(No P.O.V.)
Strangely, the plan worked quite well for the first year, and much to Grinch and Martha May's surprise, 1-year old Rose was insistent to call them Mom and Dad. Martha was pleased and happy to be called 'Mom', and she became quite the natural mother for Rose. However, it was different for Grinch, it was difficult for him to be able to take being called 'Dad', for he couldn't stop being grumpy and stubborn, a bad habit to break, through it was slowly breaking down, thanks to Martha's affectionate touches and Rose's gummy smiles.
Rose thought she did something wrong; sniffling and speaking with Max when she thought Grinch wasn't looking for her, and Grinch actually felt guilty. He spoke to Martha, asked about what to do with Rose, and Martha, understanding about Grinch's hesitance to being a father and Rose's sadness in not able to call Grinch 'Dad', she asked him if he really wants Rose to be happy again.
To Martha's happiness, it wasn't even 30 seconds when Grinch nodded, and so, on that weekend night, Grinch set Rose down, told her in simple terms of how he felt, and what he wanted, and then finally telling her that he doesn't mind to be called 'Dad' from now on. Rose was elated, hugging her daddy happily and joyfully as Martha watched from a doorway, wiping her tears away in relieved joy.
The next five years passed quite peacefully, yet Rose was quite the curious girl, asking why she couldn't go out play/talk with the other Whos like her mom or scavenge in the trash like her father. Martha and Grinch struggled with the truth, not wanting Rose to be hurt or worse by any Who citizen. They told her that Whoville was scared of her father, and they didn't seem to like him either, and that she's not old enough to go scavenging or playing out there.
She must stay in her father's lair or her mother's house no matter what, much to her annoyances. She thinks her parents are overreacting or something, and she really wanted to make friends with the Whos. She was bored of talking to Max, the sole occupant of the lair besides her father. Even the games with Max and her parents were losing their luster as well.
After another repeat of the rule talk with her father, Rose had enough. She knew there was a way down to Whoville, thanks to traveling with her father to visit her mom or buy groceries. Sometime back then, her father had found a similar Who-mask, with a black overcoat with a hoodie for Rose to wear upon trips, not wanting anyone to see her real face.
It was late morning, on a mild June day. She opted to wear one of her favorite outfits; a long-sleeved blue shirt, with dark purple overalls, and brown boots, then her overcoat and mask for the final layer. With a nervous smile as she chatted to Max, and finally, she stood upon the trapdoor, with a thumbs up toward Max who stood under the rope which would trigger the trapdoor to open under Rose.
Max was both delighted yet horrified. He was happy for his little mistress, aiming to have her own adventure, but he was scared, unknowing what his master and mistress would react about Rose's rebellion. He long obeyed his master for a long time, and his mistress, a shorter time, and his little mistress, a very short time.
With Rose's eyes opting to take upon a version of Max's puppy look, Max eventually gave in, and he leaped upward to grab the rope with his teeth, hearing a delighted scream from Rose as she fell through. Max let go, whimpered in hope that Rose has better luck than him, knowing that the Grinch would be in mad mode if he ever learnt that Max actually let Rose go.
It was at least a hour later when the Grinch returned with Martha from their walk to the tip-top of Mt. Crumpit, and after call-out, the two parents noticed that Rose didn't acknowledge their return. They presumed that she was taking a nap, heading to her bedroom, but to their horror, she wasn't in there playing with her toys or sleeping.
They searched throughout the lair, with the pair growing desperately worried, and Grinch called out for Max who was in his cave doghouse, and Grinch growled, "Max, do you know where Rose is, wherever she may be?". Max whimpered softly, glanced at the front door.
"Do you think she'd gone to the junkyard?". Martha whispered in shock and horror. Grinch sighed softly, "That's one place she'd want to go, or dare do I say, one of the two places she asked us about?". Martha gasped, "Oh, no... She wouldn't, would she?".
Grinch nodded, "Think about it, Martha. We were her age one time long ago. We should have seen this coming!". He looked at Max, glaring at him, "Did you pull the rope?". Max whined, dropping down to his paws with his ears looping around to cover his eyes in shame.
Grinch growled in anger, "You better hope that she's not hurt down there! Come on, Martha. We better get her out of there before something happens for the worst.". They took the trapdoor route with Max pulling the rope again, unknowing that at this moment right now, Rose is playing with her new friend who answers to the name of Cindy Lou.