Parenting Problems

Notes: In this chapter tensions will rise between Mayzie & Tweet and GERTRUDE and Horton about who should raise Little Jojo and where he should be raised. Emotions should be just as explosive as they were in Chapter 7 of An Actress's Dream A Shock To Their Systems. I own no characters from Seussical The Musical. Tweet Mcfurt is mentioned in the song How Lucky You Are but never actually appears in the play. Because of mild language in this chapter this story has a K+ (otherwise known as PG) rating. Cast Mates: Refer to the Character index in Chapter 1 for your character names. Thank you to my friends for the suggestion fortis chapter especially Sonya (aka Abigail Who)

February turned into March. Spring would be coming soon. Everyone in Nool was excited about the weather getting warmer & the snow melting. It was hard for everyone to believe that a year had already passed by since Horton's trial and the Union of the Citizens of Nool and WHoville. So much had changed but one opinion that remained the same was the Mayzie had not held much accountability for the egg that eventually hatched Little Jojo. Many people felt that GERTRUDE and HORTON were the rightful parents of Little Jojo since Mayzie had been absent for the birth. Mayzie on the other hand felt very differently.

It was 7:30 in the morning and Gertrude stood on her front porch sipping a cup of tea. She was so deep in thought that she did not hear Horton come up behind her.

"Good morning darling." He whispered kissing her cheek.

"Good morning" she replied

" What's gotten you so deep in thought?"

" Oh, not much. Just thinking about how amazing it is that's it already been a year since the trial and how much has changed since then"

Horton smiled. "Aren't you so happy with the way that everything turned out?"

"Oh, I couldn't be happier. Now you and me have Little Jojo. I can't believe he will be one in a week and a half."

Horton's grin grew wider. 'Neither can I . I am so grateful for all the help that everyone else has given us."

"There's a saying in the human world that says, "It takes a village to raise a child,in our case I'd say it takes a jungle. I would say we are pretty blessed with amazing friends."

"That's for sure. Hey, Are Mayzie & Tweet coming back for the party next week?"

Gertrude shook her head. "Nope, they're still getting situated in their new house in Fort Worth. They'll be back for Easter."

Little did they know they'd be back a lot soon and that Mayzie would drop a bombshell piece of news that would turn their world upside down.

Two weeks after Little Jojo's birthday party Tweet & Mayzie came alone. When they got to the Penthouse Zoe opened the door.

"Where's Erwin?"

Mayzie had a serious expression on her face. "We left him home with Tweet's parents. We don't plan on staying for a long time actually. "

Skye came into the hallway a few minutes later. "What's going on?"

"Are Gertrude and Horton here?"

"Yes, they're in the living room with the other girls. Little Jojo is excited to see you."

When Mayzie & Tweet entered the living room Little Jojo wrapped himself around Mayzie's legs.

"Hi Buddy." Mayzie said picking the toddler up.

"What's with that look Mayzie? Did someone die or something?" Orla asked.

Mayzie shook her head. "Far from it."

"Horton & Gertrude we need to talk to you in private." Tweet said.

Scarlet put her hands on her hips. "Why can't you say anything in front of us?"

"It's a personal matter." Mayzie said not meeting the older bird's gaze.

Horton and Gertrude got up from their seats and followed Mayzie & Tweet to one of the bedrooms. Mayzie shut the door quietly behind them.

"What's all this about Mayzie?" Horton demanded.

Mayzie cleared her throat .

"Tweet and I have been talking & we decided we want full custody of both of the children."

This was met with stunned silence. Gertrude and Horton took a moment to let everything soak in.

"Are you fucking kidding me?" Horton bellowed.

Mayzie shook her head, " Unfortunately not."

Gertrude had fire in her eyes. "You two have no right to do this to us..At all."

"We feel it's unfair for two brothers to live a life where they will never see each other."Tweet reasoned.

"Bullshit, I thought you guys were in this with us together. Apparently not!" Horton was furious.

Gertrude flung the door opened, ran down the hallway and out the door to the garden. The bird girls were shocked by this outburst.

Zoe peeked her head in the door. "What the hell happened in here? Gertrude looks terribly upset."

"These two are absolute backstabbers that's what happened." Horton jerked his finger over his shoulder at Tweet and Mayzie.

Zoe sighed. "What trouble have you started now Mayzie?"

Tia and Orla were quick to follow Gertrude outside.

"Slow down Gertrude!" Tia called out to her friend.

Gertrude fell to her knees and convulsed into sobs.

"What's wrong with you?" Orla asked

"Yeah, what did Mayzie and Tweet want anyway? " Tia followed up

Gertrude caught her breath and composed herself.

"Mayzie is a backstabber, That's what's wrong! She's no friend of mine .. Never will be again after this!"

"Calm down. Everything will be okay. " Orla said

"How can it be when they want to take Little Jojo away from us and back to Texas?"

Tia rolled her eyes. "There is no way that would ever happen. Everyone in Nool knows how hard you & Horton have worked so to take care of him. Mayzie has not been around at all. If she had been more serious she would have never abandoned that egg in the first place."

"Why do they want to take him back to Texas?" Orla asked

"They don't want Little Jo Jo & Erwin to have a life where they won't know each other."

Tia's face grew red. "She makes me so fucking furious! They should've considered that before they decided to pack up and move to Fort Worth. They could have easily stayed in Nool instead of moving."

Gertrude felt a hand touch her shoulder softly,her eyes were met with Scarlet's.

"Are you alright Gertrude?"

Gertrude shook her head. "Not at all." She whispered.

Scarlet pulled Gertrude into a hug and then shot a glance at Tia & Orla. "What in the world happened to get her this upset?"

Orla sighed. "Mayzie's a backstabbing bitch… that's pretty much it."

Scarlet rolled her eyes. "Here we go again. Come on inside girls. I think all of us should have a talk."

Once the group of four reentered the living room. Horton came up behind Gertrude and put his arm around her. "I love you, we'll get this mess sorted out. I promise." He whispered.

"I love you too." Gertrude kissed his cheek.

Zoe cleared her throat. "Alright you four spill it. What on earth is going on?"

Horton glared angrily at Tweet & Mayzie. "These two want full custody of Erwin and Little Jojo."

"Excuse me?"

"I think you heard what I said Zoe."

Zoe nodded. "I certainly did. I just can't believe it."

"I don't want to believe it." Jessica said

Evie glowered at Mayzie. "You can't do this to them Mayzie, or the the rest of us. It's not fair."

"We have just as much rights to parent Little Jojo as Horton and Gertrude do." Mayzie said

"Should of thought about that before you decided to move away." Tia muttered.

"Yeah, you should have just stayed in Nool instead of moving to Texas. The distance is difficult. It puts too much strain on us because we'll hardly ever see you anymore." Jessica nodded, fully agreeing with her sister.

"Why do you have to make everything so difficult Mayzie?" Skye asked

"Not trying to do it purposely. I just think it's sensible for Tweet & I to raise both boys together. Why can't the two of you move to Texas with us?" She directed her gaze toward Horton and Gertrude.

"The jungle is our home and we refuse to uproot our family just because you think Little Jojo and Erwin should grow up together." Horton said.

"Little Jojo is too young to even know what's going on honestly." Skye said.

"Maybe you should revisit this idea in a few years when the boys are a little older & will be able to have an opinion on who they should live with." Scarlet suggested.

Gertrude was starting to get a headache. "That sounds like a good idea. If you'll all excuse I think I am going to go lie down." She walked down the hall to Evie and Orla's room.

Ten minutes later they was a light tap on the door. It was Zoe.

"Are you alright sweetheart?"

Gertrude shook her head.

"Why is she doing this to us?"

Zoe blew her feathers out of her eyes. "Well you know Mayzie she tends to only think of herself. She never seems to take other people's feelings into account. That certainly seems to be the case here."

"I don't want to move to Texas." She whispered.

"We love you all so much. Keep your head up. Everything will work out."

Gertrude hugged her friend tight. "Love you too Zo."

A few days later there was a St Patrick's Day Breakfast at the community center. The hot topic of conversation was the custody battle that was brewing between HORTON & Gertrude and Mayzie and Tweet.

"I can't believe the nerve that Mayzie and Tweet have thinking they can just storm in & think they can have custody of both Erwin and Little Jojo." One Who named Evelyn said.

The jungle creature Leah shook her head in disbelief.. "Neither can I. What they're doing to Horton and Gertrude is unfair. Little Jojo is technically Horton and Gertrude's child. What right do Mayzie and Tweet have thinking they can split their family up like that?"

A young jungle creature named Lottie let out a FRUSTRATED sigh. "They don't! I am so mad about this! If Mayzie and Tweet take Little Jojo back to Texas I will be even more upset."

Her sister Lyra put her arm around her. "I don't think anyone will let that happen."

Another Who named Savannah nodded. "That's a fact Lottie. Don't you remember the trial last year? Mayzie was not even around to take accountability for that egg or the child that hatched out of it."

"Do you think there will be another trial for the child custody?" Asked another Who named Violet.

"Private matters like these are usually handled in small claims court but I'm sure that Gertrude will keep us posted on the results." Evelyn said

"Poor Gertrude and Horton! I feel awful for them!" The young jungle creature named Annabelle said.

The young who named Naomi nodded in agreement. "So do I! They don't deserve this at all. They have been working so hard to take care of Little Jojo. Not to mention how the rest of us have been helping them!"