A/N: Double update! Complete A/N in part 4.
Part Three: As He Called Upon Oranges...
Our traveler scratched his head in confusion as he step over the threshold.
"Did you just call yourself..."
"Orange! Yes, I'm sure those insufferable little Who's warned you about me. They started to call me a grinch when I refused to participate in their Christmas celebrations every year. I moved up to this mountain hideaway with Max to hide from them." The man leaned down and patted the head of a dog that was laying on the floor next to a fireplace.
"We aren't rhyming anymore," exclaimed the traveler.
"Silver! There's a rhyming border inside the city. Anyone who enters must rhyme. It's a very subconscious thing. The line ends about where my front door is," exclaimed the man.
Our traveler gestured to a well worn armchair by the fire. "May I?"
"Yes of course. Why don't I get some tea started. It's cold out there." The man bustled over to a small kitchenette and began opening cupboards.
The dog by the fireplace perked its head up by the noise and turned it to face the traveler. "That's Max," said the man over his shoulder.
Our traveler leaned forward and scratched Max behind his ears. "Hello there old boy; how are you?"
Max enthusiastically wagged his tail back and forth and began to pant. "What's your name?"
"Name's Ted. What about you?"
"Oh, Max. What is wrong with you," asked our traveler of time.
Ted walked over with two mugs of tea and placed them on a small table. "He's just gotten old."
Our hero took the dog's head in his hands and gently move it left and right. "Is he blind?"
"Almost. He's been a loyal friend for almost eleven years," explained Ted. "I bet you have been eh Max," he rubbed the dog behind his ears and Max thumped his tail enthusiastically against the floor. "Is there any other reason besides the Whos for your frozen isolation?"
Ted sighed and sunk father into the plush armchair. "I have never been a fan of the Yuletide season compared to the Whos and their zealous enthusiasm for the holiday has left a sour taste in my mouth. I prefer to spend my winter inside my abode than down in the town."
"There's nothing wrong with a little Christmas spirit," said our hero.
Ted massaged his forehead. "Yes, but all the noise they make as the celebrate. It is like an endless pounding against my head."
Our time traveler played with the tag on the tea bag. "Like drums?"
"Yes. In fact sometimes it is drums if the parade is going through. It is all just too much."
Our time traveler set his tea cup back on the saucer. "I think I should go."
"No, please stay just a bit longer. It's nice having some company," insisted Ted.
Our hero shifted uncomfortably in his chair. "Maybe just a bit longer. Now this rhyming field, is it the whole planet or just the town below the mountain?"
Ted took a sip of tea while he pondered the question. "Just the town. I have never been outside of this area so I wouldn't know if it affected other towns."
"Fascinating, so if I stepped out right now the rhyming would resume?"
"Yes, it's troublesome when I let Max out for fresh air."
Our time traveler stood up and strode over to the door and opened it. He placed both feet outside the threshold and waited.
The air was cold on his face,
His hair being blown all over the place.
Ted had mentioned drums,
The word itself almost made our hero run.
He knew only one man which such a fixation,
But surely there was an explanation.
They couldn't be one in the same,
Or possibly they were both insane.
Our hero shook his head in despair,
The smell of baking cookies in the air.
He put one foot back inside the door
And was quickly followed by the other.
"Really fascinating," he exclaimed.
Ted snorted. "Sure it is. You should probably get some sleep."
"Oh no I wouldn't want to intrude. My box can take me anywhere. I'll just pop back down to the town and stay there."
"No I insist. Besides Max has gotten quite fond of you."
Our hero looked down and saw that Max hand fallen asleep at his feet. "All right."
Ted stood up and stretched. "Good night then."
"Good night." He left the room and the hero turned the lights off. The only light now came from the crackling fire. The time traveler settled down on the couch and Max followed. The old dog wiggled on to the couch and snuggled down between the couch and the hero. "Goodnight to you too Max," he whispered.
-o-O-o-
Our time traveler heard a door creak open and then a soft click. He rubbed his eyes as he set up and looked at the door. "I wonder what that was," he whispered at Max.
The dog jumped off the couch and shuffled towards the door. He sniffed the rug and began to howl at the door. "What is it?"
Our time traveler opened the door and was shocked. He stepped out into the cold and gasped, his breath creating warm puffs. His box was gone.