“Bruce Minor”

“So why are you here?”

“It all started out when it was a long, luscious day. It was full of beautiful clouds and birds of all species, and you might not know, but i'm a highly qualified bird watcher. No one could stop me. No one would stop me. I was going to kill the Lorax. His soft, fluffy fur was ready to be punctured. Not with a knife, not with a spoon, but with a whole chicken. 

My desire was not quenched. I had to hunt him down. I knew he had his eyes on me, watching me every second, every minute, every hour. I was not equipped for this situation. It was thanksgiving day, and all I had was a raw, unbaked chicken. I smothered it in gravy, as anyone would prepare their thanksgiving chicken. The Lorax was unaware of the fact this was my weapon. I put the now gravy covered chicken in the trunk of my car, and I met the voluptuous creature in a parking lot down the street from the Meat Man. The Meat Man sells the best meat in town, and that's the only place to buy any kind of meat in this deteriorating town.

 When I met the favored, cuddly creature he hadn't expected the plot I was about to unleash upon him. I was not ready, and he was not ready. Was this a human? No! He was a creature, a beast, and dainty. I looked at his eyes. They were almost overflowing with joy. He was unaware of the fact that he ate the last pudding cup at work. All I wanted was vengeance. I knew this was wrong. I knew that he was hungry that Tuesday when he ate my pudding, but I would have liked at least a notice. 

I know I get angry, but you don't know my back story. As a little child I lived a full, wonderful life, but later I was abandoned by my parents and had to fend for myself. All I had was the leftover pudding that was thrown in the dumpsters to eat. Pudding is all I had to eat, only pudding. In a way I related to it. The creamy vanilla dessert was also abandoned, just like me. The Lorax wouldn't have known that. He couldn't have known that. That was over 30 years ago. I realized I would have to not only reason with myself, but with the Lorax. I had to tell him my story, why I wanted to meet, and that I have changed. I looked at the small, little beast. He was smiling. He thought I wanted to be friends, and now I do.... 

I politely helped him into my car so we could go to a coffee shop nearby. The waitress came to set us at a table. I read her name tag. "Tammy." She was very optimistic and enjoyable. The Lorax ordered a black coffee, and I ordered a Chai Latte.  The waitress went to put in the order and that's when things started to shift.

 I asked him about his background and he said,  " I came from a village long ago in a place called Yumtomsum. We came to visit this lovely place about 54 year ago. There were many of us, but humans killed the Lorai for our mustaches. They wanted them as unique hat feathers and boas. I hid from the humans and started to disguise myself as one."

I was in awe. I wanted to know more about his species. "What do you eat?", I asked

"Well... I don't think I should say...", said the Lorax.

"It can't be that weird", I replied as I reminisced on the days I just ate dumpster pudding.

"Don't be scared of me. Promise?", he asked.

"Just say it!", I said laughing.

"Humans, we ate humans."

"You're joking....". I said laughing uncomfortably.

"Yes, but don't worry. I'm vegetarian now. When my family and I ate our first humans, I cried after I saw that they left the family's little boy alone to fend for himself. I would check in on him every week, but only to see if he was ok. I never got a good look at him, but he ate leftover pudding cups out of a school yard dumpster. Oh, and speaking of pudding, I've been wanting to apologize for eating your pudding cup at work. It reminded me of the little boy, so I ate it in remembrance of him" he explained.

I just sat there. Quiet. 

"I know that it's a lot, but you seem like the kind of person who would understand", said the Lorax.

"You...you killed my parents", I mumbled.

"What was that?", the Lorax asked. 

"I have to go get something from my car. I'll be right back", I said smiling, trying to conceal my anger for this evil beast.

I unlocked my trunk, grabbed the gravy covered chicken, and came back inside. 

"You brought-"

"YOU KILLED MY PARENTS!", I yelled in outrage.

I held the whole chicken onto his face, smothering him till he could not breathe. I killed him. Dead. 

I left the crime scene and took off in my car. The police tracked me quickly, and I'm in jail for life. That's the main reason I'm here in the rehabilitation center Mr.. That's why I am who I am."