(Rose's P.O.V.) -An hour earlier-

Always as usual, the ride is amazingly cool as I made it down to Whoville, and I was shot off into a snowdrift, laughing softly as I brushed off snow. I peered out to see many Whos walking and chatting in the streets, and I grinned softly, wondering where to find any Who my age when I heard two voices calling out, "Cindy Lou, come out! Come on, you're gonna get us in trouble! You're so grounded when we tell Mom and Dad!".

I looked over in confusion to see two alike twin boys, curly brown-haired with brown eyes, and they seem like teenagers. They sounded frustrated, concerned, and loud. I blinked at their shouting, calling for someone named Cindy Lou.

I wonder if this Cindy Lou could be my friend if I find her before those guys. I walked ahead of them, figuring that if she is curious like me, she'd bound to be in my favorite place when I often come here with Father, and I slip from him for a hour in my favorite place before Max finds me. I was glad that I know Whoville like the back of my hand otherwise I'd be freaking out.

I made it to my favorite place; a playground in the alley lot, and to my pleasure and surprise, I see a giggling, laughing Who-girl. She had blonde hair in braid rings, and her eyes is like bright blue. She is dressed in a nice red sweater with fluffy tight blue pants, and cute black boots, having creamy white mittens on her hands. I grin softly as I saw her swinging up and down on a tire swing.

I call out, "Got room for one more?". She looked over in surprise, and smiled brightly, "Hi! I haven't seen ya in school. You just moved or something?".

I shrug, "Er, well, I come out sometimes with my folks, but they homeschool me, something like that. I'm Rose, what's your name?". She giggled softly, "Everybody calls me Cindy Lou.". I chuckled warmly with a snicker, "Two boys're looking for ya, Cindy.".

She moaned, "Those boys are my older brothers, Stu and Drew. Mom and Dad asked them to keep a eye on me, but it was annoying! I just wanted to play with someone, you know?".

"I know. It's annoying with my dad and mom, they're so overprotective, always telling me to stay home and stuff, but I want to play with Whos my age!". I scoffed loudly. Cindy approached me, smiling, "I think we can be friends, what do you think, Rose?".

I tilted my head, "You'd be my friend?". Cindy nodded, "Sure! Everybody needs a friend, right?". I smiled softly, and then poked her shoulder, "Tag, you're it!". I ran from her, scrambling into the playhouse, hearing her laugh, "I'm gonna get you!". I never had so much fun before now, and I am really starting to like Cindy.

We change from playing tag, to racing down the slides, to having a snowball fight. The snowball fight was becoming more vigorous, and after I hit Cindy on the shoulder as I went past behind a tree, I was hit in the side of my face by surprise, and I heard a gasp of shock nearby, "Rose, are you okay?! I didn't mean to go that high, honestly!".

My mask was dislodged, and I knew I had to fix it by removing my hood, and adjusting the strings, and I distinctly remember Father's rant about Whoville every Christmas, but Cindy's my friend, and friends are supposed to like each other, right? I shook out any traces of snow as I removed my mask, my hood, and I reassured her, "Nothing's hurt, Cindy. I'm fine. That wasn't even that hard of a hit.".

I heard nothing, and I slowly look up to see Cindy staring at me with this amazed, awed, curious expression on her face, and I bit my lip nervously, avert my eyes, "I know. I am not a Who. I am sorta a female version of my dad.".

A white glove appeared into my view, and pats my shoulder softly, and I look over to see Cindy smiling this sorta warm smile, her eyes holding a hint of curiosity. "You look really pretty, Rose. Red is my favorite color, don't you know? I'm real happy to have you as my best friend.".

I blinked in surprise, "Best friend?". Cindy's smile brightened, "Of course! I really like you, and you're nice to me, and we play really well together, wouldn't you say?".

I giggled, "Same thing here, Cindy.". Cindy then hugged me warmly which I was slightly taken back about, but I returned her hug back. I then pull back, grinning, "Okay, now what?". Cindy tilted her head in thought, "How about making a snowman?".

I laughed in joy, "That sounds great!". We start rolling balls, and we hoisted them up one by one, and we then searched for objects to make the arms, face, and tie. As we finish the arms, Cindy made me laugh by speaking in a silly voice, waving the snowman's arms. "Hello, I am Manny. I love hugs!". I laughed out loud, "Hi, Manny, nice to meet you!".

Cindy was giggling along when she stopped, looking at something behind me, and I tilted my head, "Cindy, what are you looking at?".

I groaned as I heard Father's rumbling voice, "Rose Grinch!". I winced, and turned around slowly, looking up to see Father looking quite mad, and he had his hands on his hips, looking at me with this stern look with blazing eyes. I gulped, "Hi, Father.".

I was taken back to see him fully exposed, and I was wondering why he wasn't wearing his disguise when I realized that he was too mad to do that. Slightly behind him, I saw loads of Whos staring at us in undeniable looks, and among them was Mom. She looked quite worried, and...scared? Father growled softly, "You disobeyed me, Rose, and for that, you aren't allowed to be down here in Whoville anymore.".

I wanted to shout back at him, I wanted to stay here with Cindy, I wanted to play down here! But his look stopped me, and I sighed in resignation, nodded weakly, and I heard a voice shouting in the crowd, "Let me through! Now, let me through!".

I saw Father's eyes blaze brightly, and I cowed slightly, recognizing his enraged look, not the inventor enraged one, but the ranting enraged one. He snarled, "Not him.".

He twirled around to face the crowd, and the crowd actually gasped in fear, stepping back some feet away, and one of them stared at my father, and he chuckled, "Well, well, if it wasn't the Grinch. I didn't expect to see a kid like you, through it's red.".

My father sneered, "That's my daughter you're insulting, Mayor, or are you blind?". The Who, Mayor, widened his eyes, "Must be one of those pumbersellas then. After all, who'd marry you, or even make a family with you?". I saw Mom's eyes harden like ice, but she was silent.

My father snarled deeply, "Watch it, Mayor. Don't worry, we'll be out of your hair. Rose, come now.". I glanced back at Cindy who's looking quite confused yet concerned, and I mouthed, "Bye.". Cindy looked sad now, mouthing, "Bye.". I smiled weakly, then frowned as I headed to Father, following him behind, and the crowd of Whos parted like a ocean, letting me and Father through.

I felt ashamed that I was humiliating myself and Father as he clearly was right about Whoville hating him out of fear and nonacceptance. I saw the Mayor smiling wickedly, his eyes disgusted as he watched my father, and then he saw me.

There was a bit of interest, like greedy disgust, and I glared at him hard as I could, and he was taken back in surprise, and I smiled mischievously like I did something right, and I saw Father's eyes wrinkle, like he was proud for a moment. I knew I disliked Mayor as soon as I saw him.

There was a moment between Father and Mom as we passed by, and their eyes met, and Mom gave a sad smile to him, and I could tell that she wanted to reach for me, to hold me for a minute, but she slightly shook her head when I met her eyes, and I knew that Father and I was to stay up there in the lair for a long time before even Father could dare to come back down, and Mom won't dare to visit to see us as she's stuck here.

We made it to the trashcan, and we landed into the junkyard from the trashcan route. Before now, I'd give anything for a scavenge hunt here, but today, I didn't feel like it, or even want to, for the next week. We returned home with Father simmering angrily, then once we entered into the lair, the lecture came once again, with him asking me why I went down there.

I told him that I just wanted to have a real friend, and leaving my shell-shocked father, I went into my bedroom, shedding my coat, realizing that my mask was left behind in the playground. I burrowed into my bed, with glances at the sole window which was reinforced with some kind of glass that Father made/found, and I sighed, thinking of Cindy.

Despite how today went, I was glad that I finally played with a friend, no, my best friend, yet sad that I couldn't see her for a long time, depending on the punishment Father will give me later at dinner. I just hope she wouldn't forget me as I won't dare to forget such a amazing girl like her. She wasn't scared of me or anything, just liking me for who I am.