Color Pages of the Grinch

The parish, that's what the Whos call their town, was laced up tight as a turkey's--well, never mind that, I'll leave that to the Whos' own self to tell you. But it was a snug little place, all right, nestled below the hill, with all its chimneys pointing to the sky. It was just like a regular old town, just like any other, with a butcher, a baker, a candlestick maker, and all the who-knows-what-else makers. Until one day, when something rather unusual happened.

Now, the Whos were known for their big hearts and even bigger smiles. They were always jovial, always singing, always celebrating. But amongst them, there was one beast of a Who, who couldn't stand their noise, their merriment, or their joy. And this was no ordinary Who, it was none other than the Grinch, the mean one, the crotchety, sour, despicable one. And this Grinch had one more thing besides his dreadful demeanor, he had a plan.

The Grinch's Displeasure with the Noise

The Grinch just couldn't take the ruckus anymore. The caroling, the laughter, the clanging of the sleigh bells. It was, as he'd say, "quite enough to drive me out of town." So, he decided to do something about it. He'd put an end to their singing, their dancing, their celebrating. He'd take their Christmas away.

But the Grinch wasn't just going to don a Santa Claus suit and spoil their holiday. No, he was much too clever for that. He had a cunning plan to silence the Whos once and for all.

The Plan: Stealing the Preserves

One day, when the Whos weren't looking, the Grinch struck. He didn't take their presents, he didn't even take their stockings. No, he went straight for the Who's pantry, and he took one thing, and one thing only: their Christmas preserves. The whole lot, every single jar. Why? Because, you see, the Whos couldn't celebrate Christmas without them. They were the secret to their famous Christmas pudding.

Once he'd taken the preserves, the Grinch was sure he had their celebration figure. He sat back up on his mountain, waiting for the silence, the endless, blissful silence he'd longed for. But something unexpected happened, the Whos started to sing.

Who Christmas Without Presents

The Grinch couldn't believe his ears. He'd taken their things, their food, their cherished Christmas items, and yet, they were still singing. He watched as the Who kids started exhaling at the tops of their lungs. He saw the moms and dads hugging one another and laughing. He watched as they put on their finest coats and headed to the church, where Beethoven's Fifth was filling the air.

The Grinch was puzzled. He had taken their Christmas. But he'd missed one thing, the true spirit of Christmas. The Whos had taught him that Christmas, as their patriarch said, "wasn't just a day, it was a feeling." It wasn't about the food or the presents, it was about the love and the joy. And in that realization, the Grinch's heart started growing.

The Grinch's Transformation

The Grinch was changed. He couldn't stay up on his mountain anymore. He had to go down, to join the Whos, to celebrate with them. He couldn't just watch anymore, he wanted to be a part of it. He wanted to experience what they were feeling.

So, down he came, with all of their things. He'd not only taken their Christmas preserves, he'd taken their Christmas trees too. But he was bringing them back, every single one. And as he passed each Who family, he returned their things, until every Who home had their tree back.

The Grinch Among the Whos

The Grinch arrived at the church. He had never seen anything like it. The Whos welcomed him, embraced him, and then started singing "Welcome, Christmas!" He watched as each Who opened their present and put on their new hats and coats. He saw that the Whos were true to their word, they had only one gift for each Who child, but each gift was a present a child had given away.

As the Grinch watched, his heart continued to grow until finally, it was so big, it popped out of his coat. He realized, as he walked amongst the Whos, his smallest size was far too big for him. The Grinch was finally one of them, not the crotchety old mountain type, but one of the joyful Whos.

And so, the Grinch learned a valuable lesson. Christmas isn't about the presents, the food, or the decorations. It's about the family, the love, the joy, and the giving. It's a feeling, a warmth that fills the heart. And with that new knowledge, the Grinch was never the mean, sour beast he once was, but a jolly, happy Who, just like all the others. And he truly, wholeheartedly, loved Christmas. From then on, every Christmas on Mount Crumpit was filled with light, music, and joy, like his new friends down the hill.