Once's family had left him in a toxic wasteland as soon as it became apparent that there was no more money from thneeds rolling in.

"Son, you have let me down."

If his mother had stabbed him, it would have hurt less. When he'd initially done it all for her, and then kept doing it for the money and the attention and the love of people he could buy---

He gave a lanky shrug. "Eh. I don't have either. But, to be fair, I don't deserve either."