Chapter 11: The Reunion

As the Wigguns family, Audrey, and Ellen walked the long bumpy road out of town Ellen started to be uneasy. She hadn't been on this road in many years and she wasn't sure if she was ready to go back. The sky was still pretty black here which made things even more uncomfortable. "I can't do this. I just can't… I'm going back" said old Ellen turning to go back home.

"Don't be silly, Ellen. We're almost there." said Norma pointing to the house that was not too far away.

" I know but I'm not ready." said Ellen " He probably wouldn't even want to see me. I did tell him I'd never forgive him for all this"

"But you have forgiven him. The person you haven't forgiven is yourself. You tried your best. Power is just very powerful if it wasn't they wouldn't call it that would they?" asked Norma

"I suppose, they wouldn't." said Ellen

With that they all started to walk towards the house again. It was taking longer than it normally would because Ted didn't have his bike. Finally, they reached the house. It was a little less boarded up than Ted had remember but then again it had been about a year since he was here last. Because Ted was the first there he knocked on the door. He would have wrung the doorbell but he remembered what happened the last time and didn't want to risk getting flung in the air again in front of his friends and family. The door creaked open and Once-ler popped his head out and was pleasantly surprised when he saw Ted. "O, Hello, Ted. I wasn't expecting you today." said Once-ler.

"Hello. Some of my friends wanted to meet you." said Ted

"O, of course. I have company but come in." said Once-ler "Your friends are welcome to come in too." said Once-ler moving out of the way so everyone could enter.

It was your average shack really. There wasn't too much there except a small kitchen and a cot in the corner. However, Ted noticed that surrounding the cot were pictures of Once-ler as a young man with a girl he assumed was Ellen. Ted was so busy looking around he forgot about introductions "O, I'm sorry… Everyone, this is the Once-ler. Mr. Once-ler, this is my mom…" said Ted.

"Margaret Wigguns… nice to meet you" said Margaret extending a hand.

Once-ler shook it "Once-ler Beanpole. The pleasure is mine."

"This is my friend Audrey Simons." said Ted blushing a little as he introduced her.

Once-ler looked over his shoulder to Lorax who the others couldn't see and gave him the "it's his secret girlfriend" look then turned back to Audrey. "It's a pleasure, Miss Simons." said Once-ler.

"The pleasure is mine. Ted has told me a lot about you. I've always been interested in truffula trees. " said Audrey

"Then maybe you shouldn't be so happy to meet me." said Once-ler.

"And this is my Grammy Norma." said Ted introducing Norma.

"Norma Snaptrip… Hello, Norma. Have you seen her? Talked to her? How is she?" Once-ler started asking.

"Why don't you ask her yourself." Norma looks over at Ellen standing next to her " Well, don't just stand there… say hello to your ex husband."

Ellen looked up into Once-ler's eyes "Hello, Once. How are you?" asked Ellen

"Ellen, I didn't think I'd ever see you again." said Once-ler

"I think we should talk." said Ellen

"Me too." said Once-ler.

"Aren't you forgetting something?" Lorax asked from the table.

"O, I'm sorry. Everyone, this is my friend the Lorax" said Once-ler

"Hello. " said Lorax "Nice to meet you all. Now, Beanpole you and Peach go patch things up."

"That's new. I remember when he used to say he'd have me arrested for being with you" said Ellen

"I was just agreeing with Elysia… the first and last time I ever agreed with that bitch on anything." said Lorax

Once-ler gestured for Ellen to sit down and she did. "I'm sorry. I got so caught up in the business I didn't want to see how horrible things had gotten. How horrible I had gotten. Your parents were right about me. I'm just like the rest of my family."

"No you're not. Unlike the rest of your family you finally felt remorse for what you did. I'm sure none of them would." said Ellen" I'm sorry too. I should have worked harder to try to stop you and I shouldn't have turned on you when the business finally fell. I've missed you, you know. I've been thinking about you every day since I left."

" I've been thinking about you too. " said Once-ler

"I wish we could go back to when we were teenagers. Just start all over again" said Ellen

"Then, let's do it" said Once-ler

"What?" asked Ellen

"Let's pretend the last 50 years never happened." said Once-ler.

"We can't do that, can we?" asked Ellen

"Why not?" asked Once-ler then he extends his hand " Hello. I'm Once-ler. Once-ler Beanpole. Just your average guy supporting truffula tree preservation and whatnot. And you are?"

Ellen had to stop from laughing and shook his hand " Ellen Peach. It's very nice to meet you, Once-ler. Wait, did you say Beanpole? Uh oh… I'm not supposed to talk to Beanpoles. I heard your family get their heads turned by greed causing them not to care about anyone but themselves." said Ellen

"That's true when it comes to the rest of my family but I've decided to play it safe. I'm going to work for a nice business in town. I did have an idea for an invention but after seeing what money does to my family I'm not taking any chances. I just want a quiet life living in the woods with my wife and not having a care in the world and only going to town to work." said Once-ler

"I like that." said Ellen "But if we got into a relationship we'd have to take things slowly."

" Ellen, would you like to go for a walk?" asked Once-ler

"I'd love to" said Ellen as she got up.

"As long as no one minds." Once-ler added to the others

"Go right ahead, Beanpole we can occupy ourselves." said Lorax

"We won't be too long" said Once-ler

"Take your time. No rush." Norma said. The others nodded in agreement.

Once-ler and Ellen rush to the door and exit.

Beyond, the town of Thneedville, that most people say was plastic and fake and they liked it that way, lived a woman called Ellen and a man named Once-ler whose story you have just read here. They used to be miserable, lonely, and sad wishing for the good times they had. Now, they're together and from that day to this, they have lived in pure happiness.

The End