Chapter 21
It was Spring break in Floraville. No school for the week. Everywhere that Norma looked, students seemed to litter the streets. There were no peaceful places. No quiet places. Even the hill at the park across the way seemed to always have some group of people on it. Norma looked up to them from the grassy dirt with a longing stare. They didn't see her. They had no reason to even look. Norma turned to Once-ler and frowned. He forced up a smile in return. It didn't look nearly as comforting as he had been trying for.
"Well, it's not like the hill actually belonged to us," Once-ler said, holding his plastic grin. He was disappointed as well, though. He envisioned the week on top of their hill, knitting thneeds into the night. It was a simple dream, but the one that filled him with the most joy.
Norma, on the other hand, had music on the mind. With Once-ler's guitar strapped to her back, she had imagined them singing and strumming home-made melodies until dusk. Their hill had been the setting, but she started to look around for another location. If she couldn't have their hill, she would have to make due. But as she glanced around the park, she started to realize there weren't many other options. Children were playing everywhere she could see, loud and sporadic. They screamed and galloped around, too loud for Norma to hear her own thoughts. She looked at Once-ler again, eyes declaring defeat.
The disappointment on Norma's face brought about a challenge in Once-ler's eyes. He now wanted nothing more than to please her. He stared around but quickly realized the same thing she had. He expanded his view to an internal overhead map of the town. There were probably plenty of places that they could go. It was only the case of finding them! But where does one start looking?
"We could go to my house," Once-ler suggested, slowly and uncomfortably. Norma's expression changed slightly in unease. She had only been to Once-ler's house twice in their time together, and both times hadn't gone over too well. It wasn't the house, though, that was the problem. It was the woman who resided there. Once-ler's mother.
"Uhm, Once-ler... I was under the impression that your mom wasn't too fond of... guests..." Norma responded just as slow, afraid to offend her friend. Once-ler pinched his lips together. He thought about her words, keeping Norma on edge.
"Well, my whole family is gone for Spring break. Holidays, or something," he finally replied with a smile. The undertone left a sharp ache.
"They didn't take you along? How cruel!"
"N-no! I stayed by choice!" Once-ler was quick to correct the misinterpretation.
Norma squinted, "Why?"
Once-ler became uncomfortable again. He didn't want to tell Norma that they did, in fact, leave him behind. He had woke up that morning to them leaving. Take care of the daily chores, his mother had requested. We'll be back in a week, she had added. As much as it had taken him by surprise, it also hadn't. This wasn't new. Once-ler was used to being left behind. He had even grown to like the time alone. When he had been younger, the big empty house had frightened him. Now, it just meant he could knit anywhere he wanted and play his music as loud as he could. It also meant he could have Norma over and they could do whatever they wanted comfortably.
"Once-ler?"
"Y-you can just say no, you know! I'm just making a suggestion!" Once-ler stuttered, loud and nervously, looking away from Norma's gaze. A smile started to spread onto her face. Mission accomplished.
"You stayed behind to spend the week with me, didn't you?" Norma accused, moving to the other side of him and back into his view. Once-ler looked down at her, biting down on his lip. His face heated up quickly and he looked away again.
She started to giggle, "You're lucky you stayed, or I would have been pretty upset!"
"Oh, is that so?"
"Yep, really upset. Having to spend the whole week alone? I don't think so."
Once-ler chuckled as he started to lead the way. It was a better way of looking at it, he supposed. Maybe he really wasn't left behind after all. Maybe he did just stay behind for Norma. He wasn't going to admit it either way, though.
Nearly an hour had passed before they had reached Once-ler's country home. Norma couldn't help but gawk as she always did. It was huge, beautiful, and in the middle of nowhere. Where would one even call this place? Did it even have an address? She looked around the grassy nothingness. Dead plants lay limp in the gardens. They added a bittersweetness to the beauty that she couldn't quite explain. Winter had killed them. Spring was now about, trying to ressurect them. New beginnings were everywhere.
"Norma? Are you coming inside or are you just going to stand there?" Once-ler broke her trance. She looked up, a little dazed. She had gone off into a daydream of some sort. She wasn't even sure what it had been about anymore. She only nodded, following after Once-ler who was standing in the doorway of his home.
Inside, Norma was caught staring around again. It looked just like she remembered from her previous visits. It appeared even bigger on the inside. But, that feeling in the air wasn't there. That feeling that always ran up her spine and made her want nothing more than to leave. Instead, she felt comfortable. Curious.
"Wow, you must love living in such a big house," she stated in awe as she slipped off her flats and wandered away from the foyer to look around. Once-ler followed quietly.
"Imagine playing hide-and-seek in this place! I bet you and your brothers did a lot as kids!"
Once-ler smiled a weak but honest smile, "I've spent most of my time in my room."
Norma turned to look back at Once-ler. It dawned on her again, as it did every once in a while, that there was still so much she didn't know about her friend. She called him her best friend, but she didn't even know about the things he did when they weren't together. Knit? Was that it? And what about his family? What was his home life truly like? He was looking back at her questioning eyes with an answer. An answer she couldn't read, but tried to. His sad, blue irises pierced into her deep and fiery. Ask me, they seemed to scream. She saw it flicker wildly and she felt her words slide along her tongue. Before she could open her mouth, it was gone.
"Once-ler-"
"Did you want some tea or anything? I can make you some. Ever had chai?"
"That... would be lovely," Norma answered softly. She felt the regret come over her instantly as he smiled and turned away. She felt the questions linger, tingling in her throat. He headed for the kitchen and she followed along, one with their quiet.
Fifteen minutes found them seated next to each other in the den, a newly lit fire coming into existance in the fireplace across the room from them. Norma's tea was untouched on the coffee table, cooling down. Once-ler sipped his slowly, watching the embers sputter and come to life. Norma watched him instead. There was a strange awkwardness in the air. She felt uncomfortable. She felt nervous to speak. That burning sensation from his eyes had left spots on her skin. She felt seared.
"If you wait too long, it'll be cold," Once-ler said, meeting Norma's stare. She blushed, realizing she was caught, and looked away quickly to her tea. She didn't put as much milk in hers as he had with his. It was still steaming.
"Don't worry, I'll drink it," Norma reassured.
"You better. I'd hate to see it go to waste," he replied with a silly grin. Norma smiled, lifting the mug and bringing it to her lips. Hot and spiced. It filled her senses. She let it bring her confidence.
"Can I ask you some questions?" Norma asked, looking at him sternly. She wasn't planning on taking no for an answer.
"That depends on the questions," he answered, mimicking her tone and expression.
Norma puffed up her cheeks while thinking. She shuffled through her internal filing cabinet, collecting all the things she knew about Once-ler and all the blank spaces that needed to be filled in. He watched her quietly while continuing to empty his mug and warm his belly. They were both moving slowly, like clockwork ticking away the seconds.
"Tell me about your family," Norma started. She knew it was vague, but maybe vague enough to ease him into the conversation.
"I've already told you about my family," Once-ler answered quickly and coolly, like a sudden gust of cold wind. His eyebrows twitched as he tried to hold a straight face.
"Well, sort of..."
"What else do you need to know?" Once-ler snapped fiercely, almost shouting. His face cracked into anger now, his eyebrows furrowed and his mouth arched into a frown. Norma was shocked to receive such a reaction and instantly retreated back to her tea, eyes to the fireplace. She wanted anything but to make him upset with her. His eyes were still on her, but they softened. His fingers began to tremble around his warm mug. He followed suit and gave his attention to the fire. They stared in silence, steeping in the thick air.
Norma's mind began to wander. Why was he so secretive? All the things she had imagined about his mother… could they really be true? It was hard to believe that Once-ler would actually let himself be abused or mistreated. Who would let themselves go through that? She believed that she wouldn't, if she were in the shoes. But it was truly hard to say what you would do in a different scenario until it happened. She brought her eyes back to him and he was staring into the fire as before. It was as if she was granted a do over. She felt she needed to take it.
"Once-ler-"
"I've already told you," Once-ler interrupted uncomfortably, closing his eyes, "My mom and dad were just a fling, I guess. He was long gone before I was born. My brothers were born two years later and I have no recollection of a man ever being around, so he was probably just a fling too. I was young, though, so he may have been around in the beginning. I don't remember. So I grew up in charge of my brothers. They've always been bullies and mom always lets them get away with everything. Not me though. Because I'm the oldest. She expects the most from me because she knows I'm the oldest and smartest. She has big dreams for me..."
Norma frowned, "I think she just has big dreams for herself."
"I'm not done," Once-ler grumbled, reopening his eyelids and glaring at her sideways. Norma froze up, wide-eyed. When she was quiet, he continued.
"My mother's brother, Uncle Ubb, had financial troubles and we've been housing him and his wife for almost ten years now. They were always around anyway, so nothing really changed when they officially moved in. His wife, Aunt Griselda, is… something. She hates animals. I'm surprised she survives living on a farm. I'm pretty sure she hates me too, but my mom insists she is just looking out for me. She pushed me down the stairs once. Kind of. She says it was an accident, so maybe it was. I broke my leg and no one even visited me in the hospital. That's the kind of family I have. They are all the kind of people who only ever notice me when I'm making a mistake. When I got back from the hospital a week later, my room had become storage somehow. I could either move everything out of my room with a cast or sleep among the boxes. I didn't really have much choice."
Once-ler speech had slowly become faster and faster. He had to stop to take a breath to refill his lungs. Before he continued he made eye contact with Norma. She looked horrified. She had placed her tea back atop the coffee table and stared doe-eyed with a hand covering her gasping lips. He could see her tear ducts moisten and he felt bad. He wasn't looking for tears and pity. She had asked, right?
"As well, they all take every chance they have to sabotage me and laugh at me. I'm like a timeless gag in this house. If they can get a hold of my knitting, they will destroy it or tangle it in the ceiling fan so they can all laugh at it together. Seriously, it's like they don't wear sweaters. What could possibly be so wrong with knitting that it's hilarious beyond belief? Or my music. My brothers call me queer at least once a day. It's frustrating and difficult, so that's why I just stay in my room. It's safe there, for the most part. I can lock it and do whatever I want as long as I'm not too loud. If I didn't need to eat, I'd probably never come down."
"Oh, Once-ler…" Norma whispered, heartbroken. As he delved deeper and deeper, his voice quickened and became angrier and angrier. Even when he stopped, she could tell there was still so much more he wanted to say. He lived his whole life in this house, a victim to ungrateful people, and he had never had anyone to turn to. This was probably the first time he had ever spoke out and against his family. He was breathing hard and heavy, unable to look Norma in the eye. She wanted to say something. Anything. What could she possibly say that would make him feel better?
"And yes, they did leave me behind. They always do. I'm about as worthless as the cows on this farm. They don't give milk! If it wasn't for me, they'd be dead because no one would feed them because they don't give milk! I'm surprised I haven't been starved…"
"Your anything but worthless, Once-ler!" Norma quickly intervened, "There is something wrong with these people if they really treat you this way. It's not you, it's them. You have to say something to someone… maybe your counsellor at school. You can get away from it, you know. If you just speak out."
Once-ler whispered softly, "No."
Norma stared in shock. No? That was the best idea she could have come up with!
"It's just… their way of trying to motivate me…" Once-ler whispered into his empty mug. He made himself believe this more than anything. It was how he survived.
"Th-that's insane! That's no way to motivate someone!" Norma exasperated. She was disturbed beyond belief that Once-ler could flop so easily between being so angry to being so weak. It was upsetting. It was as if he were brainwashed.
"Just, one day I am going to be successful and prove them all wrong. That's all! I just have to work hard and wait until then!" Once-ler's tone changed to a more positive one. He smiled proudly has he envisioned the future. What was it? What was it like? Norma couldn't help but wonder if she was a part of it.
A/N: Hello! I'm sorry about the delay! Been a busy bumble bee! This chapter may kind of suck because I really had to find my place again in the story. I'm hoping to start posting again at a steady pace! Also, I've been editing previous chapters starting at chapter 01. Only minor edits. Mostly just adding in more details. You can tell where I have edited to because the newly edited chapters because they don't have author's notes anymore because I forgot to edit them in when I was replacing the chapters. Derp.