DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN HORTON HEARS A WHO! OR THE OBLONGS!
AN: I wrote this for my own personal pleasure. I thought Susie and JoJo would be cute together so I shipped them. *shrugs* I might not write anymore fics like this again. I really liked the Oblongs show but it ended prematurely, and Susie never got an episode so I was bummed. This story is supposed to be set in an alternate universe, so the characters in The Valley will live in Whoville, but on the outskirts of Whoville where whos are afraid to go because of Grinches and all kinds of weirdness going on and whatnot. And then the people in the Hills will just live in the heart of Whoville and continue to be snobby little sneetches. The characters from the Oblongs will retain their characteristics and physical appearances, and no one will question why. I did change some stuff, though. Like Susie is in high school in this story. Hope you like it. If not ignore this one. Don't hate me, I'm a human-being just like you. Now have a peachy day.
Ned McDodd's favorite day of the year was coming up! Not Festival of Sleep Day. Not Bubble Bath and Rubber Ducky Day. Not even everywho's favorite, Christmas! What was The Mayor of Whoville's favorite day of the year? His anniversary with the most beautiful woman in Whoville, Sally O'Malley, of course!
"It has to be better than best!" Ned was explaining to JoJo and Henrietta, the oldest of his ninety-seven children.
They were sitting in Ned's study. It was early in the morning, right before school and Ned's meeting with the city council. "It will be amazing, Dad," JoJo encouraged him.
"Yeah! Mom won't be disappointed," Henrietta said, agreeing with her big brother.
"Well, my children," Ned continued. "The thing is, Sally and I have been together since we were in high school. This anniversary celebrates our being married for fifteen years."
"Aww! How romantic!" Henrietta exclaimed.
"Yes. And for her gift this year, I have found and restored the amulet she lost a while back." Ned pulled out a large truffula tuft-shaped pendant suspended on a shiny silver chain from his pocket.
JoJo's auburn eyes widened. "Wow! You fixed that?"
Ned smiled sheepishly and said, "I did." He put his arms around each of his children and sighed. "I plan to dedicate this whole month to spending time with your mother. It's so important that our fifteenth anniversary is perfect."
At that moment, Sally's voice came through the door. "Time for breakfast!"
Henrietta plopped from her chair to her feet and hurried downstairs. JoJo started after her lead, but Ned clutched him by the arm.
"Wait, son."
JoJo looked up at his dad. "Yeah?"
Ned crouched down to JoJo's level and held up the amulet again. "I'd like it if you held on to the amulet for me," he said. "I want to give it to your mother on the actual day of our anniversary. That's still a few weeks from now, and you know how scatter-brained I can be."
"Sure, Dad," JoJo promised. He held out his hands and let Ned drop the amulet into his palms.
Ned smiled at his son. "You know, some day you'll be mayor, and it will be your anniversary with a beautiful woman too."
JoJo looked to his feet, bashfully. "I don't know about that," he said. "Girls don't even know I exist."
Ned patted the boy on the head. "You never know, son," he assured. "You just need to reach out. Someone is bound to take your hand."
JoJo pushed through the doors of Whoville High School with his dad's words still on his mind. He clutched the amulet in his pocket, and fanned the idea of romance away. He was the smallest who of his kind. What girl would ever like him?
On his way to his locker to put the amulet away, JoJo was abruptly stopped by Principal Gristmel, who looked cranky and impatient.
"Mr. McDodd. I'd like to see you in my office for a moment, please?"
JoJo held his breath and followed Mr. Gristmel to the end of the hallway. He wondered if he was in trouble.
Mr. Gristmel opened the door to his office and let JoJo walk in first. JoJo found a girl occupying one of the chairs. Her shiny, black bob settled over her pale face, exhausted of frown lines. She was wearing a long, black dress and a matching bow in her hair. Her white gloved-hands played with a lighter. Her thumb struck the spark wheel of the lighter and ignited a small flame. She gazed at the flame, mesmerized.
Mr. Gristmel scrunched his face in disapproval. "Give me that!" he ordered.
The girl closed the flap on the lighter, smothering the flame, and handed it to him. "It makes me happy," she said in a weird accent. Her tone was so unenthusiastic and dull, like she'd just woken up from a nap.
Mr. Gristmel removed his glasses and rigorously wiped the lenses with his tie. "JoJo, this is Susie," Mr. Gristmel explained. "She's a new student."
'Another Susy?' JoJo thought in annoyance. The other "Susy" that JoJo was thinking of was Susy J. Zorzy. She was a snobby sophomore girl who went out of her way to put people down if they weren't cool. Susy J. led a clique of other snobby girls called The Pops, short for populars. JoJo thought it was totally lame.
"If you could maybe give Susie a tour of our wonderful school, and show her to her class, I'd really appreciate it." Mr. Gristmel went on before whispering lowly, "And JoJo, please keep Susie in good hands. She's...she's a character."
JoJo gulped. This would be fun.
As JoJo lead Susie down the hallway, he noticed her feet didn't touch the floor. She was floating about six inches in the air. JoJo wanted to know how she was able to do that but decided it would be rude to ask, so he didn't.
"I'm thirsty," Susie said. She hovered over to a nearby water fountain and had a drink.
JoJo was losing his patience. He was going to be late to class. He rolled his eyes, but when they completed their 360, they fell right on Susie's butt.
Susie lifted her head from the water fountain and wiped her mouth on her sleeve. "Enjoy the view?" she asked, deadpanned.
JoJo pushed his hair back, looking completely embarrassed. He couldn't help but find Susie to be kind of cute. He inwardly started to kick himself for being ungentlemanly. "Umm...we should get going," JoJo urged.
Susie handed JoJo her schedule. They had whome-room together but that was it. He'd have to wait a while before he saw Susie again. JoJo suddenly felt like he was under water. But then, he had an idea!
"Hey, it usually takes a while for new students to get their own lockers. Why don't you keep your things in my locker?" JoJo offered.
"Oh, yes. Thank you...er...JoJo." Susie said.
JoJo smiled at her, but Susie didn't smile back.