How Bad Could You Really Be?

A change in perspective.

There was a brief scream while I was sitting at my desk. It sounded like someone outside had slipped, or something. To me it really didn't sound important. I know Skye was klutzy enough she probably just scared herself when she tripped over a rock. But if she fell in the water that would be bad. I stood up and hurried to the door.

Oncie, you should be more focused on your business. I am sure she is fine.

"I need to know for myself. Stop bothering me," I hissed.

The door flung open as I stormed past a shadowy figure on my right. He was getting annoying. Though Skye never directly told me what she called him, I knew. The lorax and her talked many times and I overheard it from my desk one day. Being the arrogant thing he was he actually liked that name. I meant what I said that I was afraid of letting her down. But sometimes my actions even scared me. It worried me that I could barely remember being intimate with her, and that was a few minutes ago. It made me think of those things I said weeks ago. The twins and my uncle were working. She was right about my mom and aunt being lazy.

"Have any of you seen Skye?" I asked.

"Not since she was rude to me," my mother huffed.

"She's very outspoken, I guess."

"A woman should know when to hold her tongue."

I rolled my eyes. And under my breath I muttered she should take her own advice. I continued toward some trees when I saw a familiar figure of the lorax. He was puffing and out of breath.

"B-beanpole," he huffed, "Skye..."

"Where is she?"

The lorax waved me on. I followed him a bit further. He as trying to explain what happened. Something about the idiots and a ladder. I guess he meant Chet and Bret. Then I saw her. Skye's body entangled in parts of the ladder. My heart dropped.

Oh no, what if she's dead? That would be interesting. See we could do great things!

I ignored him. I carefully removed the ladder and tossed it aside.

Too bad, she's still breathing. We can still make do.

"Skye, hey can you hear me?" I asked nervously. My eyes met with the lorax, "what do I do?"

"We gotta get her into town. She needs a doctor."

"Yeah."

I ran back to the house. Melvin was grazing nearby. I tried to pull him toward the cart. Of course he was being stubborn today. But as soon as I said Skye was in trouble he hurried to the cart on his own. After hooking him up we headed to Skye. The lorax was sitting there talking, but she wasn't responding.

"She's unconscious," I snapped.

"I know, beanpole, but I thought if she could hear it would be comforting to know we're here."

"Move I've got to get her on this thing."

Or we could just leave her alone. She's not really responding anyway. She's just been getting in the way. Your thneed could be so much more without her. Isn't that what you wanted?

The bastard floated around me running a finger under my chin. The worst part of it was I almost left her there. Tears burst from my eyes as I lifted her off the ground. The lorax grabbed the cloth of my pants.

"Kid, you okay?" he asked with great concern.

"I gotta get her somewhere she'll be safe."

"She isn't safe with you?"