked at Ellen they didn't see the crazy person everyone else claimed she was. They saw someone who had made a mistake and was frightened of the consequences. The first person Ted thought of was

"The Once-ler" said Ted out loud without meaning to. They all looked at him. Ellen looked confused "You've heard of the Once-ler? I didn't think anyone knew who he was anymore" said Ellen almost in a daze as if trying to remember a long lost memory or trying to forget it.

Ted asked "You knew him?" Ellen nodded "I was married to him" "Have you spoken to him since you called it off?" asked Audrey who was always such a romantic it's what Ted loved about her. "No. I'm still so mad at him and myself…. my family always told me he wasn't the right guy for me and they were right but I didn't believe them because of the feud."

"Feud?" asked Ted "Yes, the feud between the Peaches and the Beanpoles…. that feud started before either of us were ever born…. but I'm sure you have better things to do than hear an old woman reminisce about the past. Besides, if you know the Once-ler you know most of our story anyway. He probably told you all about us and Lorax. " said Ellen. "The Lorax yes… you no." said Ted "O,That jackass! Hold on tight, kids. you're about to hear a love story to rock the ages" said Ellen.

"It started a long time ago…right here in Thneedville…." Ted started to groan the last thing he wanted to do today was hear a story that took place long ago. Norma sensing this interrupted Ellen "Perhaps we should save the story for later. The kids have tree duty today and it's getting rather late but why don't you come over to the house later. You can tell us the story over dinner." said Norma.

" You mean leave the house? Go see people?" Ellen shrieked as if Norma asked her to actually murder someone. It had been so long since Ellen went outside even for a walk. She wasn't sure how it would feel to be out there or how others would react to seeing her. " I would just be to dinner with my family. I live with my daughter Margaret and Ted here. Ted is a nice young man as you can clearly see and I raised Margaret not to bite." Norma chuckled at her own joke.

Ellen didn't want to seem rude so she nodded but deep down she just didn't want to be around people even if they were her best friend Norma Snaptrip and Norma's family. She then escorted Ted, Audrey, and Norma out so that she was all alone again aside from the children who were making noise outside.

-{ *****************}-

Everyone sat around the table waiting for Ellen to begin the story. Including Audrey, who Ted had to beg Margaret to invite for dinner. Even though Margret had not been at the house that afternoon she too was very interested to hear Ellen's story. Mostly because up til an hour before Ellen showed up she did not think that Ellen Peach actually existed since her mother Norma made up things a lot.

" So, Once upon a time and long ago when Thneedville was called… Villville. Lived two families the Beanpoles and the Peaches also known as my family. They hated…no, loathed each other from the moment they met. Some think that the Beanpoles wanted the Peaches dead. Others think the Peaches tried to get the Beanpoles evicted from town but whatever the reason… no body knows but they fought about everything and hated each other most definitely. I never knew any of the Beanpoles because of it ;at least not til my 16th birthday which in an odd twist was on Earth day when celebrated the town's Truffula Tree appreciation party…." started Ellen "Wait, what's Earth day?" asked Ted

"It's a day where we celebrate the preservation of the Earth. At least, we used to before Once-ler came along. Anyway, as I was saying… it all started the night of my sweet 16 party….

-( 50 some odd years ago)-

'It's my party' suddenly came on the loud speakers and all Ellen ,her blonde hair in front of her big blue at the moment puffy red eyes, wanted to do was cry. Her ex ,Roger Getset, had not only showed up to her party but had brought along his new girlfriend ,Judy Atling, who he was flaunting like a prize he won for being the handsomest guy in town. "I hate you. fuck you. Fuck you and chocolate covered cherry." Ellen muttered every time they passed by her as they danced.

She hated her party and was hating her life. Ellen had been really looking forward to being 16 until the week before when Roger told her he was interested in someone else. Now, all Ellen wanted to do was find the end of the world and jump. In fact, she was so absorbed in her own self- pity that she didn't notice the tall boy that had approached her. He was at least 18 and although, she had never seen him before she knew exactly who he was.

"What are you doing here? This is a No Beanpole party! So, get your inhumanly giant self out of here! NOW!" yelled Ellen jumping up from her chair and trying to intimidate this very tall guy. "What can you not hear me from up there! I said get out of here!"

The young man known as Once-ler Beanpole started to chuckle at how angry she was getting.

"Is something funny! You really think me getting mad at you is funny? Because it's not!" said she feeling very insulted that her anger was getting no results.

Once-ler stopped laughing realizing that he was really upsetting her. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to laugh. It was insensitive and not the reason I came over. I actually wanted to know if you'd like to dance."

"Dance? What's your game?" asked Ellen suspiciously

"I don't have one. I just saw that you looked upset and thought maybe dancing with someone would cheer you that's the only reason I came over." said Once-ler.

"Really? But we don't even know each other." said Ellen slowly letting her guard down.

"Well, I'm Once-ler. Once-ler Beanpole. Just your average guy supporting truffula tree preservation and whatnot. And you are?" he asked even though he knew exactly who she was.

"Ellen Peach. Welcome to my sweet 16 party or as I like to call is hell on earth day. " said Ellen who despite having someone to talk to was still very bitter.

"You seem rather bitter. Is something bothering you?" asked Once-ler concerned.

"Yes" Ellen really did need to talk about this with someone who she gestured for Once-ler to sit down. Once-ler got the hint and sat in the chair next to her.

" Last week, Roger and I went out on a date. He told me he had something important that he wanted to talk about. I thought that he was gonna pop the question like any silly girl would when she hears that. Anyway, he tells me that he's found himself thinking of someone else and we haven't been moving fast enough so he thinks we should break up. The next day, I see him at school with that… that chocolate covered cherry over there! Can you believe that? He gets with her right after he breaks up with me!" asked Ellen as if Once-ler was a girlfriend who would agree with her no matter what she said. "He's just a guy. I'm sure you'll find someone better. Besides, he sounds like a jerk and I'm sure you're not the only girl he's done that to…. wait, did you just call Judy Atling a chocolate covered cherry? I'm sorry… I thought this was your sweet 16… not your sweet 60th, my mistake." said Once-ler hoping joking would get Ellen to a better mood.

"I think I'm regretting asking you to sit down." said Ellen who was actually feeling her mood lift. "I don't think you are. If you were you would tell me to leave" said Once-ler. " Besides, there are worse things than losing a guy like no one believing in your dreams but you." said Once-ler

"Wait, you're talking about that stupid invention of yours? What do you call it again the Thnedle?" asked Ellen

"It's called a Thneed, thank you very much! And it's not stupid! It's genius and everyone is gonna need one one day… just wait and see. " said Once-ler who was offended that some Peach girl would insult his genius creation.

"Well, first you need to change the name because thneed is the stupidest name I've ever heard anything called and we live in Villville. But if it has the ability to mend a broken heart. I'll take one. " said Ellen trying to be encouraging.

"It doesn't but… I think you just need a friend to help you with that." said Once-ler as he smiled at her. "Know where I can find one?" asked Ellen. "I meant me." said Once-ler. " Well, ok." said Ellen.

Suddenly high heels start clicking towards them and a woman who looked like an older version of Ellen stopped in front of them

"Ellen Juliette Peach! What on god's green earth do you think you're doing! We do not associate with Beanpoles! Now, come on. We're going home." said her mother. Grabbing Ellen's arm and without another word dragging her away.