The Truffula Gardeners

Chpt 6. Another try

It was a bright an early morning when I heard the familiar rooster croaking of the humming fish and as the bright white of the sun shone just over the horizon. Energy was stretching through my head to my toes and I was ready to go. I was already running my way to the Onceler's place, bags in hand and around my shoulders. I loved running. It made me feel so free and- "AH-!" I bumped directly into him while I wasn't paying attention. "H-hey! Ah careful there...friend." he responded. I huffed and rose from my fall, grabbing onto his arm and accidentally pulling us close. I saw him blush as he reluctantly helped me up. "Well...um.... anyway. I've packed our things! You better be ready, we've got a big day." I commanded. I proceeded to shove his own bag in his arms, setting him back a bit. "Uhum...I'm sorry. Our? Things?" He nervously responded.

I simply turned away and checked my bag to make sure we have everything. "Yeah. It was like... really easy actually. You're apparently a very heavy sleeper. You should lock your door at night by the way, you wouldn't want any weirdos entering your house" I rambled, pulling out a bottle of floral perfume and spritzing it on Onceler, again, throwing him for a bit of a loop. "Ah! Hey!" I set it back in my bag "you smell. Did you even shower? When did you wake up?"
"I-"
"Y'know what it doesn't matter. Let's go"
I began trudging toward town.
"H-hey wait!"
I hear him say as he catches up to me. And quickly after a long jog I found it again. Town. I dread it. I heard the Onceler huffing slightly as he finally trudges up behind me. "What's....the plan....anyway...if you're so....ah.... prepared." As he asked this, I carefully brought out a small piece of paper i took with me from my tiny teal bookbag. "Well, I wrote it down, see here-" I point to the first bullet point written in crayon.

"First we set up the flyers around our area, we pull up the banner I created above the gazebo, place down the thneeds in a box, that's when you start playing your guitar and if things go south, I've got a radio for replacement and we can improvise. You get all that?"
"Uh..."
"Great! Let's do it! Here's your half of the flyers and I'll take the rest, now start taping, stringbean." I sent him on his way with half the flyers and a roll of tape I stole from his own home. Once we've both gotten our flyers hung up, including the banner we both came together and saw that it was time to start the show. I slip his own guitar strap around his head and his shoulders, making sure to hold them as I do while I look him in the eyes. "You've got this, okay?" He simply looks back and says "y'know...for someone who hadn't had a friend before, you're quite the helpful supportive gal." I smile at him. I can't believe I've been so caught up in the work I've forgotten how...admirable the Onceler is. So accepting and kind. To think that I've underestimated him makes me feel like I'm no better than the vicious crowd surrounding me. Either way...like I've said, he's... definitely worth keeping. "Oh...you get up there, you." I push him onto the gazebo's surface and push myself back into the small crowd. I gave him a quiet thumbs up of approval before he began his first strum. I nervously bite my nails. "Hey look! It's that funny guy again!" The crowd erupted in laughter as the random citizen rudely called out. He looks back to me, the fear in his eyes, the puppy dog look on his poor baby face. It made my guts twist, but I had to keep my composure for him. He continued anyway. I stayed positive until...
I see this...rat of a little girl took his guitar right from his hands, and proceeds to smash it into a pillar. Right in half! To say I was mad would be an understatement. I nearly shouted at this crowd for supporting such insensitive behavior. He looked down to me, pointing in disbelief. That's when I gave him an angered, but approving nod. Quickly, I busted out the radio from my bag and set it up properly, playing the replacement music. He invited me up with his hand, I grasped it and he pulled me onto the gazebo.