*Chapter 14: Stealing Christmas*
The shops of Whoville are now closed. The Whos are heading back home for the night. How they are excited for Christmas day. The children are too excited to sleep. They cannot wait for Santa to come into town to give them their presents.
At the May Who house, Neil and Cassandra are getting ready for bed. They wish their children goodnight. But Martha looks out her window to stare up at Mt. Crumpit. She is wearing a light blue nightdress with long sleeves. She looked down at the green rose that is held by her. She held it close to her chest.
"Merry Christmas, Grinch. I hope you will get what you wish for." Martha says.
"Are you going to bed, dear?" Cassandra asked by the doorway. Martha turned around and went over to her bed. "Do you want to talk, Martha?" Cassandra asked. "You know I'm here for you."
"I know." Martha said. "But, I don't want to talk. I'm fine."
"Well, alright then. Goodnight, darling. Merry Christmas. We'll see you in a morning." Cassandra said with a smile.
"Goodnight, mother." Martha said. "See you in a morning." Cassandra closed the door and left Martha alone. Martha sighed and lay her head on the pillow. The green rose is still in her hands on her chest. Martha closes her eyes and try to get to sleep.
The Grinch is now ready to start off his big trip. He stood like a captain, aboard a great ship. The moon was full and bright in the sky. Max look back at his master. The Grinch sat on the sleigh and grab the reins.
"Here we go, Max! Let's see what you've got!" The Grinch exclaimed. He whipped the reins. Max responded and ran forward, but he sinks into the snow. "Huh? Max?" The Grinch called. No sound. "Max, are you okay?" The Grinch called again. Then, the sleigh tugged forward. Max is pulling with all his might, coming out of the snow. "Atta boy, Max! Go! Go!" The Grinch praised, whipping the reins as they head down the mountain. And down the Grinch came on his great fateful ride, to the good homes of Whoville and a Christmas inside.
They sled pass the plaza, and Max felt a tug from the Grinch, telling him to stop. The sleigh halts by the house. The first house of the night. The Grinch is going to steal Christmas once and for all.
"You take the outside, and I'll take the inside." The Grinch told his dog. Max nodded as his antler had it's own gadget to grab the bags of Christmas decorations and presents. The Grinch got out a ladder that raises him up to the rooftop. "House number one." He said with a smirk. As he got on the roof, he jumps down the chimney. His feet touches the bottom and he got out. He turns on his candy cane gadget and see the presents and the tree before him. "Okay. Let us steal Christmas." The Grinch said to himself as he press a button on the candy cane to flip the end over to use as a magnet. He points towards the stockings to pull off the nails and place the stockings in his sack. He swap the presents.
Then, the Grinch slunk to the fridge and took the Whos' feast. He took the Who-pudding, he took the roast beast. He even took the can of Who Hash. The Grinch stuff the bag of presents and the food up the chimney. "And now, I will stuff up the tree!" The Grinch said with a grin. He threw the stars at the tree and wrap the tree around with threads. The Grinch grabbed the tree and he started to shove, but he heard a small sound.
"Hello?" A young girl's voice spoke from the stairs. The Grinch froze. Did he make a loud noise to wake up someone? He turned around and saw Cindy Lou Who coming downstairs with a yawn. She was about to come down to get a cup of water until she heard some sounds. Cindy looked up and see to believe it was Santa Claus. Yet, she noticed that he is taking the tree. "Santa Claus? Is it really you?" The girl asked as she got a look at him.
"Uhh…" The Grinch muttered. He didn't know this is Cindy's house. First house of the night and he's caught by her. Will she recognize him? Some kids are smart for their age. The Grinch stared at the confused child.
"Why are you taking the Christmas tree?" Cindy asked, looking behind him. But the Grinch was so smart and so slick, he thought up a lie and he thought it up quick. He gave Cindy a smile.
"Why, my sweet little tot." The fake Santa Claus lied. "There's a light on this tree that won't light on one side. So I'm taking it home to my workshop, my dear." Cindy blinked at him in silent. Is she buying it? "I'll fix it up there, and then I'll bring it back here."
"...I didn't know you'd do that." Cindy spoke with a smile. The Grinch fooled her. He patted her head and he got her a drink. Cindy took a sip of water and went halfway up the stairs as the fake Santa Claus tries to stuff the tree up the chimney. "Santa Claus?" Cindy called.
"...What?"
"Don't forget about Martha." Cindy said. "And...never forget about Mr. Grinch." The Grinch looked up at her, raising a brow in silent. "Mr. Grinch can be mean at times, but he is important to Martha. He deserves a gift."
"You...really think so?" The Grinch asked.
"I do." Cindy said with a small smile. "Well, I guess I better go back to bed. Merry Christmas, Santa. Bring our tree back safe and sound." The girl walk up the stairs to get to her room. The Grinch stood there, thinking to himself. Should he take Martha's Christmas stuff? The Grinch shook his head. He must. After what happened at the party, everyone's joy will be gone.
After the tree was on the roof, the Grinch threw it down on the sleigh and guide his dog to the next house.
XX
The Grinch did the same to the other Who houses. He scoop up the toys. The food. Stockings. Lights. Everything. Outside and inside. He raced against time. He raced against joy.
When he found out he's at the house of Augustus Who-vier, he couldn't help but to peek inside his room. He had to see what Martha is telling him is true. The Grinch looked over at the sleeping chubby Who, holding the teddy bear close. The Grinch giggled.
"Oh, Martha May..." Augustus spoke in his sleep. "Be my wife and we will live happily." The Grinch rolled his eyes and gently took the bear out of the mayor's arms. The Grinch got out a bottle of hot sauce he stole. He grinned evilly as he opened it and started to pour it down Augustus's mouth.
"Merry Christmas, you filthy animal." He whispered before leaving the bedroom to hide. After a few seconds, Augustus's eyes are open wide and he tastes the hot sauce and it went down his throat.
The Grinch hides in the closet, but peeking through the crack of the door, and heard Augustus scream. He covered his mouth with hand, trying not to let out a laugh. Augustus rushed out of his room, screaming. He went to the bathroom and turn on the shower head to drink the water from it. His face and pajamas were drenched, but he had to drink water to cool down his mouth. Once his mouth is better, Augustus pants and grab a towel to dry his face and hair.
"Who in the world put hot sauce in my mouth?!" He asked as he storm out of the bathroom. He went back to his bedroom to sleep. The Grinch came out of the closet with a smirk.
"Now that is out of my system, time to get back to stealing." He said, going down to the living room to steal the mayor's tree and presents.
XX
The houses have no lights, no wreathes, nothing. The Grinch and Max had went to every single house of Whoville. But, they have one house left. The Grinch look up to see the house coming up as Max pulls the sleigh.
"This is it. The last house." He smiled. Max stopped and the Grinch climbed up with a candy cane gadget.
"Dashing through the snow,
In a one dog open sleigh."
The Grinch sings to himself as he snatched the house lights and threw them on his sleigh that is filled with bags of stolen things he had taken so far.
"One more house to go,
And Christmas goes away!"
He jumps in the chimney with glee. He is almost done. The Grinch made it down the chimney and there is a tree right next to him along with the presents. He turned around to see the stockings. Before he could snatch them, he notice the names on each stocking. Neil. Cassandra. Marco. Martha.
"Wait a minute..." The Grinch whispered. He turns to see a family picture of the family. The May Whos. There is Martha in the photo. "I'm in Martha's house." He hears a sound coming from upstairs. "Oh no. Somebody's awake." The Grinch looked around to find a place to hide. There is a closet by the staircase. He rushed inside. He didn't have time to shut the door all the way when he hears voices coming down the stairs. "Who would be awake this early? The sun isn't up till-" He stopped when two figures came down to the living room. There is Martha and her mother.
"Martha, talk to me. I know you have trouble sleeping." Cassandra said. They both sat on the couch. "I know it's about the Grinch. I promise you, I won't get mad."
"Didn't you already know? Augustus told you about the date I had with him." Martha asked. "You and father must be disappointed in me. Listen, I'm sorry that I lied to you. And don't blame Marco. I'm the one who should be ashamed."
"...Why would you be?" Cassandra asked. "I saw the way you look at the Grinch." Martha looked up at her mother. "I never saw you look that happy before. When you're with the mayor, you don't seem as happy as you were with the Grinch. Believe me, I could tell."
"But, didn't you want me to marry Augustus?" Martha asked.
"For some time, yes. But, now that I see your true happiness and saw that you were so upset about what happened, I realize that you have made your decision." Cassandra said. She holds her daughter's hands. "Martha, we will understand that you don't want to marry Augustus. Unless you already decide that-"
"I can't marry him." Martha said. "Because I am in love with somebody else." The Grinch listened to their conversation very carefully. His eyes look through the narrow crack of the doorway. Neither of them could see him. "Mother, I...I love the Grinch." Martha finally admitted. Cassandra stared at her in silent. The Grinch couldn't believe it. Martha is in love with him.
"Martha, I...I don't know what to say, but...how?" Cassandra spoke.
"He made me happy and safe. When we had our first date together, there was a spark. When we ice skate together, that was when I realize I fell in love with him. Oh, if only I could let him kiss me..." Martha said. "I was so scared of what you and the others will think. Well, Marco sorta figured that I'm in love with the Grinch. I never meant to say that I don't love him at the party. I said it because I panicked and don't want to make things worse. But, things did get worse in the end."
"Martha, it's okay." Cassandra said.
"Huh?"
"Sure, I am shocked, but you have courage. You are a brave young lady and friends with the Grinch. And then...you fell in love with him. Call me crazy, but I think it is romantic." Cassandra sighed a bit. "A beauty falling in love with a beast."
"Mother, that line is getting old. Nobody wants to hear it anymore." Martha said with a stern look. Cassandra smiled a little. "But, you're really not mad?"
"No. Your happiness matters, my dear. Your father will be shocked as I am, but he will be happy for you too." Cassandra said. "Martha, when Christmas morning comes, you go to him. Go to the Grinch. Tell him how you feel. I'm sure he will listen." Martha stared at her mother with a smile. She hugged her. The Grinch watched the two with a small smile on his face.
"She loves me." The Grinch whispered to himself. "She really does love me."
"Oh boy, I am tired." Martha spoke after she and her mother hugged. Cassandra giggled. "Let's go back to sleep."
"Good idea." Cassandra said. They walk up the stairs. The Grinch came out of the closet, looking up where the bedrooms are. He turned to the Christmas tree and the presents. He isn't so sure if he could take Martha's things. His heart tells him not to. That would make her and her family the only Whos in town that kept their Christmas joy. It wouldn't be fair for the other Whos.
"Merry Christmas, Martha." The Grinch said before climbing up the chimney. He didn't touch the tree or the stockings or the presents. He may have taken the lights from the outside, but the stuff will be left alone. For Martha.