(Two days later, just an hour after lunch. The Once-ler knits on lawn wih everyone around.)
Chapter Seven: Family and History
Part Two: Miriam and The Jammer
*The Once-ler's POV*
When I would the nerve to venture from my house and into the remains of the factory, I would occasionally find bits of Thneed. I'd bring them back with plans of making something and then could never muster up the willpower (except in dire circumstances). The little ones, who've never seen one made, insisted I make one for them. But then they got into an argument over what color it should be. To quell this, I told them I would use all the colors I had on me.
So here I am knitting a large blanket. The animals, I've been told, are going to start trying 'the new trees'-meaning the large oaks and pines that have been relocated around the area ever since the wall was torn down-until the Truffula trees have grown a bit more (by the rate they're going, Mustache says, it should be at least five months). During their seasonal migrations, one area they'd stop in was the far end of town, where there are apparently apple trees (1). The other end of town, they reported, is not as busy or full of people, but is relatively quieter and, unlike here, wasn't walled off.
Other than that, it's not that much different. But today, I found myself talking about one thing I NEVER expected any of them to witness.
"(LT): It was the weirdest thing," Pipsqueak says, "Because he didn't have a white coat or anything else that doctors have."
"(LT): And he wasn't even in a hospital!" Lou adds.
Great. Most of the time, I'm happy to explain our society to the Lorax and the animals but are certain areas that I will NOT venture into. "Because he probably wasn't a doctor, he was probably a junkie." And then I have to explain what junkies are and what they are using in their 'shots'- only the preliminary of course, because the littlest ones are around. Now this should tell you all two things: #1) Thneedville is like every other town, with its good and bad sides, and #2) when it comes to humans and human society, the animals are just as clueless as the Lorax.
When I'm through, everyone is silent until Bill says "(LT): You sound like you're speaking from experience…"
"I am." I briefly pause my knitting. I've done a lot of stupid things in my life but this is one of those times where I REALLY wanna go back and punch myself over.
When I entered high school in the mid-1960s, drugs were…..basically just starting to come onto the scene, even though most of the people in my hometown actively discouraged it.
"But we never went into full details on why, though. And me, being a newly-turned-sixteen-year-old, wanted to see if it WAS all it was hyped up to be so I….." I stop knitting. "I took what was left of my allowance and…...I got a shot of cocaine." I blush. My friends might know the basics of this kind of thing now, but that hasn't stopped me from feeling the shame in front of someone who knows a lot more about it.
"What'd it feel like?" Mustache asks after a pause.
"Whoa." I say promptly. Yep. That's still the best way I can describe it.
"(LT): Whoa?" Lou looks confused.
"It was a rush..." I say, with half a sigh. "And I'm not gonna lie, it was a GOOD rush." I shake my head in annoyance. "But what no one TOLD me was that doing cocaine will get you really, really PARANOID (2)."
Remember how I told you how I thought I'd hear things out here? Well, imagine that amplified up a notch. I've never liked feeling paranoid at all (who would?) but what kicked me over the edge was that I heard-or thought I heard-someone say something about 'seeing things'.
"That did it. I panicked and ran. All. The way. Home." I say this kinda breathlessly and lean back in the chair. Looking back, it probably wasn't THAT far from m home, but it certainly felt like it! Mustache lifts the lower end of the Thneed blanket off his head (he'd gotten tired of holding it and it's light enough to breathe under) and looks really concerned. "What happened next?" he asks.
I made it back home-I don't know how, but I did!-and by then was so frazzled I pretty much blurted out everything to my mom. I knew I was totally in for it, but instead she took to my room, sat me on my bed, and then just stared at me for the rest of the day.
"When I finally got it outta my system, THEN she proceeded to chew me out over it (which wasn't a surprise). When I entered school after (I'd done this after my birthday, which is a little over a month before school started (3), some of the kids would tease me for being a wimp and freaking out after being injected. I told THEM they can have their 'visions' or whatever they call it but MY 'visions' would be clear." I sit up. "And sober." I start knitting again. "And, despite everything that's happened, I can honestly say that I have done it in a clear and sober way." You can fault me for everything else, but I consider that a victory.
"(LT): It certainly sounds a lot better than having everything be all wavy like that one painting you told us about that goes waah, waah..." Skipper says, standing up on his hind-fins, stretching out his face with his fins and rocking side to side in an impressive imitation of The Scream (4) to everyone's amusement.
"I'd never sleep again if THAT happened." Evidently, in some way, this has awakened my friends' interest in my early life and home. For the most part, I think it wasn't that remarkable until Ellie asks, "Did your town have the people in all white? The ones that were pointed?"
"Oh, r-right...um..." I trail off. Joy, somewhere WORSE than the world of illegal drugs!
I arrived in the valley a few days after my nineteenth birthday. Near the end of September, I took some of the animals and the Lorax to town (hidden in Melvin's saddlebags!). We rounded a corner towards the town hall and I immediately see someone in all white and hearing things I'd NEVER say or even THINK.
"We're going the other direction." I say promptly turning. Melvin obeys but some begin saying that the other way'd take too long. My mood had been squashed by running into the 'event', so I turned and basically towered over them saying rather loudly, "WE'RE GOING THE OTHER DIRECTION." No one complained after that.
Believe it or not, that wasn't my FIRST time running into something like that. About a week prior to that event, I was exploring an edge of town and I ran across Bill and Pipsqueak playing with what looked like an armband of some sort. I went to play with them and that's what was ON the armband. I tore it off Pip and told both of them Don't you EVER let me catch you with something like this again! and they ran off, scared. Feeling satisfied at their reaction, I threw it in the trash. Now, I'd actually forgot about this incident and apparently neither of them brought it up to anyone until Bill happened to come across the symbol again several years later. The two of them told everyone to avoid it like the plague because of how I reacted to it (which, surprisingly, they all did).
And now nearly forty years later, they wanna know why. I have no idea how to even start on this one...Until it hits me. "Okay," I sit up and stop knitting, "do you remember when I told you about 'food chains' and how they're arranged in colorful pyramids?" The grown-ups nod, some mutter how glad they are to be nearly at the top. But I'm not laughing (or smirking) on this one, and they must've realized that, because they stop.
"If I told you," I say slowly, "that humans used to have charts for arranging each other, what would you say?" Everybody has to think about that. "Hmmm, judging by your relatively calm demeanor, you can't possibly be talking about cannibalism..." Mustache wonders. I try to help them along. "What about me is different from other people?" I get a array of answers on this-my height, my rather skinny physique among them-so I try to help them out a bit by asking a more specific question: "What color is my skin?"
They don't really understand that, so this is going nowhere. "I sigh. "You guys are lucky, because you are animals and really only divide yourselves into who is a predator and who is prey. But when humans divide themselves...That's not good. Here, I have something that will help you understand." I get up and head inside, with the littlest ones following me really close. We go up to my room, and I open a nice wooden trunk at the end of my bed; it has other personal stuff I've found/had for a long time. I haven't looked at this in a few years. I dig through it while my friends find seats around me.
"I once took a tour of a community college when I first got started. I'd wandered around and overheard this lecture-Aha, here it is!" I retrieve a tube and sit on the end of my bed. I open it and slide the rolled up poster out, and then unfurl it. The background paper is a darkish-purple, and there are two pyramids with varying sides of blue going up the levels of them. The poster's heading reads 'THE GREAT CHAIN OF BEING' THEORY (5).
"The Great Chain of Being?" Mustache reads. I nod. "Yep. This was used for centuries to basically explain why people with darker skin were treated badly." I point out the pyramid on the left (my right, because it's facing everyone else), "As you can see, God is at the very top, then there's angels, then humans, all the way down to insects."
Skipper's mate Izzy points at the other one and asks, "So this is the one for humans?" I groan inwardly. "Correct. Now back then, countries were ruled by kings that yes, were white, so they were at the top of the pyramid. After them, there are rich white men, then are POOR white men-"
"(LT): And then there's dark-skinned people?" Willie asks.
"I'm getting there." I say. "After poor white men, there are women-"
"(LT): And THEN there's them?" Charlie asks.
"I'm getting there." I repeat, pointing to the last two at the bottom. "There's children," my voice tightening a bit, "and then there's blacks." My friends are quite stunned and most of them start looking between both pyramids and up and down them. I can tell they know something is wrong with this but they can't quite figure it out. Mustache points at my poster slightly and says, "Something ain't right."
"There is. It's the whole thing that's not right." I re-roll the poster and slide it back in the tube. "When theories like this are made, it is essentially an excuse to treat someone else as someone-or something-whose lesser than you. That means bad housing, menial jobs, menial pay for said jobs, little or no basic rights such as voting, rules when walking down the street-"
"Whoa, whoa, whoa, slow down!" Mustache cuts in. "All of this stuff sounds illegal." I shake my head.
"Oh no, it was very much legal. Remember that story about those yellow bird-like creatures that lived on the beach? (6) That was very similar to what I saw growing up, one group had one thing, the other got the next. We were segregated, that's the term for keeping groups in one area where they live apart, but not together."
"(LT): But you don't anymore?" Binnie asks. "I didn't really know this growing up but there were many who tried to push for equal rights. One story I'm particularly fond involved help from Superman." Everyone knows who and what Superman is, so they clamor for that story. Did he hop out of the comic books? Was he really made of steel? Did he REALLY get weaker when exposed to those 'glowing rocks'? "No, he didn't jump outta the comics books,"-everyone groans-"but the particular radio episode DID jump out to a lot of people because of where they got the material. No group would be dumb enough to give away their secrets and it's not like the station can just make things up."
"(LT): So how'd they get it?" Bobbie asks.
A man who had the last of Kennedy-NOT related to the president, I think-went undercover and pretended to be a group member. He detested groups like that ever since a maid his family had was beaten up years ago when he was a little kid. As he grew up, he really wanted to stick it to them but didn't know how...until he thought of using Superman as a way to expose to everyone (especially children) how ridiculous a group like them really are.
"It was REALLY dangerous, he was actually almost caught once. Thankfully, he managed to get back home with enough material, and that's where we get the episode 'The Clan of the Fiery Cross'(7). Now, I wasn't around for the first broadcast and neither were Brett or Chet, but one of my relatives sent a copy of it to us and we played it." I smile. "In fact, one time we were playing after listening to it, and the twins got into a fight over who got to be Superman this time around. I said neither of them could play Superman because they look waaay too much alike and we couldn't have two Supermans at once." So I got to be Superman, running after my brothers and hitting them with pillows wearing a small red cape. Oddly, none of the adults objected when we were running around the house playing that game. I don't think I've relayed this to anyone yet but out of everyone in my immediate family, I miss my brothers the most. Well, and Melvin, of course!
And speaking of immediate family, this brings up a few other topics about the inner workings of my family, including whether they were mean to people with different skin colors. "Oh, no, no." I shake my head. "My family treated everyone that way-black, white, Asian, didn't matter. They really didn't seem to tolerate discrimination-which is actively working against a certain group of people in anything-and one time, my mother said 'Oncie, your invention sounds foolish. But if you somehow manage to build a business, you'd be a bigger fool if you didn't hire equally'." That stunned my friends, especially Mustache, and it seems like a half hour before he manages to talk again.
"Your mother said THAT?!" I can't help but giggle a bit. "Yes, my mom and everyone certainly did have their quirks..." I trail off as another memory comes to mind.
"(LT): What's up?" Filly asks.
"Well. Talking about my mom has made me remember something...rather odd. I heard of how fast Thneeds were sold but even so, it was still nearly a year before we could hire drivers and such..."
One time, my mom and Aunt Grizelda drove out to the post office, to ship some out and presumably to look around town a bit. They were gone for longer than I expected and when Mom DID come back, she grabs me by my lapels and starts shaking me saying 'Don't send us back there! Ever!' and then ran out of the room. My brothers were outside and peeked in afterwards and it was several minutes before I could move or even THINK properly again. There was no way I was gonna get anything out of my mom and I didn't even bother trying with my aunt, Brett and Chet were as clueless about it as I was, so the only option was to go to my uncle.
"What he'd say?" Mustache is shaking like a little kid does with excitement. At the same time, a few little ones' stomachs start gurgling. They're hungry so I ask them to go get some snacks downstairs which is good for two reasons: One) the rest of us want snacks, and two) this next part isn't something the nine youngest should hear. Yet. When they go out, I slowly shut the door behind them and I'm guessing this gives it away.
"Um, should I-" Mustache begins but I cut him off. "No. I'd tell you eventually." I press my back against the door and take a deep breath before continuing. "I've...done some pretty awful things, and not just the things that happened to you all specifically. One time, I was looking for a necklace (I think) or something else and I was looking in my uncle and aunt's room. And I found something sticking out of one of my uncle's bags." They look at me expectantly, wondering how this relates to what scared Mom and Aunt Grizelda. "What I found was a," I blush, "a pair of panties. They were navy blue with black lace on the edges. Now, they were too big for my mother yet they were WAY too small for my aunt-" Charlie cuts me off with the rest. "(LT): Your uncle was having an AFFAIR?" At this, everyone ELSE blushes.
I shrug my shoulders. "I wouldn't know. I don't even know if he really WAS or not, I just told him any 'run-ins' he was having had to stop at once or...or I would out him to my aunt." I turn to open the door. "And believe me, no matter where you were in forest, you would have heard every single word of that conversation." Before anyone can comment on this, I open the bedroom door and the nine little ones come back baring snacks. They didn't seem to be concerned that they missed something although they were wondering what my mom and aunt could have possibly run into at the post office that would scare them so badly.
"I hate ta admit this, but those two seemed fearless and wouldn't put up with any nonsense." Mustache says and then he gets an idea. "Ooh, I know! Maybe they saw something that scared them when they were little! Did they ever see any scary movies growin' up?"
I look down and ring my hands a bit. "No. I don't really know." I look up again. "I know this is gonna bug you, but I really don't much about my own family. Uncle Ubb, I never got around to. My mom and aunt, well...They never opened out in great detail but from what I have gathered, their childhood wasn't very good. From what I learned, both sisters were passed from one relative to another, they never stayed in one area for more than two years. This could either mean their grandparents died early on, they divorced (which was looked down on back then), or they, were abandoned."
"That...might explain a few things." The Lorax says quietly.
"There's more, though." I grab the tube again and hold it across from me. "Picture one of those family tree charts I told you about and my IMMEDIATE family below it. Above this line," I say referring to the tube, "there's nothing. Zilch. And there's no one we can-or could-think of to help us fill them in. The only one that seems to sound plausible is this." I put my right hand up a little ways above the tube. "I've been told that I had a great-grandmother who came from overseas and passed through Ellis Island at the turn of the century. But those aren't the MOST mysterious parts." I go around to my bedside table where there is several photos, some of me and my family, some with Rika, and some with Ted and Audrey. But none have seen the small photo in the black circle frame. I pick it up gingerly and bring it back to the end of my bed before handing to Mustache to pass it around.
"I never showed this to you. Be careful with it." The photo is of a young girl, probably between eight and twelve, wearing with looks like a hood that tied to her neck with a bow. She's giving a slightly mischievous look to the camera. "Awww, she's kinda cute," Mustache says, "and she kinda looks like you! Do you know who she is?"
"No, but I-and my brothers-gave her one. We call her 'The Jammer'. You see, we found her picture in the attic of our house when we were in grade school. The three of us weren't actually allowed up there and when we found her, we had to keep it a secret or Mom and the others would find out. I saw the back of the photo years ago and much of it was faded but I could still see the letters J, A, M, R, and the year 1919. That's how we got 'The Jammer'. Unfortunately, one day, we were overheard talking about her and Mom, Grizelda, and Ubb wanted to know. When we showed them her picture, Mom told us she MIGHT be a great-grandmother but she didn't know. What she DID know was that we should refer to her as 'something else that doesn't sound like an innuendo.' So from that day on, we called her 'Jasmine' instead."
When the photo makes its round, I put her back. "I cried when I found she was left out here. She was important to us somehow, whichever side of my family she comes from. But this mystery doesn't hold a candle to Miriam." With that, I start knitting again, even though everyone is expecting me to talk more. I'm not being rude, I'm waiting for everyone to get it. It's not until the Lorax goes "Well, are ya gonna tell us or do we have ta guess?!" I look up and raise an eyebrow. Everyone seems to be getting it, because Pipsqueak says "(LT): You don't know who Miriam is...?"
I nod. "Mm-hm. And there's not one member of my family-immediate or otherwise-that knows otherwise. Growing up, I've heard that name and its specific spelling thrown around like confetti. No one knows who Miriam, when she was born, what color her hair is, how old is she, which side does she come from, or, or, the biggest kicker of them all-"
"Does Miriam really exist." Mustache finishes.
"Bingo. There's not one mention of any Miriam in my family, not for lack of trying to find out, though. I was planning on making this a family-business and most famous family-businesses sometimes give out information about their past. So I had all my relatives send any and everything they could that would help me to found out-and I was gonna be the one to unravel the mystery. From 9:30 to nearly two in the morning I spent looking through old flies and photos, but no luck. I found a Myriam, but I knew that wasn't her. For one, her name was spelled differently, and she was alive at the time. I got the implication that the Miriam we were talking about had died. Whoever she is, wherever she comes from, we'll probably never know."
Before I know it, the time has come for everyone to leave. A few, like Pipsqueak, are still surprised by knowing all this stuff about my family that they didn't expect. They were also still thinking about Miriam in particular. I smile. "When you have a big or family that's famous-or infamous-you sometimes get a lot of strange stories coming out of them. Don't be too upset if it turns out someone just misheard something. It's more than likely that happened here, although I admit, I would kinda happy if one of those stories was true."
Whew, I bet you thought that chapter was never gonna end, right? (Sorry if it was too long...).
#1: I'm planning to make the other side of town based off an area back east that I used to live in as a child. It has apple trees, but it also has several berries as well. You'll have to stretch your imagination to envision the animals now feasting on apples and berries and stuff!
#2: Doing a large amount of cocaine can lead to paranoia. Bottom line: Don't do drugs!
#3: There are some who put the Once-ler's birthday as being on 'Earth Day' but here, he was born in late July. For more, see below!
#4: A series of four prints first created in 1893 by Edvard Munch.
#5: 'The Great Chain of Being' is a big, hierarchical structure of life as it was believed to be made by God. I first learned about this when I was taking a class on African-American Literature and here's how it was shown (first generally, and then by race):
God-Angels-Humans-Beasts-Fowls-Insects
Under Humans= Kings-Rich White Men-Poor White Men-Women-Children-African-Americans
See the problem?
#6: Referring to Dr. Seuss's 'The Sneetches', first published in 1953.
#7: 'The Clan of the Fiery Cross' is an episode of the Superman radio series. This episode was first broadcast June 10th-July 1st, 1946 (Big thanks to the Superman Homepage website!). And if you ever wanted to see the story of how it came to be, I would highly recommend the documentary How Superman Defeated the KKK, which you can see on the Military/American Heroes Channel if you have it on TV.
As the Once-ler said, he and his brothers weren't around for the broadcast. His brothers are born in 1947 and are two-years-old when he's born in 1949.
I hope you like how I'm making the Once-ler and his family a mix of contradictions. And I hope you like the Once-ler's last line here, I got it from a chapter of The Seventh Child by Brooks Stanwood.
Sooooo, is anyone anxious to know who/what scared Oncie's mom and aunt? To know who 'Jasmine-ler' is? Or found if the enigmatic Miriam truly exists?
All this and more! Staaaaay tuned...
