What You Don't See

Chapter Two

Disclaimer: I don't own Seussical!

Okay, I thought, my head held as I marched courageously out of my small little hut. Nobody messes with Horton without having to get through me first.

I tried desperately to push through the crowd that stood in a tight circle around him, I really did, but I was lucky enough to spot an opening through a purplish-looking creature and a Guzzat. Rushing past, I prepared myself to tell off that no good, worthless piece of animal that calls herself a kangaroo. Finally, I reached the opening of the circle and…well, I hate to admit it, but I froze in my tracks. You can't blame me, really. You see, as soon as I got there, one of the Wickersham Brothers seemed to have caught my gaze. Shudder, I never knew how menacing a monkey could look. I mean, come on!

Before he had a chance to say anything to me, I felt a light brush of fur at my side, and the Wickersham Brother rolled his eyes and turned away. I looked for the furry source that had touched my feathers, only to find The Cat in the Hat standing there…with a microphone…I was so baffled, thinking that he was planning some crazed musical number, that I barely picked up the Sour Kangaroo's voice saying something like R.E.S.P.E.C.K. …and singing it like Aretha Franklin.

Has the world finally gone mad? My mind wandered. Is this just some weird nightmare, or have I been trapped in some psychotic musical? …Have I gone mad? Maybe I should visit the asylum…

My head was spinning. I finally looked at the Cat and started to speak.

"Cat?"

"Yes, Miss McFuzz?"

Ugh. I hate the word Miss. It makes me sound like I haven't had a date in my life…which I haven't. I just wish he would call me Gertrude or something. Anything! I just don't want anything in front of my name until I can say Mrs. Insert new last name here.

"Call me Gertrude."

He nodded. "Alright…Gertrude. That's a weird name."

"Gee, thanks…Um, what are you doing?"

"Going to interview peoples."

"But…you're not a reporter."

"So?"

"…Never mind."

The Cat strolled out into the center of the clearing and started to speak into the mike.

"Our topic today is psychic elephants who hear voices," he said. "What do you think folks, is the elephant off his trunk? Don't go away, we'll be right back with speck, clover, dust, neighbor" –he turned and looked at me- "who. Stay tuned!"

Neighbor…I thought. Oh! He means me!

I ran up to the Cat, and he turned and winked. I could feel Horton watching the two of us with curiosity.

"I'm Gertrude McFuzz, and I live right next door," I spoke into the microphone. "He's never done anything before!"

I looked out of the corner of my eye to see Horton frowning, holding this clover that I suspected to be the cause of all of these problems.

Time to pick up the pace, I decided.

"He's always been friendly…and loyal…and kind! I just don't believe Horton's out of his mind!"

I snuck another look out of the corner of my eye to see my beloved elephant with quite a confused look framing his features. He probably didn't except anyone to stand up for him like I was. I opened my mouth to speak once more when I got an unpleasant jab in the ribs that pushed me away from the microphone. I looked back to see Mayzie in the spotlight now. Oh, great.

"I'm Mayzie LaBird and I live in that tree!" she said, pointing to a place among the branches. "Enough about Horton, let's talk about me!"

Yup. I was completely disgusted with Mayzie. Anyways, I turned to where Horton sat with the clover. He gave me a small smile, and I mustered up the best grin that could fit on my face. I would stand up for Horton no matter what, and then maybe he'll notice me for who I am. I was going to make sure of that.

Just then, I could hear the animals criticizing Horton for…Um…Talking to a speck of dust? So there must have been a dust speck on the clover he was holding. The Sour Kangaroo continued with her complaints of Horton being a fool; this time one of the Wickershams joined along in her rants.

The torturing of this sweet elephant that I'd come to know and love continued perpetually. I mentally groaned. I struggled to reach him, but I was recklessly pushed aside by others. Unfortunately, I let my anger get a hold of me. Turning to Mayzie, I glared at her. She smiled snobbily at me and shooed me with her hand. I pouted. Listening to the murmured gossip of my neighbors, I picked up on the strife. Horton was obviously believed to be talking to some small person on the dust speck. He claimed to have rescued them from drowning by gently depositing them on the clover. I made an endeavor to quiet the ruckus of the Jungle Citizens. To my shock, no one would listen to me! When I would ask them to stop, I would end up with an ignorant paw in my face or the loser sign!

And personally, I think I was about to strangle the young kangaroo. Her mother was definitely a bad influence on the little thing, and it was just…so…aggravating. I stepped forward to say something to the two marsupials, but I found myself halted in a matter of seconds. Swiftly, I turned on my heel to gaze at my beloved Horton as he spoke.

"I just have to save them, because after all…" he began. His voice went through my veins as if it had come from an angel. I would listen to anything he told me and believe it. So now, I had no doubt that there very well could be someone on that clover he held so dear. I gave in and let his voice soothe me.

"A person's a person, no matter how small," he concluded. The words rang through my head. Those few words held a lot of hidden meaning, I realized. I liked them.

"A person's a person," I repeated. I didn't think Horton could hear me. Why should he? "No matter how…"

The Citizens cut me off, ranting more about Horton's seemingly foolish behavior. I stood beside a tree, mulling over some things in my head. I despised my town folk now for abruptly taking away that one precious moment that I had just been a part of. My small muscles tensed. I was going to make it known, I decided, that I loved Horton, whether he loved me back or not. I denied that the answer was most likely not. I no longer would stand for retreating to the sidelines whenever he was in danger. I was going to be courageous! They were going to believe me when I said that Horton could be telling the truth! I would…Uh, never mind. I had caught the eye of Honey, the orange colored bird among Mayzie's followers. She glared at me, measuring the height and width of my diminutive body with her stare, as if to state how pathetic I was. I shrunk back against the tree, landing with a thud on the jungle floor. Geez, that bird scared me. She was the Bird Girl that treated me the worst. I could feel moisture on the edges of my eyes as Honey pursed her beak, her eyes stating to get lost; this wasn't the place for me. I wasn't welcome here…

I barely noticed the creatures trickling away from the clearing. Slowly, I looked up and shook my head, attempting to rid of the tears that sat precariously in my eyes. I was suddenly startled out of my train of thought by a gentle tap on my shoulder. Looking up, I locked eyes with Robin, the Bird Girl of a pink and green feather variety. To my right I could spot the forms of the other birds, Mayzie, Honey, Lulu, Lilly, and Carrie, and I wondered why Robin was away from her clique, looming over me. I noticed the concern on her features.

"You like him, don't you?" she inquired, tilting her feathered head in Horton's direction. I gave her a questioning look, curious as to why she was even being nice to me, let alone talking to me. She sighed.

"We'll talk later, okay?"

I nodded hesitantly.

Robin swiftly turned on her heel and strode off into the depths of the forest, not sparing me another glance. My attention swiveled back to Horton, who was being pestered by The Wickersham Brothers. Oh, how I wish I had the nerve to stand up for him. The monkeys fled from the scene, and before I knew it, my thoughts of the day were being spoken. It took me a moment to realize that I was the one who was speaking.

"On the fifteenth of May, Miss Gertrude McFuzz discovered how truly unique Horton was. But she knew to approach him would probably fail, 'cause who'd notice a bird with a one-feather tail?" I sighed. It was true. Glaring at my pathetic blue feather, I began to walk along the path Robin had taken. I could feel the Cat's golden eyes on my retreating form, and I refused to imagine why he was about to speak with Horton. My pace began to slow, and I felt tired due to all my emotions. Yet, that didn't stop me from letting out a small yelp as a hand clamped over my mouth.

"Shh!" Robin whispered, stepping out of the shadows as she removed her hand. "I can't let Mayzie hear me. She'll kill me if she found out I was talking to you."

"Gee, thanks," I retorted.

"Sorry, but you have to admit that you aren't very popular around these parts."

"True."

The subject quickly changed as Robin grabbed my wrist and led me in the direction of her home.

"Come on," she stated. "I think it's time we had a girl-to-girl talk."

Oh, someone help me.