𝗕𝗲𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗚𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗵 𝗼𝗳 𝗖𝗵𝗿𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗺𝗮𝘀!

Everyone in the town of Hurricane, Utah, was in the Christmas spirit...They all LOVED Christmas! Except for one. A sinister, bitter, evil, green-colored creature who lives a recluse, eccentric hateful life. The Grinch decides to ruin Christmas for the cheery citizens of Hurricane. With help from Max, the green creature hatches a scheme to pose as Santa Claus, to steal Christmas and silence the holiday cheer. Based on the book by Dr. Seuss, 1966 cartoon special, and 2000’s film directed by Ron Howard. A reimagined telling written by Miles Ash Fox, with certain elements combined from the cartoon, and film. Art cover illustrated by Digital Artist, Fizzie, and my friends, who are all fans of my writing and work thus far! Credit to Dr. Seuss, and the Dr. Seuss Enterprises.

CHAPTER THREE

THE SLEIGH-RIDE

The Grinch pulled the sleigh out of the cave, pulling it near the edge of the mountain.

The sleigh was constructed entirely out of junk, and collection of parts that was found in the dump; far below the mountain—in an area called the Dumpit to Mount Crumpit. It had two jet-propulsion rockets on the back of the sleigh, which would help shoot the sleigh into the air, while Max helped pull the sleigh, by a construction of pulleys and systems, which helped Max without falling down below.

On the front of the sleigh, there was a series of headlights which lit up the night sky, brilliantly, with cool-white bluish light and yellowish lights.

The Grinch walked over to the ledge of his cave, and peered down at the quiet town below. He knew that everyone was asleep, now.

Sleeping and dreaming without care. Knowing that in a few minutes now, the Grinch would descend down the side of Mount Crumpit, and to silence the holiday cheer! He turned around and looked at the opened door, then he put two furry fingers into his mouth, and he whistled for Max.

In that instant—which was only a few split seconds—Max jumped into the air, leaping over the Grinch’s Santa Claus hat, and landed, on all fours, onto the sleigh! He was licking his face with his tongue, ecstasy!

The white-colored Pom-pom ball on his hand lowered—rather dramatically—over his face. Suddenly, he readjusted his hat, then walking over towards Max, he picked him up by the antlers, and carried him over to the front of the sleigh. Attaching a string chain-like rope onto his red collar, then walked back onto the sleigh.

He climbed into the front of the sleigh, then the Grinch picked up a brown-colored bull-whip in one hand, and in the other, the strand of rope that was attached to Max’s dog collar.

The sleigh had been loaded with several empty red-and-white colored bags.

Then, the Grinch brought back his arm in a long arch, and the whip cracked in the air—frightening the dog; as the tip of the whip cracked against the backside of poor Max! “Mush, Max,” the Grinch yelled. “Giddyap, down the side of Mount Crumpit to the town of Hurricane!”

Quick as a whip, Max frighteningly began to dig his paws, frantically, into the snow. And over the series of whip-crackings, and yelling calls from the Grinch to go “Faster!” Max ran with all his might; and the sleigh began to move.

Max ran towards the edge of the mountain.

As he reached the cliff, poor Max couldn’t stop in time, as he tumbled down the side of the mountain—snow began to quickly build up from behind his back, as he continued to slide down the white-covered snow.

When Max finally reached the soft ground, only twelve feet below, a dark shadow lingered from far above him…Far above him, the sleigh slid over towards the edge, and the Grinch leaned over the front, looking down at the petrified dog from miles above!

Then, the sleigh tilted and jerked, and it began to tilt; and the sleigh began to slide down the mountain—at a rather frightening pace!

The two jet rockets were firing simultaneously, which gave the sleigh a boost of crazily energy. It was riding down the mountainside at a heart-stopping pace!

Max quickly (and yet all so frighteningly) quicked up the pace, as the sleigh rode down the side, with snow spraying out from the backside of the monstrous sleigh.

The Grinch’s eyes piercingly gazed at Max, as he raced down the mountain, pulling the sleigh faster and faster with all of his might.

Frightened that if the sleigh caught up to him, the Grinch would whip him with his bull-whip!

As the sleigh began to go faster and faster, so did Max, and neither he nor the sleigh slowed down. Max rushed on and on in spewing bursts of white snow in the Grinch’s face.

The two rushed down to the town of Hurricane, Utah!

The town had become eerily quiet. Like a ghost town that had been caught, inside of a little model, where all time had ceased to exist. Where no sound could be heard—except for the sound of the sleigh riding into Hurricane, and the frightful crunching of snow from Max’s paws in the deep, ice-cold snow.

And what was this? The sound of silver jingle bells ringing, in the soft, cold winter night.

For it wasn’t the bells of eight tiny reindeer, pulling a sleigh with an extraordinarily large sack filled with presents, and a jolly old man with a white beard in a red coat and hat. Instead, it was the Grinch, himself, who had come down to the sleeping town of Hurricane on Christmas Eve night. To steal all the joy and happiness away from them!

CHAPTER FOUR

ARRIVAL, OF THE GRINCHY CLAUS

All the windows of the homes and buildings were dark, without a single light in one of them. All around the Grinch and Max, snow filled the air of the peaceful little town.

Twas the night before Christmas, when all the citizens of Hurricane, were sleeping without care. All the little boys, girls, and their parents; were dreaming sweet dreams of sugar plums that danced in their heads…When, out of the corner in the dark of night, the Grinch came to the stop on the square. A little house on the square, and the Grinch grinned.

“This is the first house on the block,” the Grinchy Claus grinned. He pulled out a clever invention from his red bag in his fist. A golden-colored ladder, which the Grinch climbed onto, as it began to ascend up towards the roof.

The Grinch now stood on the roof. Empty bags in his left hand, as he crept over towards the chimney. He climbed up onto the chimney.

Max glanced up in horror, as the Grinch began to prepare himself to slide down the chimney, like the Grinchy Claus he was!

Poor Max was so exhausted, from all the running and pulling, that he couldn’t use one inch of energy. He rested his body in the sleigh in a heap of exhaustion.

As the Grinch climbed down the chimney with care, it was a rather tight fit. For it was a rather uncomfortable pinching feeling for the Grinch. But, if the jolly old Saint Nick could do it, then so could the Grinch, himself, could do it!

The Grinch had gotten stuck in the middle—halfway down the chimney, where the fireplace down below—was only a short distance from the fireplace flue.

The great fire which had been built in the fireplace, had been quickly snuffed out by magic, as if it had been snuffed out by a hand.

Then, in a rather shocking way, the Grinch lowered his face down below, out from the fireplace—where only his following red eyes emanated out from the darkness.

Hanging from above on the ledge of the fireplace, were several stockings that were all hung nearly, beside the fireplace with care.

The Grinch carefully positioned himself, where his front legs of his whole body were facing the opening of the fireplace, and he reached out with one arm. And he grabbed one of the stockings, while holding an empty sack in the other, smiling rather unpleasantly.

“These stockings the Grinch grinned, “whom belong to those greedy little children, are the first things to get rid of!”

The Grinch pulled himself out from the chimney, patting himself off, as black dust billowed down from his Grinchy Claus suit. A smile which was most unpleasant to see on his face, grew bigger. He grinned to himself, as he looked around the whole room at all the Christmas decorations, the toys, the tinsel, the trimmings, and the colorful trappings!

He got down onto the ground, onto his belly. And then…He began to slither, stealthily, around the whole room in perfect silence.

With a grin plastered on his Grinch-ish-ly face!

Stealing all of the presents that his eyes and hands caught. Taking every single gift!

He stuffed the toys into several empty bags, and then he stuffed the bags up the chimney.

He looked over into the kitchen, and then, he crept into the kitchen (in a rather sneaky way), and he opened up the refrigerator.

Eyeing their feast, he began to quickly clean out the entire fridge in a flash! The Grinch was so snitchy, that he took the roast beast, their egg-nog, and their pudding! And then, at last, the Grinch took their last can of hash!

With loaded bags filled to the brim with food, the Grinch hauled the bags back to the chimney. And, with great strength, he heaved them all up into the darkness of the chimney.

Then, he looked over his shoulder, with glee in his eyes, at the glistening Christmas tree.

“You…,” the Grinch said, with a gleeful snarl. “I shall stuff you up the chimney!”

CHAPTER FIVE

CHARLIE EMILY, MEETS THE GRINCH!

As the Grinch grabbed the tree, in both of his hands, he carried it towards the fireplace.

He shoved the top of it upwards into the chimney, at a rather jaunty angle.

While doing so, one of the colorful ornaments that was hanging from one of the branches, dropped off and hit the floor. It began to roll away from the Grinch in his series of pushes and shoves at the tree.

He was far too busy in fact, that he hadn’t noticed that one of the ornaments from the tree had fallen off, and was now rolling towards the bedroom. Where the children were all tucked in bed, snoozing-a-snooze, peacefully.

While in bed, Charlie Emily had been warmly tucked in. Her eyes were still shut, when she suddenly heard a sound. Like the soft, tinkling sound of glass. An ornament was rolling towards her bed, making a THUNK! sound, as it lightly tapped the foot of her bed.

She woke up lightly, and got out of bed. She had woken up to the sound of an ornament from her tree—which had must’ve fallen off from one of the branches.

Her throat was rather parched, so she journeyed out of her room down the hall, and down the flight of stairs, to get herself a cup of ice-cold water from the fridge.

The Grinch continued to shove at the base of the tree, up the opening of the fireplace, when at that moment, there was a sound. It wasn’t no sound like any other that the Grinch had heard before. He stopped pushing at the tree, and then, quick as a flash, he turned around in haste at the sound behind him.

Standing before him was a small, little girl with pink-colored pajamas and matching slippers on her feet. Her hair was a brownish-blonde. Charlie Emily stared at the Grinch, with a look of confusion and puzzlement.

“Santa Clause…what are you doing to our Christmas tree?”

The Grinch nervously looked at the small, little girl, Charlie Emily. She stared at the Grinch. He stood very still, looking at her with wrinkles on his face with a crooked posture.

Then, as he began to nervously chew on his furry fingers, he then thought up a lie in a careful manner.

“Why, there’s no reason to fret,” the Grinchy Claus lied, telling a rather tall lie. “You see, my sweet child, on your Christmas tree; there is a lightbulb on one side that isn’t working quite right.” The Grinch continued to explain. “So, I have taken it upon myself to fix it, back in my workshop, at the North Pole, and then I shall bring it back here fixed up in a jiffy.”

Charlie Emily looked at her tree—specifically at the ornament that the Grinch pointed at—with his longish green finger, and she nodded. With a smile that grew on her face. His lie had worked, as he then gently patted the top of her head. He then got her a cup, filled with ice-cold water, and he handed it to her.

Then, he sent her to bed, giving her a kind wave to her as he watched her go back upstairs to bed with her cup of cold water.

The Grinch watched and listened, as Charlie Emily headed to bed with her cup, and the door to her room closed shut. Then, without moving an inch, the Grinch grinned rather gleefully and said “Such a sweet child…,” then he added, “but has a ba-a-ad judge of a character!”

He crept over to the Christmas tree, grabbed it by the trunk in his hands, and—with a great, tremendous shove—he stuffed up the tree, ornaments, and golden-star up the chimney!

Then, the Grinch went back up the chimney, himself, but not before taking the logs for the fireplace. With a snuff from his fingers; the fire went out in a smoldering puff of smoke.

In a quick of a flash, the Grinch vanished up the chimney. On the walls there was nothing, not even the beautiful, colorful chilstrams decorstants that hung on the wall with care.

Inside the house there was not a single trace of food that had been left…except for a tiny piece of a crumb, which was so tiny, that not even one of the mouses that came out of hiding to investigate the crumb; was far too small for the who-mouse, who was searching for a tall meal.

Suddenly, in that instant, a long, green-colored furry hand reached out from the fireplace, and grabbed the tiny mouse by the tail.

The poor little mouse uttered a terrified shriek, as the Grinch grabbed the family’s mouse, Jerry, up by the tail and up into the chimney.

CHAPTER SIX

STEALING CHRISTMAS!

The Grinch went to all the other houses. Stealing all of their Christmas decorations; food for their feasts; the presents; the lights; the trees; and their wreaths! In addition to his Santa Claus disguise, he wore a long, lengthy (and rather colorful) red-and-white striped scarf. While the Grinch was making his way through each, and every house, he happened to have a few snacks as he made his way through.

One of those snacks was a plate of cookies, and a cold glass of milk. Standing next to the plate was a sign that said “FOR SANTA,” which was written in jolly red-and-green colored markers and pencils.

The Grinch eyed the cookies and milk, with a glint in his eye, as he was stuffing presents up the chimney during one of his many stops.

Max helped alongside the Grinch. By carrying the presents over to the chimney.

For a few moments the Grinch couldn’t help but stare longingly with curiosity in his mind. “What’s the harm in having a little snack,” the Grinch thought to himself, and walked over to the plate of cookies and milk. He reached out a hand and took one of the cookies, and with the other, he grabbed the glass of milk.

If Santa Claus could have a pinch of these cookies and a cool, refreshing glass of milk, then so could the Grinch!

The Grinch picked up one of the cookies from the plate, lifted it up to his mouth, and took a great big bite from one of the cookies. He turned to look down at Max, as Max looked up at him with a look of pleading in his eyes.

“You wish you could have these, Max,” the Grinch said with relish. “But chocolate isn’t good for dogs.”

Then, after he had finished eating the cookie, he took a swallow of milk from the glass. “Mmmm…!” the Grinch said, with a shocking smile beginning to grow on his face. “No wonder why Santa Claus enjoys these so much; these milk and cookies. They taste absolutely delicious!”

He dipped the last of the cookies into the glass of milk, and ate it, messily. After he had finished his snack, he continued onto his next stop. Stealing all the presents from house to house, until, finally, he packed up his entire sleigh with everything he stole.

The last thing he had taken—from the very last house on the stop—was a tiny, small mouse that was left scavenging around for food.

CHAPTER SEVEN

RETURN TO MOUNT CRUMPIT

It was only a quarter of an hour before sunrise, and all the people in Hurricane, Utah, were all still asleep. Snoozing away with dreams of sugar plums that danced in their heads. Like something straight out of Twas the night before Christmas: all the house's windows were dark. Quiet snow crunched beneath the Grinch’s boots, as he carefully packed up all the Christmas gifts onto his sleigh.

He climbed onto the top of his ginormous red-colored bag, which was filled to the brim, with colorful bags, boxes, and tags of Christmas gifts and decorations that were stolen to silence all of the holiday cheer.

The Grinch looked around the town with a smile of most unpleasantness at all of his handiwork, then, he pulled out the same long bullwhip, and proceeded to crack it on Max!

“Mush!” the Grinch yelled. “Onwards, Max! I’ll take my load up to the top of Mount Crumpit!” In that moment, there came a sickening crack of a whipping whip, which frightened the poor dog as he began pulling with all his might.

The sleigh began to move, as Max pulled with all the weight against him, up the side of Mount Crumpit. Slowly but surely, the sleigh began to move as Max pulled it through the town, and up towards the side of Mount Crumpit!

All of the presents, tags, tinsel, and the decorations were overflowing in the larger-than-life extraordinary-sized bag of Christmas gifts that were stolen. They were all packed neatly onto the sleigh.

It was a slow (albeit) tough, long effort. For poor Max, he was so exhausted; he couldn’t go another single yard with the extreme weight.

This gave the Grinch an idea. The most awfully, wonderful idea! He pressed a button on the controls of his sleigh, which activated the twin jet-rocket boaters.

Suddenly in that same moment, the sleigh gave a tremendous lurch of energy, as it shot forward with tremendous force, that it picked up poor Max in a thunderous ride. It rode up the side of Mount Crumpit at terrific speed!

As the sleigh flew up the bottom portion of the mountain, it quickly ed by Max—and with quick thinking—he grabbed Max, and lifted up into the sleigh beside him.

“Hahaha!” the Grinch laughed, which sounded like an evil version of a twisted Grinchy Claus. Hissing as the sleigh propelled itself up the steep side of Mount Crumpit.

“You’re a mean one, Mr. Grinch,” the Grinch sang devilishly. “You really are a heel! You’re as cuddly as a cactus,” he then wrapped his one arm around himself; in a one-armed hug, “you’re as charming as an eel, Mr. Grinch! “You’re a bad banana with a…GREASY BLACK PEEL….!” He relished with a smile of rotten, yellowish teeth with termites in his smile. “Curses, I’m speaking in rhymes!”

Ten thousand feet up the side of Mount Crumpit, the Grinch rode his sleigh (with his enormous load) up to the very tip top, to dump off the load from the top of Mount Crumpit!

As the sleigh finally reached the peak of the cliff, the twin rockets gave one last tremendous blast, and fired out of power.

Max looked over the side of the sleigh. He got a terrific shock at what he saw.

The sleigh, the Grinch, and himself were nearly ten thousand feet up in the snowy, cold air!

The sleigh spun around, as soon as Max caused a great deal of panic, that the sleigh spun around, sideways, to face the front, and the back with the presents facing the drop off.

“I can practically hear the people, and children now,” the Grinch cried, gleefully. “Why, in a few minutes from now; they’ll just start to wake up. And when they find no presents, decorations, or anything in sight—then all their joy and happiness will all be gone as well!”

He began humming happily to himself.

“That’s a type of noise,” the Grinch grinned, “that I must hear with my own ears!”

CHAPTER EIGHT

CHRISTMAS MEANS A LITTLE MORE

He smiled in silence. Then, he carefully cupped his hand to his ear, listening intently for any sound or noise that would soon be coming from down below in the town of Hurricane. Suddenly, there was a noise. It was faint and quiet at first…but then it began to grow!

Far down below in the town of Hurricane, Utah, the adults, people, and children—all far and near—began to gather around at the desolation of emptiness, without a single sign or trace of their Christmas presents or decorations in sight.

“Do you know what this means?” asked one of the people in the group, bewildered.

“No. What does it mean, Jeffrey?” one of the adults and children asked. Now looking at the gloom of not a single ornamen, or a decoration in sight on their houses.

Suddenly, with anger filling his chest, he began to pound his fists into the ground. Yelling at the top of his lungs with all of his might. “Christmas is ruined! The Grinch has destroyed CHRISTMAS! All of our Christmas decorations, lights, tinsels, and all of our food for the feast—is all gone! Because of the Grinch! He pulverized and wrecked Christmas!”

At that moment it seemed that what the man had said was true, which caused an alarming dismay for all the rest of the children and adults…except for one tiny little girl.

A girl named Charlie Emily, who stepped up to the middle of the opening, and looked around.

She shook her head. “No it’s not,” Charlie Emily replied, honestly. At the sound of her voice, everyone stopped and stared at her.

Everyone’s faces were directed at Charlie Emily, who remained rather quite still, as they all stared at her in disbelief that Christmas wasn’t ruined. “Christmas is more than the gifts, lights, and decorations,” Charlie explained. “Christmas is inside all of our hearts. That is the true meaning, and spirit, of what Christmas truly is about.

“Being together with our friends and family is what Christmas really means.”

Her parents turned to look at her.

Then they smiled at what she had said. And nodded their heads in agreement. “We don’t need anything more for Christmas,” Henry Emily, Charlie’s father, said, honestly. “I have everything right here: my family. Merry Christmas everyone!”

A while later, everyone gathered around, together. Holding hands to hands…and the children and adults began to sing!

Then the noise began to grow louder, and louder, until finally, it was so loud it soared through the sky filling it with Christmas cheer!

“Fahoo forays, dahoo dores,” sang the crowd in unison, cheerfully. “Welcome Christmas! Come this way. Fahoo forays, dahoo dores; is Welcome Christmas, Christmas Day!

“Welcome, welcome, fahoo ramus. Welcome, welcome, dahoo damus. Christmas Day is in our grasp! So long as we have hands to clasp

Fahoo forays, dahoo dores!”

The crowd continued to sing; with their hands grasping others' hands, tightly.

Far above on the top of Mount Crumpit, the Grinch was shocked at the sound he heard. Why, the sound was very glad! Merry even, that the Grinch’s eyes widened at this shocking surprise it couldn’t be so!

He stared down at the town, with a look of shock and surprise on his face. Everyone in Hurricane, Utah, was singing! It was a shocking surprise that the Grinch wasn’t expecting before! All the people and children were smiling. Singing Christmas songs without even a single Christmas decoration in sight!

Christmas hadn't stopped, after all!

Why, Christmas still came just as it would.

The same as it had before, and has been done many years before.

CHAPTER NINE

A CHANGE OF HEART

As the Grinch stood with his feet deep in a pile of cold snow, he stood rather still.

Puzzling over how they could still be filled with jolly Christmas holiday cheer. He jumped off the ledge, and slid down the side of the mountain, landed onto the ledge outside of his cave, and stood muddling over how Christmas still came just the same as before.

“How could this be possible,” the Grinch said, puzzling over the idea. “It came without any decorations, presents, tinsel, or even ribbons!” The Grinch pondered and puzzled for a few hours…till his puzzling became sore.

He put his thumb and forefinger against his chin, and then, he thought of something!

His eyes began to widen with realization.

“Maybe the meaning of Christmas,” the Grinch thought, “doesn’t come from stores…Maybe Christmas, perhaps, means just a little more!”

A smile began to grow on the sour Grinch’s face; which wasn’t Grinchy or sour anymore!

In that moment, the Grinch grimaced in pain, and was thrown into the air, as a terrific THUMP came from the Grinch’s chest!

He landed onto his back on the white snow, howling in pain that came from his heart!

He gripped his hand at his chest, then moved over to his left elbow—also in the same amount of pain—and then back to his chest.

The Grinch tried to pull himself up, leaned against the rock wall of the cave, but not before falling back down; when another sudden sickening beat from his heart from his chest, causing him to fall back down into the snow.

The grinch looked down in fear of his beating, growing heart in his chest, that the series of deep breaths he took were the only sounds that echoed and filled the Grinch’s ears.

What happened then? Well…in Hurricane, Utah, the Grinch’s extraordinarily small heart…grew three sizes that day!

The Grinch clapped his right hand to his chest—where his heart was located—then he sat up straight…and…with a look of sudden shock on his face…the Grinch began to cry.

He cried for a few minutes, and two more, before he suddenly stopped crying. When over the distance of the horizon, he saw the most glorious, beautiful sight his eyes laid upon.

A golden ball of sunlight shimmered and glimmered over the blue, cloud-filled sky.

“What’s happening to me?” the Grinch asked, stunned by disbelief.

He touched the corner of his eye, with one of his furry green fingers, and looked at the tips which were covered wet by his warm tears.

“I’m melting with tears,” the Grinch said, looking at his tears on his fingers.

He turned to look at Max with a smile, which seemed to startle Max. Afraid that this was possibly another cunning, mischievous plot that the Grinch was planning to do to Max.

“Max…,” the Grinch said, smiling happily. “I love you. Haha!!” He cried with tears of joy. Max leaped into the air, and landed onto the Grinch. Licking and covering his face with wet, slobbery kisses that he had to offer the Grinch.

The Grinch laughed from the tickling sensation from Max’s wet, slobbery kisses as Max continued to lick his green furry face.

“Ok, enough is enough…” the Grinch said, trying to push Max gently off from him. “Beat it!” Max jumped off from the Grinch’s chest, and took a few steps back from him, excitedly.

Max looked up far above the cave, at the peak of the mountain, and saw something shocking! Max barked loudly three times.

The Grinch turned to look at Max, with a mix of confusion on his face. “What is it, Max?”

Max turned his face upwards towards the peak.

He turned to look up in the same direction.

Far above on the peak of Mount Crumpit, the sleigh filled with all the Christmas presents that the Grinch had stolen, began to move backwards out of sight; and towards the edge, near the cliff of the mountain!

The Grinch’s face grew with fright. “No! The sleigh…all of those presents…They’ll be destroyed!” He quickly got up and began to climb up the edge of the cliff in a hurry. “Wait!” the Grinch cried with fear.

As the Grinch continued to climb up the steep cliff, the sleigh began to slide much steeper and closer towards the edge!

The Grinch pulled himself up onto the cliff, and, as he managed to climb to the top, he watched as the precarious sleigh continued to slope down, towards the edge of the cliff where all the presents and decorations would fall down into the darkened abyss.

He jumped up onto his feet, triumphantly, pointed with his index finger at the sleigh with fright in his face and screamed: “NOOOO….!” With a running leap the Grinch jumped into the air, arms outstretched, and landed a few inches away from the still-moving precarious sleigh.

He feverishly crawled in a mad frenzy, and grabbed the back edge of the sleigh with his hands and tried to stop it from falling.

The sleigh continued to move even with the Grinch holding on for dear life, as it reached the edge of the cliff from the front of the sleigh just half-tilting precariously over the edge!

“Aaaaaagh!” the Grinch screamed in a mixture of sadness and fear, as the sleigh continued to move, dangerously, over the edge. He laid his head down onto the snow in midst of defeat, as the sleigh seemed to pull him—rather slowly—in the snow as he held on tightly.

Max rushed up behind the Grinch, and bit tightly onto the hem of his Santa coat, holding on tightly with only his teeth, and digging his four paws into the snow. In hopes of stopping the Grinch and the sleigh from falling.

“Max!” the Grinch cried fretfully. “Help me!” As he said this, began scooping up handfuls of snow, trying to pull the sleigh away from the edge, while holding on with his other hand.

“Bark! Bark!” Max cried, watching in fear as both the Grinch and the sleigh continued to move ever more dangerously to the edge.

Well, the Grinch thought to himself, if the sleigh does fall, at least they’re just toys, right?

Suddenly, a noise like the sound of a dove broke his moment of thought, when the face of a young, little girl popped out from the top of the bag of presents and toys!

The Grinch gasped at what he saw. It was little Charlie Emily, who was the only brightest little girl he'd ever met in his whole life! Her face radiated with kindness, and so much Christmas cheer—that her kindness radiated off from her, and touched the Grinch’s heart.

“Charlie Emily…,” the Grinch said in a messily, weak voice. “What are you doing up there…?” his voice cried loudly in shock.

“I came to see you,” Charlie answered, while the sleigh continued to shake, precariously. “Nobody should be alone on Christmas.”

It was these very words—these words, which were filled with such kindness, that touched the Grinch’s heart, and made him swell with so much joy. Then, the true meaning of Christmas finally came through at last!

KRRR—UUUNCH! Suddenly, the sleigh gave a sickening lurch, and the front of the vehicle began to tilt. “NOOOO!” The Grinch cried again. The gusting winds whipped harshly through the air, pulling the sleigh with it.

The Grinch looked up in fear at Charlie Emily, who was in danger. Sitting on top of a precarious vehicle; that was tilting over the edge and was going to fall down into the ravine if the Grinch or Max didn’t do something to help stop and save the sleigh from falling.

He looked up at Charlie Emily with a look of concern…then…he growled in anger.

Suddenly, something astonishing happened. The Grinch shoved his red-colored boots down into the snow—underneath the skis of the sleigh—and pulled with all of his might.

Slowly, the sleigh began to move away from the edge and back onto the cliff!

As the sleigh was pulled away, slowly, from the edge, and back onto the mountain top, the Grinch climbed underneath the sleigh.

Then, as the sleigh tilted side-to-side, it was lifted—rather miraculously—up into the air, and standing just underneath the vehicle, was the Grinch himself! The Grinch had found an incredible, immense strength, and saved the sleigh, lifting it up with his own bare hands.

He held up the sleigh, high above his head, in the warm, golden early dawn light.

“I’ve got you, Charlie Emily!” the Grinch exclaimed, holding the sleigh above his head. The Grinch’s eyes began to change.

From what they used to be formerly yellow-and-red, now turned white: with blue pupils! And a strained-sort of smile (while under the strain of holding the sleigh above his head) grew onto his face for the first time!

“You’ve saved the sleigh, Mr. Grinch!” Charlie Emily cried, smiling happily.

The Grinch took a few, careful lumbering steps, and he turned the sleigh around, as they both basked in the golden rays of warm sunlight, as the sun rose up over the horizon in the distance in the mountain peaks.

The Grinch cheered with joy that filled his chest. The wind began to die down, and more white snow began to fall softly to the ground.

CHAPTER TEN

THE CHRISTMAS FEAST!

After the sleigh had been saved by the Grinch, the three flew down the side of Mount Crumpit! The Grinch drove the sleigh in a rapid pace, while also hooting on a huge red-and-white striped trumpet. Blowing great, big toots and hoots on it, cheering and blowing happily on it in the bright morning light!

While back in the town of Hurricane, Utah, everyone stopped and stared. What they had heard were a series of toots on a trumpet.

From afar in the distance, there came a great big sleigh, with a huge red-colored bag of gifts and presents in the back.

As the sleigh arrived in the center of the town, it came to a peaceful stop—near the Christmas tree—the Grinch leaped out of his seat, and landed onto the ground, triumphantly.

“It is I, the Grinch, who stole Christmas!” the Grinch said, holding up a hand into the air. Then, he looked around at all of the people, who stared at him with a look of fright. “It’s all true. But, with this little girl’s kindness, I brought all of it back to you.”

The crowd quietly gasped at the heartfelt words that the Grinch had said. What he had said warmed and melted their hearts. It was true. Charlie Emily’s simple act of kindness had made the Grinch’s heart grow three sizes, and so, it had resulted in him bringing back all the stolen gifts and decorations he had stolen.

Charlie Emily held the Grinch’s hand, kindly. The Grinch looked at the girl, confused. Then, she began to sing in the voice of a dove.

“Fah who foraze! Dah who doraze,” Charlie Emily sang, calmly, smiling at the Grinch. “Welcome Christmas, come this way!” She held the Grinch’s hand, and led him into the now-forming circle that the crowd began to make, gettinging into their positions. Soon, all the people in town were singing together!

“Fah who foraze! Dah who doraze! Welcome Christmas, Christmas Day! Welcome, welcome! Fah who rahmus! Welcome, welcome! Dah who dahmus! Christmas Day is in our grasp! So long as we have hands to clasp! Fah who foraze! Dah who doraze! “Welcome, Welcome Christmas! Welcome, Welcome Christmas day!”

The Grinch and Max quickly ed in both the crowd and singing, with a smile on his face. “Fah who foraze! Dah who doraze! Welcome Christmas, Christmas Day!” While Max on the other hand simply barked along, meeriy.

The Grinch had brought back all the food, decorations, toys, trees.

Later that day, all of the citizens of Hurricane, Utah, were invited into the Grinch’s cave, where they all sat down at a long, swirly-shaped dining table.

Standing at the head of the table, was none other than the Grinch, himself! He stood at the front of the table, dressed in his Santa Claus. The Grinch held the knife in his hand, and, holding it carefully to the meat of the beast.

He began slicing and cutting it up in equal portions and plating it on plates for everyone. Cheers of joy and laughter filled the cave, as plates of thick, delicious roast beast, green eggs and ham, and all sorts of other things as well were served for Christmas dinner!

And from that day on, the Grinch had learned the true meaning of Christmas: that it isn’t about materialism or even the gifts…but being together with your family and friends. And that, my friends, is how the Grinch stole Christmas! And, that the true meaning of Christmas isn’t the commercialism of gifts…but being close together with your friends and family.

This story, Beware the Grinch of Christmas, is dedicated to , and all the rest of my friends. And, credit to Dr. Seuss and the Dr. Seuss Enterprises for using the character, The Grinch, created by Dr. Seuss (Theodore Seuss Geisel.)