12 Truffula Seeds

[findatree]

Scary, terrible things happen and then there's a big party. But I noticed that there's not much singing at these parties. That's really weird... People sing all the time back home. I went into town and there wasn't much singing there, either. Just a lot of explosions.

Is it only on the first of April that everyone sings?

Comments

[theabjectauthor]

Everyone, yes. Other people sing at other times, I'm sure ... though most likely do so in places where they can be self-conscious about it and generally unobserved.

[findatree]

People are self-conscious about singing?

[theabjectauthor]

Quite a number of them, actually ... in several modern cultures, singing is something that has become regarded as a thing done for the entertainment of others. In general, the opinion is meant to be that it should only be performed by those who can sing well, but since opinion is a vastly differing thing, and there is no accounting for taste ... not all who entertain can sing well, and not all who sing well can entertain.

So, as things stand, it really is somewhat of a pointless social construct. In my opinion, of course.

[findatree]

But everybody sings in Thneedville. Nobody cares if you're any good. And we just do it, not to perform or anything.

[theabjectauthor]

I see. ... Then, might I ask: what stops you from singing here, if you want to? Do you feel as though everyone must sing, or no one at all can?

[findatree]

Nothing, really. Grandpa and I still sing together sometimes.

[theabjectauthor]

Oh, you have family here with you? How very fortunate.

[delincuente]

Dude, don't jinx it. The last thing we need is a bunch of people singing patriotic crap when everyone's trying to have a good time. Got enough of that back in the fourth grade.

[findatree]

But singing patriotic stuff sounds fun.

[delincuente]

Believe me, there's only so many times you can sing "My Country, Tis of Thee" without wanting to hurl the sheet music out the window.

[findatree]

I've never heard that song before. How does it go?

[delincuente]

Uhh... "My country 'tis of thee, something something about liberty and fathers dying, pilgrim pride yada yada, of thee I sing". Yeah. Something like that.

[findatree]

Those are the lyrics? They could use some work.

[whichwayyoulean]

I guess other people are just repressed or something, Tedster.

[findatree]

That strange guy who talks a lot says it's something to do with being self-conscious.

[whichwayyoulean]

...

Nah, that can't be it, they'd just sing about being self-oncious.

[findatree]

That's what I thought!!

[whichwayyoulean]

Whatever it is, maybe us being around will shake it loose?

[findatree]

Yeah! And the best part is, we don't have to wait for April. We can sing anytime!

[goingrogue]

We could always fix that! We were pretty fly the last time.

[findatree]

Yeah! We should all get out in the courtyard and sing and dance!

[goingrogue]

Yes, we could have one big MUSIC FUN FEST! Oh em gee, let's for reals do this! It'd be so much fun!

[findatree]

Okay!!

[goingrogue]

Yeah! I'm Roxy, by the way! We should totes do this together and see if there's anyone else that wants to join in!

[findatree]

Hi, Roxy. I'm Ted. We can ask everybody. I bet more people will want to do it than we think.