Author's Note: DeathlyGraves thanks for the follow and alert! Shiemi Uchiha, gracias por la alerta y seguir! (I hope I translated that right and if not my apologies.) And brace yourself for emotional rollercoaster rides! Edit: 12/21/13. Things have been added that I originally thought of adding for next time so re-read if you'd like.
(The Lorax and The Once-ler or anything from Dr. Seuss books do not belong to me. They're Dr. Seuss' and Illumination Entertainment's. Same goes for his family and songs/sayings shown in the film. Only Marie and the twins are mine!) September 15th: first anniversary of this story's publication!
Chapter 34
Here in Thneedville
The silence of the factory was interrupted by rapid footsteps as they echoed. Two lanky hands grasped the office telephone and started dialing. Once-ler knew his family phone numbers by heart and as he waited for an answer his stomach twisted in anticipation.
"Yes?" came a trembling voice on the other end.
"Marie?" answered Once-ler.
There was a pause and then he heard a sound he hated. Marie was weeping. He hated hearing any of his girls crying for it stabbed his soul. Gripping the phone he gave her a moment before trying to soothe her.
"Marie. Please, he pleaded. Yet part of him wanted to cry too. "Don't. Please don't…"
"What have they done to you?" cried Marie. She pulled the long cord along and sat at the dinner table. "Why? You've changed and…" She couldn't finish.
"Marie," Once-ler said desperately wanting to comfort her. "Roses, please stop crying. They sent me to the factory."
"Can't you come back?" Marie gulped. She had forgotten all about dinner or how she and Once-ler had wanted to catch a movie on TV.
"What did that letter say?" asked Once-ler. "What did it say about me?"
Marie put the phone down to fetch it. Then slowly, painfully slowly, she read it back when she returned.
To The Once-ler of Thneeds Inc.,
Thneedville has unanimously decided that we cannot let people who cause harm stay in this city. Understand that the city sees you as a public menace for your crimes. Due to the fact that you have destroyed the Truffula Trees, polluted the valley, have given health issues to civilians young and old and have displayed hypocritical actions as of recently we are left with one choice. With these crimes we could arrest you, but instead of permanently throwing you away in jail we will let you go free. However, if you do you can never return to Thneedville. Do not even try to sneak back in for in time there will be a wall of protection around this city to guard the lives of the people from the foul air. Furthermore we shall be less kind if you steal your way inside! If you are not out of Thneedville within sunset of September 22nd then we shall see to it ourselves that you are banished to the wasteland.
Our condolences that it must happen this way for you had great potential. We shall look for people of better status to give us what we need.
Signed by,
The Community of Thneedville.
"What will they do to you if you try?" asked Marie.
"Jail?" said Once-ler half to himself. In fact it seemed likely for he couldn't think of another option besides death. "I don't want to know."
"Once," said Marie after a long pause. "We'll come out so you're not alone."
"I-I can't let you do that," said Once-ler. His heart was sinking terribly low. "The girls-we almost lost Chloe."
Marie knew he would say that and she knew he was right. That didn't mean though Once-ler was immune to it. He would get sick eventually. She crumpled the letter up and flung it across the room. She really hated Thneedville!
"I won't let you stay out there," said Marie firmly. "We're all together again and we-there has to be a way."
"There's only one now," said Once-ler. He stared into the barren wasteland covered in darkness. "I have to find more seeds and tend to them. Then when they grow..."
"Then the sooner you do then the sooner things can turn out." Marie still didn't sound happy. "How long do you think that will take Once? It may take years. What about that wall?"
Once-ler knew the truth that it could be. He detested the idea of his family living in Thneedville and he wouldn't be able to see them. He did want them close. After everything that had happened he wanted to be a whole family again. However, there was always a loophole. Maybe the paper he had received didn't have one, but perhaps the city would have one. Maybe there would be a way out from the wall. Maybe there were lands far away that were safe for them and he could come back once in a while to tend the land. Thinking of that made Once-ler feel hopeful.
"It may not be up so soon," he said. He twisted the phone cord with anticipation for his resolution. "It may take a year for them to build. By then there may be small trees again?"
"And what if it doesn't?" asked Marie. Her over worrying came in to play.
"Then…I want you to do something for me," he said after a pause. "When they put the wall up see if there's any ways of escape."
"How would that help?" asked Marie.
"If there is then you can get out more easily," said Once-ler. "The sewer has to lead outside. It's already damaged land."
Marie wasn't going to complain of nasty sewer water if it meant seeing Once-ler again. Still she felt worried, but more about Once-ler's condition. She feared his lungs would be wounded from the smog.
"I will if you do something for me," she said as her tears stopped. "Promise me you'll wear a scarf or something so you don't breathe that foul air. Please?"
"I will," chuckled Once-ler as his hope did rise. He wished he could kiss and hug her right there. "Don't worry Marie. We'll get through this."
"Until then can we call every night? The girls will…" Marie paused as she rubbed an eye.
The girls! They were out and when they came home she'd have to explain what happened. Once-ler felt a pang in his heart. He imagined two tear stained faces of his Bunnies and hearing their sobs. Then the more he thought about how sad they'd be the more furious he became at Thneedville. Then the more furious he felt, the more determined he felt to succeed. Oh yes, he would succeed. He'd get the trees back! He'd see his family again! Thneedville was not going to beat him or The Lorax.
"Then do one last thing for me," he finally said. "Tell the girls I love them and I'm going to take care of everything."
"I will," exhaled Marie. She sniffed and rubbed one of her wet cheekbones.
"Tell Natalie to not get angry about this and be good," continued Once-ler. He swallowed and looked back out the window. "Tell Chloe to be brave and listen to Natalie. She'll take care of her. A-and I love you all."
Marie glanced at the clock knowing she'd have to leave to pick them up. She breathed some more to prevent sobbing. Then she balanced the phone between her neck and ear to put her hands up and over her heart.
"I promise," she said. "Just be careful out there. I don't want you to get hurt. I love you Handsome."
"Hey," said Once-ler tenderly. "This isn't goodbye."
"Then tell me you love me," said Marie. She could nearly feel Once-ler's hand on her tear stained cheeks.
"I do," said Once-ler. He swallowed and breathed shakily. "I love you forever."
"I love you forever." Marie's answer came soft, but honest.
Then slowly they hung up. Once-ler sat in his huge, red chair. He stared at his feet for a long time and then he opened a desk drawer. In it were doodles he had done when bored. Half of them were little machine ideas for chopping or building designs, but the rest were drawings of two little girls. They were holding toys, jumping, running or hugging each other. They had little speech bubbles with words like "Look at me," "See me?" "Mommy, are you watching?" or "Hi Daddy." Some were done so that it could make a flipbook of them crawling as a baby to walking as a child.
After going through the papers Once-ler pulled out something else. He sat out a picture frame of the twins. Sometimes he found time to change the picture out and this one was a favorite of his that he kept returning to. It had the girls, only two, and they were in their flower girl dresses. He could finally keep a photo of them on his desk.
"Are they really six now?" Once-ler thought. It seemed like an eternity they had been born. He let time escape from him all those years and he knew Marie had been right about one thing. "They needed me, not my hard work."
Now they needed him to make things better and put the pieces together. He would do all he could to make things right. For now, he had to be hopeful and as optimistic as he could be despite the hurt.
Back in the city, Marie had changed out of her pajamas and went to pick up the girls from The Drews' house. Immediately they jumped into the car, looking relieved. Marie couldn't smile as she thought of what to do or say.
"That dinner was yucky!" said Natalie. "I hate broccoli! I can't believe Rosy likes it!"
"I liked it," said Chloe cheerfully.
"You like anything!" said Natalie grimly.
"So," Marie cleared her throat. "Were you girls good for Mrs. Drew?"
"Yes," both girls replied.
"How about we," began Marie. "How about we get an ice cream?" She still needed more time.
"Can we?" gasped Chloe. "Wow! Peach cobbler and ice cream? This is a good night!"
"Did you make an apple pie?" asked Natalie with hope.
"Apple pie too?" gasped Chloe again. "I love you Mommy!" She unbuckled her seat belt to hug her mother at the neck.
Well, it was hard to not smile at that. Marie took them to the ice cream parlor for cones and took them home. The girls didn't ask about Once-ler yet until they were at the table. Natalie was still daintily licking her scoop of vanilla. Marie sat next to her, crumpled letter in hand and ignored the dinner she had originally made for her night.
"I need to tell you two something," she said. She put her cone of rocky road in a bowl. "Something big just happened and-Chloe what are you doing?"
Chloe was hulling over a bag of marshmallows and sprinkles with her bowl. She sat down, crunched up the cone and mixed her toppings together.
"Only one handful of marshmallows," warned Marie.
Chloe held up two fingers to ask, but Marie held one up. So Chloe copied her gesture and obeyed: just one handful of marshmallows for her ice cream mess. When she was settled Marie spoke again.
"Something very big just happened. Yesterday Daddy got some news."
"Melvin's coming back?" asked Chloe with her mouth full.
"No," said Marie with a head shake. "Not yet." She watched both girls look disappointed. "Daddy got a letter from Thneedville and it was telling him to go away because everyone here hates him. They hate him for not making Thneeds and for the bad air. Daddy and I talked about it and we decided that he wasn't going to leave. We didn't want you girls sad about him leaving. So while you were at dinner something bad happened."
After she spoke there was silence and then the twins looked up with nervous eyes. Natalie's lips wobbled.
"Oh no," she whimpered. She was proof that children were pretty smart. "He didn't go!"
"The police came and arrested him," continued Marie. "They took him out of Thneedville and he's back at the factory. They're going to build a wall around Thneedville to protect us from the air."
"Can't he come back?" cried Chloe.
"The letter said that if he did something worse would happen." Marie noticed both girls had stopped eating. "He has to stay out there."
Then in a split second the girls were melancholy. Natalie looked hopeless and angry. Chloe's eyes watered up and she sniffled. The dessert was pushed aside as they succumbed to the truth.
"Daddy's not bad," sobbed Chloe. "He's good!"
"Why did they do that?" shouted Natalie. "They don't look bad!"
"Sometimes bad men don't look bad," said Marie with a broken heart. "Real bad men don't look like the bad people you girls watch on TV. There are people who like to hurt other people because they think that's best. Not all bad men look like monsters."
"Is Daddy going to die?" asked Chloe. A huge tear rolled down her cheek.
"No. He's not going to die out there." At least Marie hoped he wouldn't. "Daddy's going to make everything alright by staying out there. He's going to get the trees back by staying out there. The sooner he does, the sooner we can see him again."
"No!" shouted Natalie again. "I don't want to wait! I want Dad here now! This isn't fair!"
"He's going to call us every night," added Marie though she still felt sad. "Then he wants us to find a way out after they build the wall. He says they have to leave a way out for the city. If the trees are back before then we'll go back to him."
"I don't want a wall," cried Chloe. She pushed her bowl of ice cream away. "I don't want ice cream! I want Daddy here!" She jumped down from her chair and ran to Marie. "Can't we ask the police to let him come back? Please Mommy! Pretty please!"
"It doesn't work that way," swallowed Marie. "I wish it could."
Natalie kicked the table and her ice cream cone was crushed up in her hands. Dismayed, she got up to wash her hands. Chloe cried harder as she was held. Natalie came over to join in. She didn't cry though, at least not yet.
"Daddy wants you two to know that he loves you both very much," said Marie haltingly. She stroked Natalie's long hair. "Natty? He wants you to not be angry and be good no matter what."
Natalie looked up and the anger died down in her eyes. She buried into her mother more. After she had turned six, life had only gotten more confusing.
"Chloe," said Marie. Her daughter only sobbed. "Chloe, he wants you to be brave and that Natalie will look after you."
Natalie nodded to agree, but Chloe continued to weep. Marie didn't want to weep again for the night. For now she had to be the rock for them. She had to trust Once-ler that it'd work out. She had to believe. So until the girls fell asleep, she held them close. That night she tucked them in her bed and forced herself to push back her fear and sorrow.
The next morning was dreary as the girls woke up to know their father wouldn't be there. That is until that evening after dinner. The girls had barely spoken all day and picked their food. Their mother was thinking on how to cheer them up and was just about to suggest going shopping when the telephone rang, Marie jumped up to answer it.
"Yes?" she answered. "Hey!" She sounded more lighthearted than she was the night before. "Yeah…we're hanging on. Yeah…Oh yes! They need to talk to you."
Marie beckoned for the twins to come up. Sulking they did. She smiled at them and put the phone down so it was between them.
"So have you both been good for Mommy?" asked a dear voice.
"Dad!" cried Natalie and she grabbed the phone. "Dad why can't we be with you? What are you going to do? Are you going to build a machine to get trees back?"
"Give me the phone!" said Chloe in frustration. She waved her arms. "I want to say something!" Before Marie could tell Natalie to share, Chloe swiped the phone. "Daddy I miss you! C.C. and Gumdrop miss you too!"
Once-ler could barely get a word in as he heard the commotion, but it made him smile. He patiently waited on the other end while Marie took the phone and said they both had to listen. So after adjusting things, the twins sat on the kitchen counter and both held the phone to an ear.
"So you've both been good right?" he asked. Rapid answers came back. "Good. I love you two and miss you."
"What about a machine?" interrupted Natalie.
"No," said Once-ler with a headshake. "No, no. No machines. I've been working on it all day."
"What are you going to do?" asked Chloe. "Can't you find a magic well that'll fix the ground and make trees grow?"
"If I could I would," said Once-ler. "I did find something out."
"What? What?" came a chorus from the girls.
"Optimism is genetic," thought Marie as she tried listening to.
"Whoa!" said Once-ler to quiet them. "I'll let you know." He put his feet up, which were very dusty from the outdoors, and he leaned back in his office chair. "It all started this morning-"
"Is this going to be long?" sighed Natalie.
"You want to hear it don't you?" smirked Once-ler.
"Yes," said Natalie. "Sorry. Keep talking."
"It all started this morning when I went outside to make plans…"
Sure enough he had gone out to make plans, but on that downcast morning nothing came to Once-ler. He stood out on his balcony for ages it seemed staring out. He trudged down the steps and walked around his perimeters. The air was still reeking of earthy decay. The wind blew and only gave a sour stench. Once-ler tugged his collar up over his nose as he paced. Nothing but stumps, grickle-grass and Super-Axe-Hackers was in view. He didn't know what to do with the machines. Finally, he found the pile of rocks.
"Unless," he said meekly. He started at it. That's all he could do as memories flashed back like a nightmare. His eyes furrowed down and his breathing became heavy. Among the stillness of the valley he suddenly yelled!
"What do you want me to do?!"
...
"Tell me Mustache!"
All the pent up feelings broke for Once-ler. He sunk down to his knees and wept. There was no magical kiss, healing tears, hero or spells to change anything. It wasn't a fairy tale despite how The Lorax was real. Once-ler collapsed down onto his stomach and buried his face in his arms. By the time he sat back up, he was coated in dirt; green suit and gloves. The only thing missing was his sunglasses and hat.
The human dug his hands deep into the earth and let a handful of dirt fall in streams between his fingers. He looked back out; he wasn't sure which direction was East or North anymore. Yet as he looked up at his destruction he began to wonder. He dug his hand back in the dirt and let it fall again. He imagined Natalie and Chloe running around gathering the collection of seeds. Odds were some got crushed by the machines. If they were in good shape they could've already been or perhaps there were seeds deep down that hadn't sprouted because of his pollution. It sounded bizarre but it could be possible. If there was a Lorax, than anything could happen.
"It's the only way isn't it?" he thought. He felt for sure that Mustache was saying yes and giving courage.
Once-ler sat up on his knees and began to dig. He could've dug as far to a jungle or a place where minuscule people live! He kept digging with hope there'd be a seed hiding down below. The fouled ground couldn't grow another tree yet. It needed good earth, sunshine and clean air. If he found some seeds then there'd be hope and he could grow them himself. A greenhouse inside the factory! Yes! He could do it with proper tools!
"Everybody needs trees," he thought as he kept digging. "This'll work Mustache!"
"Will it work?" asked Chloe hopefully after Once-ler told the story.
"I think it can," said Once-ler. "There has to be more. After I grow them to be at least saplings I can show them to Thneedville. Then they'll change."
"I hope it works," said Chloe. "I bet you'll find one tomorrow. Oh I think Mommy wants to you." She noticed Marie was mouthing a request to talk.
"Okay," said Once-ler who wanted to hear more of their voices. "I love you Butterfly."
"I love you too," said Chloe. "Sleep tight."
"Goodnight Dad," said Natalie solemnly. "I love you too."
"I love you Hummingbird," chuckled Once-ler. Then he didn't hear them again until next time.
"Once?" said Marie when she took the phone. "Are you sure this will work?"
"I'll make it work," said Once-ler determinedly. "I will see you again."
"Right," agreed Marie. "Is there anything you want me to do while I'm in Thneedville."
"Well I don't want you pelted with garbage so don't talk about trees yet," said Once-ler. "If you want you can get a part time job since I kind put you out of a job."
"Last I checked I have a job," smirked Marie. "And it's the best job ever."
"Reading in bubble baths," kidded Once-ler.
"Being your best friend and more," said Marie genuinely. "Still, I'll look for something to do. I've been kind of bored with the girls in school."
"You'll keep me posted on what's happening?"
"Of course Handsome. Get a good night's rest and make sure you eat a good dinner if you haven't. I wouldn't want my husband to starve and have people think I don't feed him. Which I can't do right now anyway."
"I will, but it won't be as good as your cooking."
"I'll have to get the girls in bed soon, but we want you to call us every night."
"Can do!" said Once-ler as he struggled to get up. "Can you do one thing for me?"
"Anything." Marie meant it.
"Give the girls hugs for me until I see them again?"
"Can do," Marie imitated. "I love you Honey."
"Love you too," said Once-ler and he gave a kiss. "I miss your lips."
"I know what you mean," Marie managed to chuckle.
That's the way it stayed despite any other changes because changes were happening. Thneedville was transforming and people were afraid. Naturally grown food was becoming scarce and when Marie went to the supermarket one afternoon she could only get so many vegetables. Parents were growing worried for their children's health with the toxic air. Gasmasks were being sold for particularly foggy days. Sometimes the teachers argued about keeping children inside all day instead of having recess. Thneedville was growing and not in the way Once-ler had intended. Yet they went on with life like usual and the girls kept attending school. Chloe made some interesting progress by making a new friend: a girl named Ellie Paisley who was solitary, but kind. Natalie didn't get in any fights.
A month after the fatal event of their father's capture, Halloween came. It was full of candy and chilly winds just like any other night. Houses had fake spiders (which Marie still had a slight fear of) and cobwebs in the doorways. Scarecrows and pumpkins were on porches. Since they had learned about pioneers and the Wild West when school started, the twins asked Marie to make them cute costumes. She had completely finished them and took many pictures.
"At least we can let Once-ler see some when we meet again," she thought.
Natalie ran about in her denim dress and adjusted the little medals out of buttons that were attached. The only issue was that her black cowboy hat would blow off sometimes. Chloe had a cute pioneer dress of calico and a sunbonnet. Arabella, with a growing Peggy, met with them for the night. Peggy's blonde hair had gotten longer since the family saw her last and she was dressed as a ballerina.
"Why couldn't we go as ballerinas?" whispered Chloe to Natalie as they went down the block with their candy bags. She had learned that ballet helped with ice skating and she wanted to learn.
"Because ballerinas didn't live in the Wild West," said Natalie. She had been adamant for her costume and of course Chloe would match with her; a twin thing.
"So what are you going as?" asked Arabella as both mothers followed behind. She was in a blouse and poodle skirt.
"I'm not really anything," admitted Marie. "The washer broke down yesterday so I went through my closet and found this old dress."
It was actually the dress she wore on her honeymoon. It didn't help the fact that it had gotten tighter around the chest and she had on a jacket to not only keep warm, but cover up. It only made her think of Once-ler more and how he'd be interested.
"If it was poufy if could be a can-can dress," giggled Arabella. "You could be one of those pretty ladies in a saloon."
Marie couldn't help but laugh too. Maybe she matched the twins' Wild West theme better than she realized. They went from house to house with the girls while they held hands with Peggy. The toddler bounced along with them with Natalie being motherly if she stumbled. Chloe waved at Ellie who was dressed as a doctor.
"So what have you been doing since the factory closed?" asked Arabella after one old lady gave them a popcorn ball for being good moms.
"Not much," said Marie. "I've submitted some applications, but I haven't heard back."
"What about dresses?" suggested Arabella. "I mean, you said once that you know how to sew."
"I don't think anyone would want to buy a dress from me," said Marie modestly. "I sew dresses from when I was a young girl."
"What's wrong with that? Retro isn't too bad. Look at what I'm wearing!"
The moms laughed. Then Natalie halted the party with her disgust.
"I hate popcorn balls!" she grumbled. "Who wants it?" She held it up like an auctioneer.
"Thaaaannnk you," said Chloe with a sing-song tone. She grabbed it for her bag and held Peggy's hand.
"Or you could make treats?" suggest Arabella after the interruption.
"I'll think it over," replied Marie. "So enough about me, what have you been doing?"
"I'm working in a pizza chain," said Arabella. "I forgot the name…J&K's or something? I don't like it much. The boss shouts all the time. Mom and Dad want me to quit and move with them if I don't get paid again."
"Again?" asked Marie with concern. "Move?"
"Yeah," sighed Arabella. "Our boss doesn't pay us all the time. He also takes our tips. So if I don't get another payment they'll want me to go with them."
"Do you want to?"
"No. I was born and raised here! This is still my home and I think with some improvements this city can be healthier. I hope Mr. Once-ler's okay. There's a rumor that people want him to talk about what happened. You know, for the press's sake."
"It seems obvious of what he did," said Marie with puzzlement. "If you don't want to leave then you should stand up to your family. I mean, you are a legal adult now and a mom."
"I know and I'm buying an apartment next week that I can afford," added Arabella. "I guess a lot of people are moving or at least they've thought of moving. That's what Dad says."
"Do you think there could be better places out there?" asked Marie. She looked up at the steel skeleton of the wall being put up. It looked like there was going to be some drains so she and the girls could escape.
"Who knows? I haven't seen them and if I-"
"I'm not a sheriff!" yelled Natalie. She had interrupted the conversation. "Chloe for the last time, stop telling Peggy I'm a sheriff! I'm a performer for a wild west show!"
That ended the ideas between Arabella and Marie. The fun of Halloween passed and then life was back to its nervous self. It turned out Arabella had been right: people wanted to speak with Once-ler. On that foggy morning after Halloween night, Once-ler had busied himself with his search. Still no seeds. When it began to thunder he retreated indoors. In a rush he had gone into The Lerkim. Thunder rumbled in the billowing clouds. The only other sounds was his breathing.
"Maybe a seed will get watered," he thought as he nestled upstairs in his old bed. He tossed the cover over his head to get extra warm. "Chloe will be jumping in puddles after this."
The rainstorm lasted for an hour and by the time it passed Once-ler had shed a few tears out of loss for his girls. He felt a little better after the weeping and if he hadn't felt so comfortable in his bed, he would've gotten up quicker to his searching. He stayed in bed longer and thought of memories. He wasn't sure how long he had been there for out of the silence of the desolation. After the pondering he got up and decided to head into the basement. Yet he didn't know an unwelcome surprise was waiting for him that day...
Meanwhile, things brightened up briefly for his girls. The days were cool and short. Nights were peaceful with the length of darkness and faint stars. Things became busy for Marie as she continued her duties as a mother. She kept them out of arguments, fixed their hair and taught them rules of safety when walking alone. The girls' school pictures came in and Marie put two copies aside for Once-ler. She wasn't sure if mail would be sent to an isolated being outside of Thneedville, but she'd somehow give them to him. The girls looked extra cute for it: Chloe's hair in a pretty headband and Natalie's hair in a French braid that Once-ler helped her with.
"Mom?" asked Natalie when they got the pictures. "Do you and Dad know what a cowlick is? Sean Spring said he has one."
"Cowlick?" asked Chloe. "There aren't any cows around here."
"No," laughed Marie. She put the pictures down on the counter to prepare their lunches for the next day. "Not as in cows that lick people Sweetie. A cowlick is a part of your hairline that grows in a different direction from the rest of your hair. Rufus had one." She bit her lip remembering the dear old man.
"Do we have cowlicks?" asked Natalie. All she could think about was a big, wide and slimy tongue slurping over her face and up her hairline.
"I don't," said Marie. "You girls and Daddy don't either."
"Would I look better with one?' asked Chloe. As of lately she seemed more aware of how different she was with school and making friends.
"You look beautiful just the way you are," said Marie as she brushed a hand over her daughter's head.
"Yeah," agreed Natalie. "You look beautiful and I look stunning!" She flipped her long hair around.
Chloe laughed at her sister while she flipped her long hair around like a rock star. Chloe seemed very worried about how she looked. Not about clothes, but how she really seemed to be as a little person. Natalie wasn't too concerned about her looks though she carried a little purse around and asked Marie if she could have dresses like she used to. Marie found herself making dresses very similar to what she used to have. Some girls thought they looked ugly and some thought they looked pretty.
After hearing the suggestion of making dresses for sale, Arabella's sister, Autumn asked Marie if she could make a dress for her. She offered to pay $50. Marie had always dressed retro as the years passed and it had caught the eye of her friend's sibling. Though the girls were grieving for Once-ler, they could smile as they watched Marie cut the pattern out of pretty fabric. Marie had still put out applications for jobs, but she didn't hear back from employers. However, she received more requests for dresses from moms and daughters so at least she was doing something along with keeping the girls content. Then it took another turn when she received an offer from one of her other hobbies.
It began when she went out to try some painting again. The only downside was there wasn't much to paint except buildings. So she sat outside the pizza parlor to meet Arabella and painted the busy street until the girl was free for a break. She had enjoyed half a slice of pepperoni pizza and a soda by the time she was almost finished.
"Hey," said a voice across from her. "That's pretty good."
Marie looked up, but she didn't see anyone. Then she felt a tap on her elbow and she looked down to see a teenager. He gave a smile that showed thick braces over his teeth.
"You paint good," he said politely.
Marie bit her upper lip to prevent a giggle. She had never seen such a short person in all her life! He was perhaps an inch or two shorter than her daughters!
"Thank you," chuckled Marie. "I've been told I paint well."
"That's really good," said the teen as he helped himself up in a chair. "Do you do that for a living oh…what's your name?"
"I'm Marie Finnegan," admitted Marie. "I did do painting for a job for a short time, but it's really just a hobby. I've been doing this since I was a little girl."
"Name's Aloysius O'Hare! A pleasure to meet you!"
Marie smiled politely at his eagerness. She let him examine her painting as he nodded approvingly at it.
"How about I hire you?" said the teenager. "Would you paint something for me?"
"Paint you something?" gasped Marie. "Like what?"
"Of the city," sniffled the teen.
"I-I don't know. I would like to talk to my hus-"
"You see I'm trying to start up a business! I'd like to have some slogans to help get me started and pictures for my presentation. So how about it? I'll pay you big time!"
"Could I think about-"
"Think of it!" The teen was way too excited. "Its a great opportunity for you!"
"Just how much?" asked Marie after a pause.
"A boatload!" The teenager stretched his arms out.
"I don't want to be rude, but I'd like to know a number. I've got two children to raise."
"Alright, alright," said the kid who was still positive. He lowered his voice. "I'll give you a big, fat check of $1,000."
Marie's jaw dropped! $1,000 was a huge amount and it would sound silly to turn down the offer. She didn't know if she could trust him, but she knew how it felt to struggle with selling. Maybe it wouldn't hurt.
"I'll take it," she said slowly.
"Great!" The kid shook her hand rapidly. "Thank you Ma'am! Aloysius O'Hare thanks you! Now I want you to paint some buildings around the city, but make them cleaner than now. Can you get them done by next Friday? Same time?"
"Sure," sighed Marie with a nod.
"Great! I'll see you back here!" The teen sucked the air in between his teeth and jumped from his seat. "Remember: big money!" he said and then waddled away.
"How bad can it be?" chuckled Marie uneasily.
Marie met with the same teenager on the next Friday and gave him some paintings for his campaign. He chuckled and laughed to himself when he searched the portfolio. She saved the check he gave her and forgot about the quick career. In two days the newspapers reported there was a new invention by a young man named Aloysius O'Hare. There would be a demonstration under the gazebo in the park for the "invention for all mankind!" on Monday. Marie went and took the girls since it was in the afternoon. Under the gazebo was a table with a machine covered by a blanket. A little ladder stood next to the table and a poster board was set up in front with the words in blue:
"O'Hare Air! Come to see! Come to breathe!"
"This brings back memories," thought Marie. She could still hear Once-ler's shouts…
She furrowed her eyes at the crowd and knew it was time to get Once-ler out of there. Since she was not too far along in her pregnancy, she left the shop she had been in and she went to the direction for home.
"That hit the tender spot!" she heard him complain.
The tomato cart was filled up and people were in line to throw the vegetable at him. A nun even had a baseball glove with her and she was pounding into it and a baby was holding a tomato. Marie made her way behind the pedestrians and he spotted her. With a growl he wiped his face with the Thneed. Then he made his way down the gazebo. The crowd groaned seeing their village idiot leave. Melvin followed down and they disappeared around the corner. Marie was waiting there for him. The cart was pushed away by the owner and the people departed. With a frown she turned back where Once-ler was sitting on the curb. He sighed and took the Thneed scarf off.
"Not another good day?" said Marie.
"I'm done with this thing," said Once-ler. He wadded it up with clenched fists.
Marie sat next to him and took the Thneed. She wiped the juice off of his face. Then she kissed his jaw as she caressed it.
"Sorry this keeps happening Honey," she said sympathetically. "Guess it's not your day again."
Once-ler didn't say anything expect stare at Marie's lower half. She could tell what he was thinking. He thought of how they had recently discovered they were having twins, but the gender reveal was long off. Slowly he put his palm against Marie's stomach.
"It will be," said Once-ler as a smile began to grow.
"Attention everyone!"
With a loud squeak of feedback, a voice over a megaphone could be heard. Marie was startled and she found the voice was coming from the gazebo. Chloe and Natalie jumped to see over the crowd. Marie lifted them both up (the best she could because they were getting too heavy for her) and they watched in curiosity.
"You've come here today to receive hope," came a raspy voice over the megaphone. "A new invention is dawning on Thneedville and one man is responsible. Me!"
Then from around the table and up the ladder came a very small man. The crowd looked surprised at his height. He had glasses over his blue eyes and black hair in a funny cut. His teeth had thick braces on them and he wore a grey jumpsuit. Only Marie recognized him.
"Ladies and gentlemen," he said. "I am Aloysius O'Hare! I am here with an invention to save us! An invention so great everybody will want it! We don't need any more smog thanks to that Once-ler now do we?"
Boos erupted and The Once-ler family grimaced. Arabella was there with her protesting family too. Aloysius bowed down and then he gripped the blanket.
"I give you the new way to breathe!" he shouted. He flung the blanket off to reveal a giant fan in dull metal. He smiled at the confused looks. "This is our hope to living better again! All you need is a bottle of air!"
Aloysius climbed back down the ladder and pulled a box of large containers out. He climbed back up leaving awkward silence. Then he put the containers in a socket of the fan, flicked a button and a soft whirring was heard.
"Aaahh," he breathed. "Smell that fresh air! Who else wants to try it?"
One by one everyone came up to breathe and they all sighed in content delight. Chloe was first out of her family and she took a breather. It did smell fresh, but when she drew back it still smelled smoggy. Natalie didn't try and only looked at it.
"It looks like a fan," she said looking very unimpressed.
"Of course it's a fan Little Girl!" said Aloysius. "You're just too little to understand. Tsk, tsk, tsk." Then he patted her head like she was a dog.
Natalie was very offended. Any child wouldn't want to be called little or get the dreaded head pat. Marie bit her lip in annoyance at the young man (or more like a teenager) and tried the air. She agreed with Chloe; it still smelled smoggy when she drew away. He winked when he recognized her.
"Hey I used your paintings to sell this out," he whispered. "Thanks for your help!"
People clapped after everyone took a turn and awed over the machine. Aloysius grinned again and waved his arms as if he was a conductor to the orchestra. Marie thought darkly about how unfair it was that Once-ler had struggled and the teen was getting it easy.
"I have showed this invention to all the important people of Thneedville," said Aloysius. "They have agreed that it's good for us! So there will be factory set up to make more bottles of air and fans for you all so you can breathe! And it's only $10.00! Your first purchase of bottled air is free! After the wall is fully built we ought to have good clean air again!"
Marie felt her stomach drop. This city, that was once a small town, was becoming a dystopia. A place cut off from the world. Not only that, she had without knowing it, helped the man who wanted it to be. She didn't like it. She knew Once-ler wouldn't like it at all! Not one little bit!
He didn't like it one little bit! Once-ler was furious when Marie told him. It annoyed him that with all his hard work he was trying to improve. Aloysius wasn't going to make things better. Then another thing happened that got him more fired up to get the trees back while he continued to dig and draw up greenhouse ideas.
The natural food; meat, vegetables, fruit and grain had deceased. The community had to think up of a way to feed its inhabitants and they thought it up quick. A very nasty idea. It was seen right in the groceries stores one Tuesday afternoon when the weather got cold. It was right before Thanksgiving and the Once-lers were getting the usual list for it.
"I still hate cranberry sauce," said Natalie when they went into the supermarket. Already there were fans with bottled air in them from O'Hare Air.
"We're still getting some," said Marie. "You know Dad still wants us to be happy on that day." The sad image of Once-ler eating a bag of marshmallows or a frozen bowl of spaghetti came to mind.
"I want lots of stuffing!" said Chloe as she balanced on the cart's end. "Lots and lots and lots of it! I want a big bowl of-"
"Attention shoppers!" came the manager over the intercom. "Head down to aisle thirteen to see a new product for Thneedville! Aisle thirteen! Thank you and have a good day!"
"I guess we'll see what it is," said Marie to Natalie after they saw Chloe jump off the cart and dash for the aisle.
Chloe was thinking of free samples like all the other trips to the store. There were samples set up on the big table with an orange tablecloth. A little man who seemed to be related to Aloysius stood behind it. He was not as short, maybe five inches taller. Mothers with babies and men with shopping baskets patiently listened.
"Good afternoon folks," said the man. "As you know my son Aloysius is gaining success with his new company O'Hare Air thanks to the great Mr. Dake and Mr. DeSalvo."
The people clapped, but Marie rolled her eyes. Where were those men when Once-ler needed their support and-
"As of lately we've had a shortage of food, but do not worry!" said Mr. Thaddeus O'Hare. "There's hope. Scientists have found a new way to enjoy our tasty delights!"
He lifted up the lid to a tray and on it were gelatins. They wobbled and wiggled like any other gelatin, but inside there was a little fish. Another looked it had chunks of carrots. There was one that looked like broccoli. Chloe peeked out from behind a chubby lady and quirked an eyebrow. She didn't eat anything gelatin often, same for pudding. So as gluttonous as she could be, it was a food she only ate if offered. She wouldn't eat it on her own free will.
"Okay now who'd like a taste?" asked Thaddeus. He shaded his eyes to search the crowd. "Hello! How about you little lady?"
Chloe looked around and pointed to herself. "Me?"
"Yes you!" laughed Thaddeus. "Come on up here you little cutie-wutie."
Feeling self-conscious of being in front of people, but not wanting to disappoint, she obeyed. Feeling awkward she stood before the table.
"Here you go!" said Thaddeus. He stuck a toothpick in a small piece of broccoli. "Take a bite."
Chloe, for the first time in her life, didn't feel like eating. Broccoli wasn't wobbly; it wasn't supposed to be wobbly! She gulped with a nervous tummy and quickly slid the piece in her mouth. She pushed it around with her tongue to the roof of her mouth as it began to dissolve. Yet there was something rubbery about it.
"So does it taste good?" asked Thaddeus with a smile that made Marie feel uncomfortable.
"It's o-kay," admitted Chloe. She swallowed. "Is that a real fish?" She pointed to the one glob.
"No, no, Sweetheart!" laughed Thaddeus again. "Isn't she cute folks?" He patted her head. "It's just a fake fish, but it helps give flavor."
"I'll try one," said a lady. She came up and bit into her piece. "Hmm…it's not that bad." She looked thoughtful.
"Not bad?!" thought Chloe. She stepped back to her mother.
"It doesn't look natural," said Marie when she came up to look.
"Of course it isn't," laughed Thaddeus again. "That's the beauty of it! We make it artificial to keep the freshness longer!"
Most people nodded thoughtfully. Marie was offered a yellow clump and when she tried it she didn't like it. It wasn't just slippery, it tasted too strong. The taste of buttery corn on the cob felt too powerful for her taste buds. In all, it didn't taste like the real thing. It was just a mock up.
"If you look down the aisle folks you'll find your whole Thanksgiving dinner lined up in jellies!" Thaddeus pointed in both directions with a grin. "So save the hard work and get your Thneedville's finest meal!"
The people rushed back and forth trying a sample and buying the packages. The aisle of long freezer shelves was soon emptied. Natalie refused to try any and cringed at the crowd's eating. Marie wrung her wrist when she bent over the table to ask Thaddeus a question.
"So does that mean there's no natural food anymore?"
"No Ma'am," he said with enthusiasm. "Isn't great?"
"Is it really healthy?" asked Marie. "I mean isn't gelatin mostly sugar?"
"Oh no," said the man with a cunning glance. "This has all the healthy you'll ever need right out of a lab."
"How so?" asked Marie.
The man didn't answer and went on to offering another sample. Marie took that as her answer and went back to shopping. Yet she realized all the good food was gone and there was no other choice. Much to her and the girls' dismay, they had to get the new food.
"I'd rather eat dirt," muttered Natalie.
"What kind of mother would I be if I made you eat dirt?" asked Marie at her remark.
"A good one," sassed Natalie.
Much to Natalie's annoyance they had to eat the gelatin and she was even angrier to get gelatin pancakes. It looked like a beige blob with the traditional mold for gelatin. Yet it tasted bland. It's fair to say all three were used to the splash of vanilla and fluffiness that Once-ler would make, but that wiggly breakfast meal was a pitiful excuse.
"I'd rather eat sandpaper," she complained.
Anyway it went, favorite foods of the family were ruined. Marie's favorite cookies still weren't in Thneedville, but her favorite dish, chicken cacciatore was depressing. It tasted like someone put too much sage in it. Chloe found that the marshmallows stayed the same (since that's basically what they are,) but everything else from cheese to sprinkles tasted bad. Thanksgiving dinner had the jelly foods set out and unhappy faces.
"I'm not thankful for this," said Natalie stubbornly as she looked at the plain dishes.
"There's no real food anymore," sighed Marie. She started scooping brown clumps, also known as the stuffing, onto plates.
"I'd be more thankful if Daddy was here," said Chloe with a lump in her throat.
"I know," agreed Marie sadly.
"I don't want to live here anymore," Natalie finally snapped. "I want to live out there!" She pointed a finger to the kitchen window.
"Natalie Viola," said Marie firmly. "You know what Dad said. Now please eat something! I'm not letting you go hungry."
Chloe sniffed and rubbed her nose. Marie bit her lips as she helped her plate, but she felt tears brim when she saw the lone chair for Once-ler. Natalie drew her knees up.
"I'm not hungry," she said.
"Natalie that's been you're excuse a lot," said Marie sternly. "You have to eat something!"
Chloe whimpered and wiped an eye. Marie put down the serving spoon and copied her. She wasn't going to break down. She hadn't broken down for a month. Last time she did was when she awoke from a nightmare and felt twice as lonely. She had cried out of loss for Once-ler then.
"Stop it," she thought. "You can't cry in front of your daughters. You-you can't."
Finally Chloe let out a sob and Marie felt her face crumple up. She buried her face in her hands to prevent any weeping. Chloe held back another sob as Natalie got up and hugged her. Marie peeked through her fingers to see Natalie's eyes were getting watery.
"Alright," she finally said. "We don't have to eat. We just need to have a good cry."
"Crying isn't good," gulped Natalie.
"Actually crying can be good," admitted Marie. "It can make you feel better."
"Will it bring Daddy back?" asked Chloe.
"No...but it may help us feel less sad." Marie got up and took both of the girls to the sofa. She brought some tissues and sat between them.
"Now we're just going to get those bad feelings out," she said. "It's okay to cry now."
And they did. Softly they all shed tears and hugged while they missed Once-ler. It actually did help a little. Afterwards, they felt a little hungry and were less gloomy for the day. There was nothing they could do at the moment, except wait and let Thneedville change.
There was nothing that could be done as O'Hare Air kept taking off and the nourishment grew more popular. So popular in fact, that the cafeteria served it. Natalie and Chloe couldn't escape it for they had the same for their packed lunches. While the changes kept on going, the season kept progressing to colder and bitter. The school was extra cozy while the winds blew and class went on like usual. Chloe and Ellie spent more time together with play dates at the condo. (Ellie would say her house was "too messy.") Natalie did well in her lessons while Chloe daydreamed and tried to keep up. Every now and then she looked at the clock to see what numbers it'd hit for lunch and recess.
On one of the typical days it started out the same. Natalie's pencil flew over the pages. Two other students who were considered gifted did the same too. Chloe yawned and read her question again: "If Mr. Black had four jellybeans and Mr. Brown had three jellybeans how many jellybeans would they have altogether?"
"I don't know," thought Chloe. "I just want some real jellybeans that aren't all jelly!"
While Chloe thought about good, real and old fashioned candy, Natalie stared at the chalkboard with its curvy design and the printing on it. She was through with her math lesson. Her gaze went to the wide windows as she thought of the wall that was still in process and her father. The world seemed so big and menacing without her dad. That made her feel as small as a cockroach.
"Where are the animals anyway?" she thought. "There's only snails around."
"Alright," the teacher finally said. The children looked up. "With our holiday celebration coming up, all students do either a skit or song together. I'd like all of you, with your new writing skills that I've just taught you, to write a little notecard of someone you love. After all, every holiday is about family. So in your best penmanship write on these please!"
She got up and handed out colored papers with lines on them. Natalie grimaced seeing she got red and turned in her seat to swipe Chloe's. Her sister rolled her eyes and let her take the green one. Of course! Both girls didn't say it, but they knew who they were going to write about. At recess Ellie and Chloe played on the swings while Natalie made herself a bead bracelet.
"So who are you doing your note about?" asked Ellie. She ducked her head down so her chestnut hair swept against the browned grass.
"My daddy," answered Chloe. "Natty is too. Are you doing your daddy?"
"Um no," said Ellie hesitantly. "He's always busy."
"You're mommy?"
"Nah. She's too busy too. Maybe I'll do my neighbor back where we used to live. He lives far away from here."
"I don't like it when people live far away," added Chloe sadly.
"Me too," agreed Ellie.
"Me too," thought Natalie. "I want to stay with Dad because Thneedville stinks!" She shivered from a chilly breeze and buttoned her sweater up to her throat.
With it being late November it was briskly cold and the promise of snow loomed. The holidays were just around the corner and already boxes of garland and lights were pulled out. The sky was still grey, but the girls were used to it. The air smelled cold too, but there was a hint of coffee in the air from cafes. The girls didn't know if it was gelatin too, but it was tolerable. With hope that things would turn around they continued with their lives. It looked like things would go well.
Not all had gone well for Once-ler's past employees. For one, their jobs were not as high paying like before. Secondly, the city's adjustments were driving some of them batty. Some grumble that it was The Once-ler's fault while others just kept their heads high. The teen girls from Little Saplings weren't doing so poorly. They seemed content in their department stores and restaurants.
Well, Arabella wasn't too happy because she missed her old job. She felt very sorry for her old boss and still thought it wasn't his fault. Her crush on him had faded and now she only held admiration and sympathy. She missed seeing Marie every day who was her friend. Then three other men were very unhappy as well, but they were much sorer about it.
Mr. McPherson, Mr. Findow and Mr. Thompkins harbored anger to their boss for suddenly cancelling everything! They, the PR team, had just started up new ideas and it was thrown away! They had some choice words for him and didn't feel any compassion for what happened to him. Good riddance! Let him die with his destruction! Why should they care? It was probably because they hated their jobs doing PR for O'Hare. Their new boss was a stick in the mud and very immature. They would spend their lunch breaks complaining about both bosses and how poorer they had gotten. They only wanted more to survive: it was survival of the fittest. That all changed when Mr. Thompkins got a terrible idea. An idea that was perhaps not as terrible as what his boss did!
"You know," he said after another conversation had come to a lull. "We ought to find extra things to do for money. Like sell stuff right?"
"What can we sell?" mumbled Mr. McPherson. "We barely have anything to sell. I sold my old TV just last week! There's nothing else left except to keep that O'Hare happy! What a dork!"
"Is there?" asked Mr. Thompkins. He smiled wide to show his crooked teeth. "I think we have something that we can sell big time and we'd be all set for life!"
Mr. Findow sipped his fruity flavored drink and looked thoughtful. He stroked his mustache and considered it.
"I guess we could," he said lightly. "It's not too dangerous is it?"
"Of course not," laughed Mr. Thompkins. "We all know your phobia of heights! This has nothing to do with that."
"What is it?" asked Mr. McPherson with interest. "If it's about getting some dirt on our boss then that'd be terrific! I've got a thing or two for O'Hare!"
"Forget O'Hare," said Mr. Thompkins with ease. He inched closer to the table as them men copied him. "Our old boss has some good stuff on him."
"Hasn't the newspapers and tabloids said all that there is?" asked Mr. Findow. "I think they're all Once-lered out. He's kind of old now isn't he? He got kicked out two months ago." He shrugged with his wise thought.
"Do you remember what we saw that night before he shut it all down?"
The men shook their heads at first, but then their eyes widened remembering what Mr. Thompkins was talking about.
"The kid?" whispered Mr. McPherson in shock. "That little kid who came in on our meeting? Why would she be interesting? Oh wait!" His eyes lit up. "You mean we could…"
"Spread some news about her?" asked Mr. Thompkins. He rubbed his hands together as Mr. McPherson nodded. "Offer to sell her out?"
"Sounds like blackmail," said Mr. Findow to himself.
"We tell the newspapers about her and we'll get paid!" Mr. Thompkins was so excited he could nearly shout.
"It's not a bad idea," said Mr. McPherson.
"Wait!" came a cry.
"What?" asked Mr. Thompkins. He looked at Mr. Findow who had cried out.
"You're not going to put some kid's picture in the paper are you?" said the man. "I mean, isn't that creepy and harsh?"
"Harsh? Creepy?" Mr. Thompkins bit into his faux chocolate bar. "We're just making an honest living and telling about her is honest isn't it? My cousin can help us get it published!"
Mr. McPherson grinned in agreement as his blue eyes squinted behind his wired glasses. Findow stroked his thick mustache in thought.
"I suppose we could," said Mr. Findow after running a hand in his blond hair. "I mean we do need the money. I have bills to pay."
"Imagine," said Mr. McPherson. "I could get that new TV with what we earn! It's a perfect idea T!"
"This will have to be done precisely though," said Mr. Thompkins. "So you let me do the talking."
"You sure your cousin would do this?" asked Mr. Findow. He seemed doubtful.
"Of course! Of course!" Mr. Thompkins brushed it off easily with a laugh. "Bartholomew's good a pal of mine! Now we go to the newspaper tonight before he closes up shop."
Sure enough the three men came to the headquarters of Mr. Bartholomew Sneelock. Mr. Sneelock sat behind a desk scattered with scrap paper and a full ashtray. The moment Mr. Findow and Mr. McPherson saw him they grew nervous. They had right to be for Mr. Sneelock was a vast man with a thick beard and piercing eyes under bushy eyebrows. When he saw Mr. Tompkins he grinned with his cigar gripped between his stained teeth.
"Well," he boomed in his rough voice. "Look who it is! Come on in Jeffrey! Sit down!"
"Bart," laughed Mr. Thompkins with his arms out. "Long time no see!" Of course he was only kidding. "These are my pals Ichabod and Eric! We used to be the PR team for "Greed-ler." Remember that?"
"Oh yeah, yeah," mumbled Mr. Sneelock. "That's right. That ol' tree killer got the axe didn't he?" The man let out another laugh and Mr. Findow felt uncomfortable.
"Sure did," said Mr. Thompkins as he settled down on the couch under a blind covered window. "In fact that's why we're here Cuz. We found some new dirt on him. Interested?"
"New dirt on him huh?" breathed Mr. Sneelock as he blew a puff of smoke out. "What is it? Money? A remark about his business?"
"Better," said his cousin with a gleeful wickedness. "What's the price?"
"Huge." It was the only answer and that was good enough.
"We think we found some family of his," said Mr. McPherson who felt he should have some say.
"Is it about his mama?" the editor grumbled. Mr. Sneelock chewed on the end of his cigar in disinterest. "She's old hat! Same goes for his dumbbell siblings, uncle and aunt. It's all old hat!"
"Not this!" said Mr. McPherson with a head shake. "This is bigger and new! Trust us."
Mr. Tompkins nodded. Mr. Sneelock sat farther back in his seat. Mr. Findow swallowed as he felt his conscience stir up. Mr. McPherson thought there was enough of a dramatic pause and adjusted his tie with importance.
"We have personally seen that The Once-ler has another relative and she's very close in blood."
"She's?" echoed Mr. Sneelock. He waved his hand to encourage him on. "This is getting interesting. Keep going."
"Wait!" shouted Mr. Findow and he sat up from his offered seat.
"Augh!" groaned Mr. Thompkins. "Come on Eric! Don't be a coward! We deserve this!"
"I know but is this right?" asked Mr. Findow. His dark eyes glanced down at the cheap carpet. "I mean this is really personal. I don't know, but I'm-having…"
"Don't give it another thought," said Mr. Sneelock coolly. "It's not personal, it's just business. That's how it goes around here."
"As we were saying," said Mr. McPherson. "The day before Once-ler shut down his business we were meeting for another PR meeting. We were suggesting on trying a new jingle, but he suddenly interrupted and said he couldn't do it."
"Did he really?" interrupted Mr. Sneelock in amazement.
"Well he and his mom got in a fight about something," continued Mr. McPherson. "We offered to reschedule, but she wouldn't hear of it! Then we saw her…"
"Yes," said Mr. Sneelock as he stayed glued to each word. "Who? Who was it? Go on!"
"His daughter."
Mr. Sneelock coughed and spluttered. He took his mug and swallowed the cold coffee to recover.
"You're serious?!" he managed to say. "The Once-ler? The Once-ler has a kid?"
"Little girl with black hair and blue eyes," said Mr. Thompkins thoughtfully. "That's not a very common genetic combination is it? Not to mention-"
"Are you sure?" asked Mr. Sneelock with a grim seriousness. "You sure she's his? She could just be a cousin or niece. Did he say?"
"He said he'd fire us if we told about her," said Mr. Findow softly. "I think that says enough. She clung to him like a kid would do their dad too. She looked like she was sick."
"Doesn't matter if she was or not," said Mr. Thompkins. "She was! His mom said he had taken in some orphan or something to defend him. If so she looks very similar to him to be an orphan."
It seemed that the men had forgotten that Natalie had mentioned about a vomiting Chloe when she found them with her dad. The men didn't clearly remember what she said, just that she was there. Well, Mr. Eric Findow remembered, but he couldn't bring it up. He wasn't as terrible as the other men in the room though he felt desperate for the cash. He didn't want to ruin two kids' lives.
"You've got a picture of her?" asked Mr. Sneelock with a nasty grin. "That's make it extra perfect for the morning news!"
"Do we need a picture?" asked Mr. McPherson. "People believe anything they read. We don't need a picture. Do we?"
"Trust me," said Mr. Thompkins with a wagging finger. "This will be extra juicy." He chuckled and then suddenly looked worried. "We just have to go looking for a little kid! Aw great!" He shook his head in annoyance.
"You said she has black hair and blue eyes," smirked Mr. Sneelock. "How many children in all of Thneedville could look like that Jeffrey? It shouldn't be so hard. Tomorrow is a school day isn't? So go have a stakeout."
"It's likely she's at Thneedville Elementary," said Mr. McPherson as he tapped a finger to his lips in thought.
"Then we'll do it if you pay double," offered Mr. Thompkins. He had done scoops before and didn't want to be scammed out.
"Wait a minute," said Mr. Findow firmly. "You're not going to take some picture of a little girl going in or out of school! That's stalking!" He faced Mr. Sneelock tensely. "Look I can take telling about this, but I can't take some photo of a child. How'd you like it if someone did that to your kid?"
"I can put it quite simply Mr. F," said Mr. Sneelock as he pushed forward in his chair. "I don't have kids. Do you want money or not?"
"Look Eric," said Mr. Thompkins with a smile. "We're not really stalking. We're just looking. There's no harm in looking right? Besides, what can The Once-ler do to us? He's powerless. He can't do anything."
"Maybe," admitted Mr. Findow hesitantly as he thought it over. "Fine, but I will only sit in the back and eat jelly doughnuts."
He meant that literally since they were really only gelatin. With that said the three men shook hands with Mr. Sneelock and prepared their stakeout. Mr. McPherson was in charge of the yearbook back in his high school days and never forgot his photography skills. So he brought his old camera on the stakeout. He sat in the passenger seat with Mr. Thompkins at the wheel and Mr. Findow crammed in the back of the Coupe.
"Now we wait," said Mr. Thompkins on that morning. He parked his car not too far off and not too close to the school. "This will be a cinch."
It was more easily said than done. The crowd of children flooded in when the doors first opened and Mr. McPherson couldn't see even with his glasses. Dismayed by this the men drove away to come back in the afternoon because they weren't going to wait for recess. Instead of sticking around they grabbed more jelly doughnuts and a big lunch which neither enjoyed. Gelatin would take getting used to.
"What time does the school get out?" Mr. Findow quietly asked. They had just finished their fast food meal. "I didn't think this would take all day."
"I don't know," sighed Mr. Thompkins who was the most impatient with the wait. "It ends in the afternoon!"
"My nephew went to that school before he got pulled out," said Mr. McPherson as they started driving again. "I had to pick him up once and it ended around 2:30. Let's try that."
Mr. McPherson was right. Only a few minutes within arriving and the doors opened again. Carpools joined up and some children walked their short distance. Then it seemed they had found their prize until Mr. McPherson became dismayed.
"I don't think that's her," he said. "She looks different."
"Of course she does," growled the greedy Mr. Thompkins. "She doesn't look like a wet dog! Now take the picture!"
"No! I don't think it's the same girl!" Mr. McPherson leaned back in his seat. "See? She looks different. She has different hair."
The two other men peered in their seats to see another little girl with black hair and blue eyes. Due to the frosty day she had her coat buttoned up high and her scarf covering her mouth. Peeking out from her little hat was black hair, but it was short and curly!
"Hmm," said Mr. Thompkins in awe. "Well what do you know? I guess there is another kid who looks like that. You're right though. That's not her. She seems a bit shorter too."
Mr. Findow looked at his feet. He knew she had to be the Chloe that Natalie mentioned. He didn't speak up though and with good reason. Ruining one child's life was bad enough and maybe, by some luck or a miracle, she wouldn't be noticed. The little girl walked off the street after looking both ways and headed for the ice rink for her skating lesson. A pair of white skates was tied by their laces to her satchel and she swung her heart printed tin lunchbox. Up the street she went and vanished.
"That's her!" yelled Mr. Thompkins. "That's the kid!" He pointed to another girl who came out of the school.
"Oh yeah," said Mr. McPherson. "That's her alright."
It was, unfortunately, her. The same girl, who barged into their PR meeting, went down the block and sat on a bench with some other children who waited for their parents. She slipped her satchel off and her lunchbox to the ground. Then she pulled out a reader for second graders (a book for her to read if she got bored in class.) She was too focused to notice what was happening as Mr. McPherson took photo after photo of her.
"That's enough," said Mr. Findow nervously. "We only need one."
"Who said we need only one?" chuckled Mr. Thompkins as he imagined sitting on piles of money. "Look at her! She's even got a lunchbox with her "precious" daddy's face on it!"
At that moment Natalie did open her lunchbox, a special edition with The Once-ler holding and pointing at the Thneed. She plucked out a gelatin apple she had saved. She took a bite, made a face, got up to the nearest trash can, and spat it out. With a great force she slammed the faux fruit to the pavement with a splat. Seeming satisfied that she had punished the fruit she returned to the bench.
"I think we have enough," said Mr. Findow firmly. "Now let's go."
"He's right," said Mr. McPherson. "I don't think I have enough film."
Only then did Mr. Thompkins spy another car coming up and Natalie climbed in. He gasped and gripped the wheel.
"We're getting extra!" he shouted.
Following orders, the stakeout carefully drove near Marie's car. Mr. Thompkins was becoming an even nastier person by the minute and hoped they'd lead them to their house. Marie didn't lead them to her home. Thankfully, she pulled into one of the department stores because Natalie needed a new pair of shoes. She was having a growth spurt.
Mr. McPherson laughed as he parked several spaces away. Poor Mr. Findow didn't know if he could take any more of the spying. He already felt guilty enough with Natalie and he was terrified of what could happen to him if caught.
"Whoa-ho-ho," said Mr. McPherson. "Isn't she a hot little number for a mistress?" He had a thing for curvy women.
"Meh," said Mr. Thompkins. "She'd look better if thinner."
Mr. McPherson snapped the last photo he could get. Two of the men sneered at their evidence and went off to meet with Mr. Sneelock. The other man kept shrinking down in the backseat with his conscience nagging him. Then half of their dream was smashed to pieces.
"McPherson," said Mr. Sneelock when the developed photos came back that night from Mr. McPherson's house. "This last one is crowded by another car. I can barely see anyone. What was the point of this?"
"It can't be," said Mr. McPherson desperately and grabbed it. "I took it myself. Oh don't tell me it got ruined in my studio!"
"Studio?" thought Mr. Findow. "More like your garden shed."
"Look Cuz," said Mr. Thompkins. "That picture had not just the kid. It had her mom! We just caught the mistress of The Once-ler."
"Sorry men," sighed Mr. Sneelock. "It's too out of focus. I will take those other ones though."
Mr. Sneelock had the thick envelope of photos handed to him and he checked them all again. After a few minutes of anticipation he grinned and put them in a drawer. Then he retrieved his pocketbook.
"$5,000 sound good to you all?" he asked with a sneer.
...
"Are you doing okay?" asked Once-ler when nightfall crept in.
"Mostly," said Marie. Within ten hours her girls would be up for school. "We're not enjoying the jelly food. Natalie gave another interesting description of the "ham" for dinner."
"What'd she say?" asked Once-ler. He liked hearing Natalie's wit.
"She said it tasted like leather," chuckled Marie. "I don't know where she gets these ideas. Chloe's still having a hard time, but she loves, and I mean loves P.E. and Natalie is still Natalie with school, but she's not fighting anymore. I don't know what you said to her that one day, but it's worked."
"It's what I do." Once-ler felt proud that Natalie and Chloe were growing. Now if only he could be there. "Well, Chloe said she'd help with Natty so I'll give credit to her."
"How modest," laughed Marie. "I just sold another dress and I still hate myself for helping that O'Hare. The Drews' said he's thinking of buying a blimp."
"Don't worry about what you did," reassured Once-ler. "You didn't know. Nobody saw it coming. What are they doing for the water?"
At that moment Once-ler tossed a dirty plate in the sink. It clanked against a dirty bowl and loosened a spoon. He hadn't paid attention to dishes and laundry for weeks with his digging and drawing. He hadn't paid much attention to shaving either and felt the bristles of facial hair.
"The water is in a filter system," said Marie. The pond water though looks nasty. Chloe swore she saw something glowing last time she was there and they have these little fish sprinklers for decoration. I really don't like how this is going."
"I just need more time," said Once-ler. "I can see the wall if I walk far enough. It's not even half way done is it?"
"On one side it's almost completed," answered Marie. "That's the one facing your direction. The rest is still in early stages and they're trying to make a sewer system in the wall. That's why it's taking a while and they've got boards out showing future designs. We're having words put up on the wall...facing inwards. I guess there is still time."
"Keep telling the girls I love them and that we'll be okay," said Once-ler. He felt awful he couldn't see his girls. It was worse than when Thneeds were being made.
"I always do and you know we love you back," said Marie tenderly. "There are still some people who like you here. Dr. Helms does, Arabella still does after how you helped her and Judge Fitzgerald who married us. I think those old co-workers of mine still like you."
"Well there's only one woman for me," said Once-ler. "And I'm talking to her." He always knew that deep down it had bothered Marie that he had girl fans.
"I would tell them that if I wanted to," said Marie. She stifled back a yawn. "I've got a long day tomorrow with dress making, but we'll talk to you soon."
"Sure thing," agreed Once-ler. "I'll be walking out farther for seeds so I need sleep."
"Sleeping is the body's way of telling other people to go away," chuckled Marie. "Sleep well Sexy. I love you."
"Love you too Beautiful."
And they hung up, waiting to hear their beloved's voices until next time.
The couple slept well that night after their talk. The girls slept well after talking to their father and had pleasant dreams. By sunrise Once-ler got up and explored new ground. His wife got the girls ready for another school day as clouds slowly moved over the city.
"Time to get up Bunnies!" called Marie that morning. "Let's go!" She pulled the blinds up in the room and allowed her girls to awaken.
Two girls, one sleepy and the other alert, crawled off of their mattresses. Chloe grabbed her nice trousers and a sweater out without wondering if they matched or not. She dug through the sock drawer and pulled out two loners, one navy and the other pink to wear. Natalie silently scolded her sister's idea of dressing and took her outfit off the hanger.
The usual morning progressed as usual. The girls brushing their teeth together with Natalie ducking from her sister's rapid elbow and Chloe waiting for her turn in the mirror to brush her hair. It only took five seconds for her to swipe a brush over her curls and she skipped out. Natalie took her time to make a small braid out of a section. Pleased with her work she smacked on some lip-gloss and proudly went out.
"This stuff again?" asked Chloe when she sat at the breakfast table.
"Yep," sighed Marie. "This again." She scooped the globs of gelatin down on a plate.
"I hate this," mumbled Chloe. The box said the yellow glob was supposed to be scrambled egg flavored, but she disagreed.
"I don't like this artificial world," thought Marie in agreement.
Natalie was nitpicky enough and wasn't thrilled about the food. Slowly the family ate with Natalie's commentary of the meal tasting like suede. The poor girls swallowed and coughed with each bite. Not satisfied and longing for their father's cooking, the girls took their belongings for the day. Chloe grabbed a little crochet hat to wear and then followed her sister as they were bundled up. All three ignored the gasmasks hanging up on the pegs.
"You two be careful," said Marie who was proud of their independence and still having safe identities. "Look both ways as you cross the street and don't talk to strangers."
"We know," the twins said in unison. Then they were gone.