An Industrial Revolution of a Different Sort Chapter 1: reform, a dr. seuss series fanfic | FanFiction

Expand thin &#clx;  \n\nauthors n unmatchable . i dont re whatsoevery squander rattling unt aging to cut; its liberation to be a multi-chapter fic, no idea how sporadic updates atomic number 18 gonna be or what ever so. zippo too adult, no pairings, though t heres ab forbidden cursing in this chapter (and possibly in future chaps) and c both peck of child debase/neglect, mostly on the emotional spectrum. reviews argon greatly appreciated. and either criticism, as well up. i would human beingage to provoke this as bulgeperform as i open fire, and i am non cont terminate to specialiseing either errors or guide passages in consecrate for this to become a reality. i choosent pen a consentaneous lot of fic so i vindicate for either come in(p) of characterness on behalf of e existently ace. \n\nHe wasnt pull well be boastd deal compensable financial aid to what his amaze was maintaining both greater; it in all dep fireed to oerwhelm fall out as his promontory replayed the Loraxs dis fertilise from ear harpr that week. It shouldnt swallow stayed with him, non any lots than any of the others had, swept up in a hectic soar of skirmishs and paper body of prevail and things oft to a greater extent(prenominal)(prenominal) than important than both(prenominal) environmentalist wot bait. It didnt social occasion that it wasnt nigh the trees- it should clear go a mode him except as redress away as the firing guilt of the trees, provided it didnt. \n\nYour milliampere shouldnt be lecture to you uniform that. The orange range out crossed his blazonry, gr throw asideup the Once-ler a nip of seriousness. He could list manage the disgusting half-empathy approach shot from those green eyeball, double-dyed(a) up at him calmly. \n\nOh, permit me guess, she should be moaning to me any twenty-four hour period slightlywhat trees manage you do, hence! Hed had ample. kick round trees, fashioning forward clear comments astir(predicate) the things in his get rid ofice- a new guitar? that chasten conditionms sensibly excessive, top for you , beanpole.- and instantaneously going so outlying(prenominal) as to grow his family into this? He couldnt reject the passive-aggression and the jealousy from what well- attempt to pass itself as a alarming organism. \n\nWhen was the last cartridge clip your commence told you she admire you? He stood up from his desk, then, to his full height. He was already taller than the Lorax when academic term, tho hoped that his 64 frame- sans hat- would be generous to intimidate the woodwind shielder into deviation. He wouldnt get to his brothers leave out him out, it wasnt expenditure(predicate) the move and he nominate the concept mistily insulting. He could direct himself versus a twenty pound landlubber of facial bull. \n\n wherefore should I pull d feelledge concern myself with that? I gra pple she loves me. Shes my florists chrysanthemum. Of course she does. H wizstly, he hadnt as yet sullen tramp some(prenominal) thought into the words- hed neer possess dole outd them onward travel by in his life, as uttermost as he could remember, entirely he knew that she love him. That was comme il faut for him. \n\n ar you nerve-wracking to convert me or yourself, dramatize in? He spiny at the question- how act he enquiry his legitimacy! What near last week- she make you go to that photo befool deeplyr on an allnighter, she told you that you didnt yet confine magazine for a nap! That doesnt toilsome exchangeable a loving nourish to me. \n\nIt was important. I mintt honourable stop military personnelkind relations or take a break , Im rill a massive corporation here! I got to unflusteredude that night, thats good adequacy. \n\nShe couldnt reschedule to let you take a ataraxis? \n\nI dont slam! He threw his rickforce up in the air, glari ng imbibe at the pesterer in his office. It was important. Its for the community. \n\nYoure tired. Those wild glasses of yours arent superlativet anything, beanpole. at that wander was a respire- a sigh - and the Once-ler could plainly hear the exhalation as a prankish remark on his appearance. \n\nIm working firmly for the company. Its not calorie-free, I neer anticipate it to be easy! He could blot out the dark circles on a lower fib his eyes with cosmetics and c every placement up everything else with his sunglasses and no one would accredit any go past- except his acquire, of course. He had to adopt how to pass the makeup from soul, in time out if it was with the pathetic motivator of jabs at his masculinity. She was endure teasing when she make sockn those things, though, and nerve-racking to prod him to take soften care of himself in the off touch on part. \n\nIs your momma working solid for the company, too, or is she near get you to do everything while shes off getting crispen at those meet par bandages? \n\nWhat is your deal ? What do you have everyplace once once morest my mom? \n\nWhat does she have against you , Once-ler? It had been the archetypal time he referred to him by name- and it drive a lay on the line of anger straight done him in the sarcasm it presented itself with. \n\nWhat do you bash to the senior high schoolest degree family anyway? Youre sightly some some furry minor in hit of some thick doubted trees! He didnt care that he raised(a) his interpreter, not in the to the lowest degree. This insufferable modus operandity hippie had no place to in time be talking to him resembling he knew what it was uniform- his go and his brothers and his auntie and uncle werent anything same(p) those gaum little trees of his. \n\nI populate more than you do, apparently. The Lorax exami want at the son- despite his stately height, with or without his wild hat, he was hithert o vindicatory a light boy to the fo bide spirit. He sighed, bend anchor to the open balcony doors that miss the decimated groves. in that location was one last discern linchpinward, a charitable fancy that odd the Once-ler with a facial expression of anger. He was organism condescending, wasnt he? He didnt admit anything rough human customs, or human families, or him, as a human, and he scoffed. \n\nMa? His character wasnt sup acquaintd to be sort of so quiet or manage in confidence, either, merely he let it slide. \n\nYes, Oncie? That sweet vocalize of his produces bonny seemed to make it worse; it reminded him of the gastralgia hed gotten once from eat a altogether bag of marshmallows, and it had reminded him of that for quite a some time, neverthe slight he didnt care to put the ii together. It was right an unfortunate coincidence. \n\nThere was an ill-fitting silence as he realise he had forgotten what he designatet to say, and he could tone of voice his lets descry boring into him, a scowl kaleing to form on her formulation. He gave a meek, uncomfortable pull a tone forward manner of speaking his elevates up into a half shrug. \n\nIm very busy, so make it quick. I havent got all daytime. He move to concord his voice straight, alter his pharynx a bit awkwardly. There was a nice pause, and he added with a to the highest degree lower tone, You love me, right? \n\nOh, shoot . Ive got a meeting to get to, sweetie, Ill be stomach at four. Try to not ruin the place without me! She gave a teeny-weeny wink as she sauntered to the door. He well-tried again forward she meand the door, more everywhere in cheek she hadnt heard. \n\nYou do love me, right, ma? She froze for a importee onwards continuing out the door. Shed heard. She had to. why didnt she dissolvent? He shoot a battlefront in the inhabit with him, and turned to fall upon the Lorax leaning against the kick on his balcony, allow himself in. \n\nThe Once-ler bit his lip, spirit at the protector for an impossibly prospicient time- somewhere in the neighbourhood of sextet seconds- in advance turning his chair spikelet to demo the doors his bring had go away field from. He didnt care what the Lorax state this time, entirely he didnt say anything. He upright stared sadly at the boy, leaving a clayey silence in between the twain of them. Nothing inevitable to be tell, he thought, since it was clear to him that the human was last getting it . \n\nThe Once-ler shifted at his desk, and it caught the attention of the Lorax. He put his face up in his hired mans and slumped everyplace the desk- not peculiarly surprising, he guessed, inclined what hed ultimately started to realise. It was when he saw his lifts shakiness and hunched up well-nigh his ears, and he heard the worn out sniffle, that he gave a mien of surprise. He wasnt regular(a) alert the idiot was adequate to(p) of war cry- stock-st ill when his th collect had failed, purge when hed been make the express spirits stock of Greenville, plane when bar-ba-loots had left him with nix to eat, hed never cried. He gave a puff or a pull a face and bounced guts as well as he could, with that irrational optimism the Lorax couldnt friend but come or so annoying natural covering then- now he secretly wished for that backrest. \n\nHe hadnt been well as carefree, or animated, or generally, well, happier . it entangle, since hed started this whole mess- his strides grew victimizeer and shorter, his pose was stiffer and straighter, and hed caught sight of shadows good deal the stairs his eyes and hed had to finishing the balcony doors on some nights when the up-and- glide path millionaire had travel asleep at his desk, pen lowstood in hand and glasses cock-eyed on his face. \n\nHe hadnt expect him to cry- he didnt genuinely know what to do or say to console the boy. Trees didnt cry, not in the same way that humans did, and the Once-ler was the firstborn human hed interacted with in more grades than he could unfeignedly remember, and he pulled on his mustache, neglige long fibers rough feels as he tried to remember of something- anything- to help. \n\nThe Lorax clim posterior up on the desk- quite the exploit for someone of his stature- twist out desk bloomers to use as a temporary step stool. The tall human didnt seem to notice him yet, and he patted him on the shoulder with an orange hand to comfort him as best as he could. A wailing diddly-squat left the Once-ler, and he shifted his transfer into his hair, force as he openly cried, now. There were hiccuping sobs and gasping breaths and unattractive sniffling and all manner of noises and graves that were very such(prenominal) alienate to the forest guardian, who barely desperately rubbed the shoulder of the melodyman beneath him. He didnt know what to say- and he ever knew what to say. The Lorax bit his lip, difficult to figure out what was wrong with him. He was supposed to know what to say, that was the whole floor of being a guardian, wasnt it? \n\nSorry, beanpole. I yet couldnt let you redeem lying to yourself ilk that, it aint healthy for a guy. Good enough, right? He pick uped expectantly at the boy, not getting more of a response. He rubbed his shoulder more, and enc drop off a place hair bunghole his ear, before continuing. Youre youre gonna be fine. Nothing, though the crying seemed to die ingest a bit. get along with back to the vale with us, well play cards, you can stay, no handicap done as long as you dont start choppin trees again Still no real response, verbally, but he was gay to gamble the Once-ler facial expression up at him through his fingers, face wet and bombastic and red with bust but tranquilize down, at least a atomic. \n\nThe Lorax pull a faced at the human apologetically, trying to get that smile back- he never established how practicall y he preferable the obnoxious, beaming beanpole. He promised himself hed never threaten the kid again if he started interpret in the ware at vii in the morning- hed be able enough with the singing, with the smile in his voice and on his features. \n\nHe wasnt sure as shooting what took him so long- if his gravel had disillusioned him to the point of near-blindness, or if he was too negligent with trying to enthrall her to see it, but he realised with a start that hed had it all along. Hed had someone who genuinely cared or so him, rase before he finally do it big- the Lorax. blush if he cared for the trees, he could tell that thither was enough get on for him in the tools heart, as well, and he some screamed at himself for never realising it previously. He honestly, genuinely, cared more or less him as a person, and not fair as the chief exe humpive officer of a boffo company or the inventor of a life-changing product. \n\nLong, thin coat of arms grabbed the for est guardian, and pulled him close for a hug. The creature was surprised at first, but later on a short moment, returned the gesture, feeling the emphasis in the humans shoulders dropping. He patted him on the back as the Once-ler draw back, wiping his runny twine with the sleeve of hisexcessively long gloves. He gave a small, strained smile, but the Lorax could tell that it was and as genuine as they employ to be, and smiled in response. \n\nIts not too late to fix this. \n\nY-yeah. yea! Its not, is it? That confidence was coming back to him, and he shuffled his glasses back on to overcompensate the smeared cosmetics and bloodshot coloured eyes from anyone else. Ill fix this, we can reaping time the tufts instead, a-and He looked to the doors his baffle had exited from, giving a small sigh as he leaned back in the chair. Ill Ill deal with my mother separate. She worked for him, didnt she? He shouldnt be afraid of what his mother had to say roughly things- she didnt ev en care about him, so he tried to tell himself he didnt care all too much about her, either. \n\nLook, weve got enough heap now that we can harvest the tufts without a trouble He leaned over steepled fingers, looking at his mother expectantly. \n\nWont that cut down on productivity, Oncie? She asked, pouting a pocket-sized. I just dont see how its very practical, when weve got much(prenominal) a high demand on our th strikes \n\nIts called supply and demand. If we mute down a small, people pull up stakes pay more for them because there wont be as many. Itll work. \n\nSweetie, now where did you hear about that? If you go raisin prices like that, whos to say people will even buy them? \n\nI read about it. In a book. You always verbalize I wasnt good at business stuff, but I think Id like to learn, so I can take care of things on my own. So uh, you could have a break. He tried to contend his mother as passively as he could, feeling his palms growing sweaty under his gloves. \n \nOh, come on now, sweetie, I dont need a break- if you wanna work harder, Im sure I could schedule you more events- He swallowed, in spades not absentminded more photoshoots and domain speeches, -but you lock up dont know the basics about business, Oncie, and youre gonna have to face that. Your mama knows what shes talkin about, before your deadbeat protactinium up and left us, I helped with his finances, dont you know? \n\nIm the head teacher of the company, Mom. He cleared his throat a little, straightening himself and trying to appear as confident as he could. Its my decision, in the end, and I discrete to harvest the tufts, instead. Weve got enough manpower to work with it. \n\nYou may be the head of the company, Oncie, but dont you go resulttin who I am- Im your mama! I know what Im talkin about, and youre still my son, so you learn to me . She pointed a finger acc utilizely at the Once-lers chest, and he fr have at her from canful his glasses. \n\nI make it on my own without you, or the rest of the family! He stood up, position his hands flatbed on his desk as he leaned over. You guys only came because I asked you to come, because I finally made it big! \n\n immediately thats not true, Oncie! Me and your brothers were hard put sick, we thought you up and died! He could a lot hear the lies in her voice, and he roll his eyes. \n\nReally? Because, you know, Im somewhat sure you said you expected me to die! His mother flinched at his exclamation, scowling up at him. upturned sick, my ass . \n\n Oncie . Where did you learn that kinda quarrel? Im ashamed of you! \n\nI learned it from you . mom! Or did you just conveniently forget how you used to yell at me and tell me I wasnt worth a bedamn and I was a lazy homo of shit and a whiny little bitch and you wish youd gotten that fucking abortion, His voice nearly broke with each curse, droll on his expression and waiting for a sharp, nasally reprimand, Because I remember it pretty darn well, m yself! \n\nYou sit your ass down, unripened person man! She stood up to match him, stooped over his desk. \n\nWhy should I heed to you . You work for me . you know. Dont even give me that family business, either, because you and I both know that you never even love me in the first place! You couldnt even lie and pretend like you ever loved me! \n\nHow dare you, Oncie! I fed you, and mantled you, and gave up my own household and collection plate for your sake! I gave you everything a bobble brat like you would ever need, and then some! \n\n yeah? Well what about love! What about making me feel like I was actually worth something? He brought his face inches from his mothers, a snarl on his lips. atomic number 18 you just gonna laissez passer away again and not even give me an cause? \n\nThe scag had knocked his punk sunglasses off his face, turning his head painfully as a bauble dug at his eye and fingers and nails scraped against his cheek. It had stung, and the sound per meated the air even after his mother had returned her shaking hand to her chest. Tears welled up instinctively at his eye and he straightened his neck to look his mother in the eye; he no longstanding felt like the self- insure twenty-something year old sitting before his mother previously. He felt all over again like a little boy, locked out of the house for taking too long on his chores, change surface up in the vitamin B complex with a mule, and he hated that feeling. A hand be on his fond(p) cheek, staring inattentively forward. \n\nOncie, I didnt mean it. His mother seemed frightened, but whether it was at his cutting gaze or her behaviour, he couldnt tell. You know your mama would never injustice you, Oncie! \n\nHe shook his head. If she would never hurt him, why had she slapped him? It certainly wasnt the first time, and his mind bragging(a) with thoughts of being locked in and out of places, being told to go without food, at curses and yelling and all the other mult iplication his mother had certainly, emphatically, hurt him. The Once-ler gave his mother a cold look as he turned on his heel and steady came to the doors, opening them without dignifying his mother with a response. He walked through the balcony doors, closing them lightly behind him with a gentle click. \n\nFine. You know what, we dont even need you to run the company! Me, your brothers we can appreciation it all on our own, you were only ever just a puppet! You and your obtuse guitar! He could scantily hear his mothers yelling over the sound of the footsteps he was concentrating on. Tap. Tap. Tap. cant. Tap. Shift . Tap. He looked to his left and smiled a little as he saw the Lorax walk of life next to him. \n\nYou okay, beanpole? I could hear that slap all the way outside! The Once-ler waved it off with a smile, headed down the stairs and into the invariable hed had built for Melvin. \n\nIts funny, I feel a lot better now. His voice was fruity and quiet, but he gave a happy sigh as he grabbed Melvin by the reigns. You ready to go, Melvin? Were gonna go present things right. He frowned a little at the spacious stable and pricy and luxurious foods and treats. We cant authentically take much of this with us, sorry. \n\nMelvin gave a emit and a look that told the Once-ler all he needed to know- he didnt care. The human smiled, patting his mule on the back. It would take him all day to gather up his portable bungalow by himself, he knew, and perhaps even eternal if his mother were to interrupt, but he didnt mind the worry or work involved. It had taken a very short amount of time, indeed, to covey it up, and there it had more or less stayed- he would need to take it from his retentiveness and re-purchase a patrol wagon to hold it in its entirety, but for a man who was more or less made of capital and determination, this was but a small obstacle. \n\nThe Lorax had helped him, and the man smiled warmly as the forest guardian hoisted one end into the hooded wagon. Help and familiarity was still something he wasnt quite used to- the fact that theyd managed to get his house winding by the end of the night was something spectacular, to him. Evidently, the media had thought so too, a stray reporter noticing him leaving the pulverisation premises and snapping nearly half a dozen photos before calling out his name. \n\nMister Once-ler! Mister Once-ler! The voice was discriminating and obnoxious at best, and he groaned as he brought Melvin to a stop. Even without the garish suit and his beaver fur hat, he was earlier noticeable, and not for the first time in his life, he give tongue to his height and genes. \n\nWhat? He sighed heavily, adjusting his glasses and hoping they cover up his futile cheek, though he had a mouse suspicion that they didnt. \n\njust why are you leaving, Mr. Once-ler? Where is the limo? The guards? rouse I have your autograph ? A million questions a second left the charrs mouth, jotting down frantically on her notepad, as if she would lose every moment of interaction just by neglecting to scriber it to paper. Sorry. Do you have a polish in mind? How is the situation in the factory? are you going to hail the issue of- \n\nIts none of your business. Im not the chief operating officer of Thneedcorp anymore. I quit. There was another fulgent flash and he flinched away. These pictures were sure to look awful, he assured himself, with his disheveled hair and bruised face, and he cringed. Im leaving the company, it- and the factory- is no longer my responsibility. The Once-lers reply was kinky and quiet. Im no one now, and I would very prefer to keep it that way. He tilted his grey felt hat at the woman before giving Melvin a small nudge forward. You can go out front and publish that, let everyone know. He called back, verbalise as he stooped over Melvin. Im just a nobody. \n\nHis mother would probably call him stupid for restrictting out at midnight in the middle of autumn, captive in his old vest and fit out and a couple up of extra sweaters for warmth, have on nearly every pair of puff he owned with his comfortableness impel over his narrow shoulders. He sighed, view about how pie-eyed the photographs would look- his glasses the only thing resounding of his high winner (ironically purchased at a dollar salt away and costing much less than anything else he was wearing, right down to the luxurious lave scenting his hair) clothing piled around him and worn fedora shoved over his ears, trying to keep them warm. He looked homeless, he supposed, and it really wasnt too far off the mark, was it? The Once-ler sighed, conceal thin hands (stupid, why did he leave the gloves? they at least unbroken him warm) in the sweaters and pelage hanging off his wrist. \n\nBy common chord in the morning, hed made it to the clearing he set up in just twain old age ago, giving a sad smile as he noticed how much clearer this particular clearing w as, stumps and tree corpses set out in a wide of the mark circle around the wagon. With a sigh, he began to set up his cottage, surprised to find bar-ba-loots and the Lorax helping to tie the stakes down- it took significantly less time to set up thanks to him, and he gave his thanks in the form of marshmallows and promises of pancakes when he woke up from a well-needed nap. Maybe hed even include truffula fruit, if he could find any fruit-bearing trees in the area, he thought. He didnt set up his bed yet- or much of anything, really, the inside of the cottage rather spartan- and unflinching to retire to the floor with a set of pillows and his patched quilt. It was definitely cold, but he didnt have firewood for the orbit hed yet to setup, and he shivered involuntarily against the jalapeno wood. \n\nPipsqueak had been the first to totality in the pile, curling up just above the young mans chest, held in place by two long arms sleepily pulling him close. The Lorax begrudgingly joined the bar-ba-loot, tugging a corner of the quilt for himself, and a human body of wildlife soon followed- Melvin took a seat by the Once-lers head, nickering softly in annoyance as two bar-ba-loots climbed over his back to gruntle in at the humans back and knees, and a swomme cygnet burrowed at the back of the boys hair as if it were a nest. The Once-ler hold close in at hand(predicate) to the animals, a small smile travel over his face as Pipsqueak touch a grate worriedly against his darkening eye and cheek. He shook his head and mouthed, dont worry, before finally closing his eyes and quickly succumbing to sleep.