How Bad Could You Really Be?

Suddenly, we're friends!

Once-ler fumbled over my body when I collapsed into him. He managed to pick me up. The Lorax picked up some of my things on the ground. A small rock tumbled out of my bag. The creature looked over it carefully. The words "Never again" were carved into it. He placed it over the fresh dirt mound.

"Maybe that girl will knock some sense into him," he chuckled.

Upon returning to the tent Once had lay me on his bed. He grabbed a glass of water and set it on a table next to the bed. He went to the nearby drawing board and started working on something.

"Hey beanpole, is this your notebook?" the Lorax shouted.

"Hey, will you keep it down?" Once nodded toward his bed, "and I don't think that's mine. What's in it?"

"I don't wanna go through it if it's not yours."

"But if it was mine you'd have no problem going through it?"

"Yeah."

Once's attention had perked. His eyes glared over his drawing board at the Lorax. He hastily reached for the book. After snagging it he opened it. His eyes perused the stroke of every letter. The book had opened about halfway through but he was immediately taken in by the story. Suddenly a hand snatched the book away.

"Hey, I-" he paused.

"Do you always do things without regards to how others will feel?" I snapped.

"Sorry, I didn't think about it."

My face was bright red as I clung to the notebook. I never let anyone touch it. The Lorax plopped at the foot of the bed. I poked him gently yet again.

"So you're real?" I asked.

"What you thought that was only a story?" he asked.

"Well, kinda. I thought it was just a story to scare kids."

"Scare children?!"

He almost sounded appalled at the idea. I took a sip of the water before shrugging. Once had got up and strolled nonchalantly toward us. His finger plucked a string on his guitar.

"So this is a story around here, this Lorax?" he asked.

"You've never heard it?"

"Nuh uh."

"It's just about respecting the earth because if you don't the Lorax will come for you!"

The Lorax sighed as my voice dropped as if I was telling a scary story. I couldn't help but laugh.

"Well that's how my Dad used to tell it. Worked didn't it?"

"I guess so," the Lorax lifted his head with a smile.

"So what are you gonna do?" my tone became serious.

"What do you mean?" Once and the Lorax asked in unison.

"I heard about the last guy," I paused to gauge their interest, "he started cutting down trees in this very forest. Then one night...hm, I shouldn't say anything else."

"W-what happened?" Once asked from behind a pillow.

"Hey Skye, you really shouldn't finish this story," the Lorax chimed in.

"Th-this is some sort of joke, isn't t? Get out both of you!"

"Alright," I shrugged while gathering my things, "I'd just hate to see the same thing happen to you."

The Lorax shuffled outside. I grabbed my notebook and spun on my heel. Before I could leave Once grabbed my arm. I looked back at him.

"I'm leaving just like you asked."

"What happened?"

"Oh to the guy? Rumor has it the Lorax has unfathomable power. The man ignored his request over and over. Until one day the Lorax turned him into a tree."

"That's what happened?" he asked slightly relieved.

"No, everyday the Lorax returned. And every day he ignored the pleas only he could hear from the man, since he had become a tree. And every day..."

"I chopped him down like he did to my trees!" the Lorax burst in through the window.

I jumped slightly at the excitement. We watched as Once screamed loudly before throwing his pillow and falling off the bed. He looked around as we stood wide eyed for a moment. Then we all started laughing. Once's laugh was more nervous than mine. I put my hand on his shoulder to hold myself up, but also to reassure him all was okay. The sky was turning dark. I packed up my things to head home. Once had composed himself. But I caught him glancing nervously at the Lorax when he thought I hadn't noticed.

"Tell ya what, Oncie," I said, "I'll come back tomorrow. We can find an agreeable way for you to harvest the tufts. Sound fair?"

"Alright. We'll find a compromise then."

"If you want you can both come for dinner at my house."

"Sure!" the Lorax exclaimed.

"No! We have that thing to do," Once said covering the Lorax's mouth.

"Oh, well, okay. See you in the morning."

My face turned beet red. I grabbed my things and hurried out the front door. For a moment I stood there. Muttering to myself how stupid it was to invite them over. The Lorax sat in the window watching as I ran off.

"Why didn't I just say yes?!" Once exclaimed, "she was being nice. What a pathetic excuse I had!"

The lorax listened to Once complain outloud as I disappeared past a hill. He stood up and walked past Once. He tapped his leg in a caring manner.

"She'll be back tomorrow. Maybe you'll get it right then," he said

The sun had set by the time I got home. I tried to sneak in quietly, but my father knew me all too well. The door shut silently behind me.

"You're late," my father said.

I nearly jumped out of my skin as I turned around sheepishly. He was leaning on the wall by the door. I put my keys on the table.

"Sorry, I was with some friends," I said.

"The animals?"

"No. Well yes, but a guy too."

"When did you get a boyfriend?" he joked.

"Oh my god, dad. I just met him. He's an inventor or something. He asked me to help him with something."

"You got a real job?!"

"Er, yes, in a way."

"Well that's wonderful! I hope you bring your "boss" over so I can meet him."

My face flushed a deep red as I ran into my room and slammed the door. Dad yelled something about dinner being done in half an hour. I tossed my things onto the floor and flopped onto my bed. It was hard to believe that the Lorax was real after all. But now my dad thought this was a job, at least he won't mind me being out of the house so much. The butterflies in my stomach were moving at an incredible pace. I couldn't wait until tomorrow to see both of them again.