Click to play audio title from NT with an East indian accent.

A Moving Whobilation

It was Whobilation time, and one of the ceremonies was about to commence in the Whoville town square.

Indianna Mae Who and Jennah Rae Who, two reporters for the Whos' News from the TV station KWHO, got there early enough, but only just. The ceremonies hadn't started yet, but from the looks of the crowd, it probably wouldn't be too long in coming.

Indy met up with the other people covering the event, including Sarah-Marie Who, who was all ready to start taking down notes.

"You're not going to sit and write all night, I hope." Indy said to Sarah as she approached her.

"of course not." Sarah laughed.

"Good. I'll just get this camera rolling." Indy turned it on, but it didn't seem to be working up to capacity. She checked the battery. Sure enough, it was low.

Quickly, she took it out and replaced it with a new one. She also had another new battery along besides that one, just for safe measure. In case anything should happen, Indy also had her own personal camera and mic along. One way or another, she was determined to record this event.

And what better way to start than by mingling with the people and getting their points of view on the ceremonies and Christmas in general.

Indy headed over to where the baked goods were once the ceremonies got underway and the food was on display and ready to be enjoyed by everyone.

She smiled as she approached. "Hi there, this stuff looks really delicious, is it for sale or strictly for the competitions?"

Erin, the baker, grinned at the girl. She was fairly short, probably around Sarah's height, with hazel eyes, a snout on the slightly larger side, and radiant red hair, styled into the shape of a doughnut. "Aye well lassie, some for sellin. Some for the competition" she winked at her and handed her a brownie and a paper cup of hot mint tea. "Im kinda new round here? Erin O'Whien be my name. Whas yours lass?"

Indy suddenly smiled brightly. "Mmmm, that looks good! I'm Indianna Mae-Lynn Who for the Whos' News. Welcome here, Erin. I hope you'll find this town to your liking." She took out some money to pay Erin for the brownie and tea.

Then, she took a bite of the brownie, and her expression showed it was a pleasure. "It gets a 10 from me. Have you ever entered your baking in contests such as cake decorating and such? If you haven't, maybe you should think about it - this is great stuff. This happens to be one of my favorite teas as well."

"Aye I am holdin a contest lass. Come ta o it id best make the announcemet soon. Ya see I give each contestant a 4 lb block io this fudge an they whatever they can think of doncha know. I hope more then a few people enter!"

Indy looked puzzled. You mean the contestants try to make things out of it, or eat it? well, if we're supposed to try making fudge sculptures, I might go for that, but mind the camera. It wouldn't do to fudge this coverage." Indy grinned at the pun she came up with, then continued. "I better be moving along now, thanks loads!"

With that, Indy continued on her way, filming the festivvities, and still munching her brownie and sipping the tea.

"welcome one and all to the festivities!" came the announcement over the microphone. "I'm Jennah-Rae Who, your M.C for this evening."

"Way to go, Jennah!" Indy cheered.

Luna, who was near Indy, made a polite clapping gesture. She hoped this wasn't going to be another boring, mindless ceremony, but she held out little hope. Nothing about this set up looked any different from any other year, as far back as Augustus had been Mayor, it had always been so.

The woman continued with a slightly broader smile. "Our apologies for the delay in getting started, but now that we're all here, let's get on with it! For those of you new to our great little town, welcome, and we hope you enjoy the festivities as those of us who have been here our entire lives! Now, without further comment, let's begin! The first event will be the lighting of the ceremonial candles. This is usually done by the Whobilation Queen, but our queen for this year couldn't make it tonight. in her place, the Whobilation Princess, Miss Gwendolyn!"

The crowd yelled and applauded, though there wasn't really anything to applaud yet. Just getting warmed up, Luna figured.

Gwendolyn's heart sank, and her stomach felt like it was turning itself in knots. Why, oh, why did she agree to go to these ceremonies? What had she gotten herself into, and did no one understand she really couldn't get into the festive spirit? How she wished she could come up with a way to get out of this.

As Gwendolyn was being escorted up to light the candles by the mayor, she just couldn't stand it. He had tried to humor her and play the kindly gentleman, but she saw through that. It was nothing but showing off on his part, and the worst of it was, neither he nor anybody else seemed to even notice there was anything the matter with her. They just didn't care. Nobody cared, and nobody took the time to care. Try as she might, Gwendolyn just couldn't keep a fake smile on her face any longer, and she had to bite her lip to keep from giving into the impulse to burst into tears right there. She wouldn't cry, not now, that would ruin everything. Inwardly, she scolded herself to keep a stiff upper lip and stick it out just a while longer. It would be over soon. Although even a minute more of this seemed like an eternity.

"It's all right," Jennah-Rae had stepped away from the mic to softly reassure Gwendolyn, for she had seen the unhappy face, and thought it was due to stage fright.

"I know," was all Gwendolyn managed to whisper in response.

There was a massive round of applause when the candle was lit, and Gwendolyn felt herself becoming angry. What the heck was the big deal? This crowd seriously needed to get some kind of a life if they were going to get this crazy over the lighting of some stupid candles! "Some of us have more important things to think about," Gwendolyn muttered bitterly under her breath.

"Now," Jennah said once the first event was completed, "The reading from the Book of Who - the section entitled "Everyone's Part" I call on our illustrious Mayor Augustus Who to do the honor."

Mayor MayWho stepped up and read from his favorite Book of Who, which had really come into popularity in recent years. Though he read flawlessly, there was just something off-putting about him for a few of the Whos there. He seemed to take himself and this book too seriously.

When he was done, Jennah took back the mic. "Thank you, Mr. MayWho...Now, Chad Raoul Who will present the credit card max-out award, and announce tonight's competitions. Good luck, everyone, and have fun!"

"Thank you, Jennah." Chad said as he took the mic. "The Credit Card Max-Out award goes to..." There was a drum roll, and then Chad took the piece of paper with the winning name on it. "Martha May Whovier, for spending more on her light display than most people spend on presents!"

The crowd roared.

There were at least some Whos there who were less impressed.

"Spending more money on her lights than most spend on gifts?" Xanadu Who commented to Lily Blossom Who. "I hardly think that's something to be proud of let alone worth rewarding."

"Yeah," Lily said in reply, "We teach children not to spend money on themselves, buy gifts for others because they'll get lots of gifts in turn."

"Yes, and this just flies in the face of what Christmas is really all about, doesn't it? said Xanadu.

Lily nodded.

Xanadu continued. "If you ask me, they ought to do away with the credit card max-out award altogether."

"Unless it's only given to people for spending the most on charity work or gifts for others," Lily added.

"But even then," Xanadu said, "that could still encourage people to be charitable for the wrong reasons, like self-glorification."

"That's true, but then again, if they're going to glorify themselves anyway, they might as well put that to good use and help someone else out."

"You've got a point." Xanadu said, shrugging her shoulders.

In the mean time, Chad had been informed that Martha May Whovier was away on vacation.This meant he couldn't give her the award. His face fell. "Oh, shoot, that's too bad. Gwendolyn, are you okay with accepting the award in her place?"

Gwendolyn nodded slightly, and tried again to put on a happy face. She really didn't know how much longer she could keep this up. How could she feel so bad, and no one but no one cared or even noticed? Was she really this good at hiding her feelings? It didn't feel like she was hiding them well. Thankfully, Chad and Jennah, picking up on her reluctance to be in the spotlight, did not ask or expect her to make an acceptance speech. The award was presented, accompanied with thunderous applause from the masses, and Gwendolyn survived another event of the ceremonies.

Chad continued on. "This evening's sports and competitions are as follows: Present Balancing; Candy Cane Licking, and there is a special contest for the kiddies, which is the gingerbread construction. They are to attempt to make replicas of Whoville City Hall and the Mayor's House. Half the contestants will work on Whoville City Hall, the remaining contestants, the Mayor's house. There will be an announcement when time is up for all competitions, and the judging of each will occur at the conclusion of tonight's ceremonies. Those of you not entering in the competitions, just mingle and enjoy yourselves."

Erin O'Whoien giggled and jiggled, feeling the crowd's excitement. She glanced over at her staff of cookers and bakers and candy-stick woozle makers. Everyone was busy, carrying great, tall piles of confectionary trays on their arms, balancing them through years of experience. Big vats of chocolate were being stirred by shorter Whos standing on each other's shoulders, three and four tall, making dizzying, leaning towers of bodies as they strained over the high vats of gooey goodness to stir and stir and stir.

"Mmmmm, something smells great." Sarah commented to Marilee Who, another reporter that had been focussing on the mayor.

"What's that, Sarah?"

"I said something smells great."

"Oh, yeah, I guess. Mmmmm...It's all the chocolate being mixed up.

Sarah's eyes lit up. "If I wasn't stuck making notes and could see my way around I'd get some."

"Well, I can take over the note-taking for a while," Marilee offered. She could use the opportunity to meet the mayor. "Oh, here comes Jennah." Marilee called out to her.

Jennah was finished at the mic, for now, and was mingling with the crowd. She saw Marilee wave her over, and agreed to take Sarah around the place for a while.

Indy mingled too, and the delicious smells of the bakery didn't escape her notice either. She hoped all of that good stuff wasn't just for the compititions, since she had no intention of entering any.

Suddenly, Jennah, approaching her with Sarah, said, "Here Indy, catch!" and a small bag of fudge flew past Indy, narrowly missing her head.

Sarah wasn't in on it, she was happily munching down a fudge-topped brownie Erin had given her.

"Jennah, you brat!" Indy said as she bent down to pick up the bag. It was a good thing it had been stapled shut, and the fudge hadn't fallen out. "Thanks, but you need to practice a little more - and not on me." she grinned at Jennah.

Pippi Longstocking, a relatively new arrival in Whoville and a friend of Indy's, came over with several other people to meet Indy.

"Hey guys! Glad you could make it!" Indy grinned.

"Hi there Indy-Mae!" Pippi said, smiling. "I see you're enjoying your favorite passtime...?" She indicated Indy's fudge.

"Hehe! It doesn't look like Capri and Mis here, are slouches in that department either." Indy pointed toward Capri Monroe, a tall , Native American woman in back of Pippi. She was downing a freshly baked bread twist with cream cheese on it..

Capri grinned back at the reporter, and nodded.

"Couldn't decide what you wanted again, Mis?" Indy teased, pointing at a plate that held a veritable mountain of fingerfoods and desserts of all kinds.

Misery Chastain, The kindly looking woman with curly black hair and fair skin laughed, her soft green eyes twinkling in amusement. "That and, whatever I don't eat here, I can take home for later. It all looked so good, and I didn't take one of everything yet. Mostly things I really like and a few others that I haven't tasted before, that look like they're just about gone, so they must be pretty popular."

Indy laughed. "Oh, Sarah, Jennah, these are my friends, Pippi, Capri, Misery, Ariel, and NT."

Ariel and NT were mother and daughter. Ariel was fairly quiet but friendly, and Indy discovered she had a very infectious giggle. NT, the daughter seemed to be extremely bashful to the point of wary. Though she nodded at Indy in recognition, she fairly recoiled at being introduced to Jennah, but she did extend her small, soft hand to Sarah, the blind reporter...But only for a second.

Jennah shook hands with all the newcomers and then made room for Sarah to do the same.

"We have winners in the soda drinking contest!" Chad's voice came over the mic. "In second place, Xanadu Who of Whoville!"

There was applause, and Indy watched as a petite girl in a red and white dress accepted the second place award.

"Way to go, Xan!" Lily Blossom Who cheered for her friend.

"And we have a tie for first place." Chad continued once the applause died down. "Alaina Frack from Whoville!" More applause. "And LJ James from Valjean!"

Shouts and applause haulted all conversation for a few moments. Indy shouted in excitement at her friend at least tying for first in that competition.

Soon after, Indy's mood changed. "Oh, will you look at that?" She rolled her eyes at the small crowd surrounding the mayor, Marilee among them. Indy described the scene to Sarah, who had given her a curious look.

"Is that why she was so eager to take over my note taking?" Sarah wanted to know.

"It looks that way." Jennah replied. "Don't worry, Sarah, there are several of us covering this event anyway."

"I wonder how the Whobilation Princess is doing, she sure didn't look like she wanted to be up there." Indy stated.

"I noticed that too.." added Jennah.

"She's had a rough time of it, I've heard. I hope she'll be all right." Indy replied. She put her fudge away, planning to eat it later. Right now, she had filming and interviewing to do.

Misery nodded, I'll meet you over there, at the gingerbread house pavilian." she said to the others. "In about twenty minutes to half an hour."

"Sure." said Capri.

"Great." Misery hurried off.

Augustus MayWho took another turn at the mic, and read something else from the 'Book of Who'. It had become a central part of Whobilation, which, according to a disgruntled Indy, was trying to eclipse Christmas.

The passage being read was all about how wonderful it was to be a Who, and the things Whos stood for. The mayor added a personal touch at the end by saying a few words of his own that impressed a good deal of the townspeople, but not everyone.

Capri rolled her eyes at him.

In the meantime, Misery Chastain caught up with Gwendolyn near the entrance of the building, looking as if she was about to slip out. "Wait, please?" She hurried toward her. "Look, I have all this dessert, and well...I don't need all of it, as usual, my eyes are bigger than my stomach...So here you go. Everybody needs a treat after a job well done." Misery handed the plate of desserts to Gwendolyn.

Indy approached,but seeing that Misery had beaten her to it, she merely looked on for a while.

Gwendolyn had thought with everything going on, she wouldn't be noticed trying to slip out. She had made it all the way to the door when suddenly she felt a hand on her shoulder and someone asking her to wait a moment. She looked up and around, and was astonished to find one of the reporters of all people, standing a few steps away, and then this other kind woman was giving up all this dessert. The question was - why? if this woman was after a story, she wasn't going to get it from her, not even for all the candy in Whoville. Gwendolyn shook her head. "Thanks," she said to Misery, and then looking past her to Indy, "I have no comment."

Indy realized what the girl must've been thinking. "I'm not trying to get anything from you, but you looked like you were about to leave - on your own. I can't let you do that, why don't you come back in here for a while?"

"And if you really want to leave, I'll take you home if you'll direct me." Misery volunteered.

Gwendolyn couldn't figure this out. If either woman was only after a story, they would've stopped her to ask why she was leaving, then ask lame questions about what it was like being the Whobilation Princess or something like that. And she didn't want to invite any unwanted questions from this reporter or her friend by declining to stay a while. "Okay, I guess I'll stay a little while, and thanks for the fudge, um, what should I call you?"

"Just call me Indy." the reporter smiled at her.

"And my name is Misery Chastain. Odd - I know - but," she made a silly face.

That got the result she wanted, Gwendolyn laughed.

The three Whos made their way back in among the crowds and nibbled at their fudge and desserts, and Gwendolyn took the opportunity to ask Indy about her job and things related to it. Indy even let her hold the camera for a while. This helped Gwendolyn take her mind off her problems somewhat, and she didn't even feel sorry for staying a little longer. She watched Indy work with the camera and mic, catching the festivities on film, ate more goodies, drank hot chocolate, and was actually having a pretty good time, until it all came back again without warning.

Suddenly Gwendolyn felt sad. "Uh, Indy, Miss Chastain, I think I want to call it a night, now. Thanks for the sweets and the time. But I'm really getting tired now."

"All right, no problem,." Misery fished in her purse and took out a pen and notepad. "Indy, you go on, I'll take her home and be back."

Just then, Marilee came up to Indy, all excited. "Indy, I actually got to talk to the mayor, can you believe that!?

"Uh-huh," Indy replied, "Later, Marilee, I've got more footage to shoot."

Misery tried to move out of Marilee's sight with Gwendolyn, but it was too late. Marilee saw and recognized her.

"Gwendolyn!? The Whobilation Princess!?" Marilee looked at the girl, "Oh, wow! So, what's it like being the Whobilation--"

"Marilee!" Indy interupted firmly, "I said later!"

"But Indy, she's perfect for an interview."

"Listen, go bug somebody else, okay? Besides, I need to go ask Lily something." Indy had just spotted Lily, and though she had planned to chat some more with her if she ran into her again, this was as good a time as any, and a nice save from Marilee's pestering. Indy's sassing was just enough to allow Misery to escape Marilee's clutches with Gwendolyn.

Indy approached and tapped Lily on the shoulder, "Hey, how's it going?"

Lily whipped around, and smiled when she saw it was Indy. "Oh hey Indy! I'm doing fine! How about you?"

"Fine, now that the walking gum machine, otherwise known as Marilee Who has finally got the hint to beat it."

Drew Who, one of Cindy-Lou's older brothers,scanned the crowd for his parents. At his height, seeing over others wasn't really a problem. He didn't find his parents, at least not right away. but he did recognize some local news reporters (attractive female ones to boot!) and began siddling in their direction, thinking that with his tale of recent events he might be able to get on t.v.

There was Marilee in her high heels, perfectly manicured nails, over-done makeup, batting her long eye-lashes at the mayor.

Jennah, medium height, with the long red hair, was walking around, interviewing people, and half-heartedly trying her hand at some of the competitions.

Sarah, petite and dark haired, was playing background music on an electric keyboard.

Indy's straight dark hair was down to her shoulders, her complexion darker than Jennah's or Sarah's. She wasn't dressed to kill and over-primped like Marilee, and she was maybe an inch or two shorter than Jennah. She was talking and listening as well as was possible in this crowd, to Sarah's music.

But Drew didn't get much chance to eye any of them for very long because something was beginning to happen, something that would make this Whobilation celebration different from all the rest.

the Grinch waited and watched from high in the rafters, cackling quietly with glee as he watched his little xmas surprise mixed into the brownies to be fed to "all those annoying Whos".

Indy was just lucky to have taken a brownie from one of the earlier batches.

Deprived of her interviewee, Marilee went off in search of other victims, dragging her camera crew with her.

Marilee stopped to re-do her makeup, she took her small mirror out of her purse to examine her progress as she did it.

He felt a bit disappointed as he spied Marilee. He knew she wasn't going to eat any of the baked goods, judging by her anorexic appearance. Tragically, she was the one person he was hoping to play a grinchy trick on, besides the Mayor, that is!

Marilee sauntered up to Erin's table, and stood there, trying to decide what she wanted to get the mayor. "I think I'll have a 1 pound bag of that chocolate fudge." she said in her exaggerated cold official tone. "And some of those freshly baked brownies."

The Grinch was surprised and delighted she bought so much. 'That can't be for herself...' but when he saw her make her way to the mayor, he cackled to himself. He loved killing two birds with one stone, or in this case, two whos with one grinched-up fudge.

Marilee had finally managed to approach the mayor. She strutted up to him, flicking her hair back, then batting her eyelashes. "Sir, on this occasion I thought it only fitting to give you a little something for all the Whoville spirit you have shown, and for how much you've given of yourself to this community." She held out the bag of fudge, smiling her most censuous smile.

Even the Grinch had to grimace at that from his hiding place. 'Since when did all women go after Augustus?' he thought, feeling for possibly the first time in his life, disgusted. 'Oh well. Maybe she'll be able to pry him off Martha. But judging by the pig's expression, I'd say not.'

"Oh...how...lovely," the Mayor said, the fakest smile on his face. He took the bag from her and ate a small piece of the fudge - more for the crowd's sake than Marilee's.

"Thank you, I thought it was quite lovely as well," said Marilee as she smiled even brighter.

"Oh brother," Luna gagged from where she was observing this display. "I am so glad mom isn't here to see this disgusting...."

Her thought was interrupted by the sounds of jeering from a short distance away. "Ah hahaha! Hey Marilee, can I have some fudge?" someone yelled out.

The Grinch looked over, and saw Wickersham brother 1 - the notorious, loud, obnoxious skirt-chaser. He normally didn't like the Wickersham brothers. But even now, he had to laugh at that comment.

"Hey baby, come down here and let's have some of your 'fudge'!" the heckler continued.

Luna smirked and broke out laughing at the look of disgust on Marilee's face at the derogatory comments.

Marilee's eyes glinted with a nasty look, but she tried to hide it for the camera's sake. She turned towards the sound of the jeering and shook her long, manicured finger at the offender. "Tsk, tsk, tsk....this fudge is for the Mayor," she scolded, trying to sound light and good-natured.

"Pfft..." the Grinch spat in disbelief. 'What a phony...'

"Aw, c'mon, Marilee," the heckler continued. "I'll give you a 'merry christmas'."

Luna couldn't help it, and she couldn't hold back any longer. Realizing the heckler must be Wickersham1 the town 'womanizer', and his brother Wickersham2, she started laughing even harder.

Several people throughout the crowd joined in the laughter.

Marilee noticed the spotlight was jiggling behind her and whirled around. Rick Frick, who was holding the portable light, was shaking with quiet laughter. Her eyes narrowed at him. "Shut up, you idiot!" she whispered, covering her mike so no one else could hear her.

Jennah found herself in a bind when she had barely managed to make it to the little girls' room without looking too obviously like she really had to go, but there was a line and people were pushing their way in.

It was all the Grinch could do to keep from bursting out laughing. The majority of the Whoville population was beginning to get a serious case of the runs because of him. He loved it.

Somewhere else in the crowd, Rick Frick grimaced. Handing the lights off to Brylee Whonovan, he muttered, "I gotta hit the can....be back," and took off.

Brylee made a disgusted face. "You should have thought of that back at the station....jerk!" she trailed off, looking at Zach.

"Hey, don't look at me," he complained. "I went already."

Erin sat glumly behind the food tables. There was still tons of candy and cookies, pastries and goodies left. People had trickled off eating way too early compared to previous years and the lines to the restrooms were starting to look like the lines for the food at the beginning of the evening.

Back in the kitchens, two of the bakers were also not looking...well. "I'm - gonna hit the boy's room," he told his companions, looking uncomfortable. "I'll be right back."

"Hey, wait up," another said. "I gotta go too."

They both ran out of the kitchen, hoping to beat each other to the lavatories.

"Man, that fudge ran right through me," one was saying.

"Yeah, me too," the other replied. "It tasted a little flat, too."

No one saw a lone, tall figure skulking and sneaking around the place, crouching and ducking behind anything he could while managing to observe the chaos he caused. The Grinch laughed inwardly, waiting until the coast was clear to make an exit, unseen.

Once he was able to slip out of the building, he headed back up to his home on the mountain. There, he laughed long and hard at his prank on those Whos.

Misery Chastain returned to an emptied out town square, and was assaulted by a very different smell than she was expecting. She scrunched up her face in shock and disgust. "Peeeeeewwwwww!" She looked for her friends, calling their names. She had seen the lot emptying out quickly and now she knew something awful must've happened here.

It took a few minutes, but Misery found her friends, and not all of them were all right.

Pippi said she had to run NT home. The girl had come down with the same affliction as so many others there and was tying herself in knots practically not to make a mess right there.

Everyone said a hasty goodbye to Pippi and Ariel, who took NT and hurried away with her.

It was agreed that Misery would drive Capri back home later.

Capri approached Indy, "That mayor of yours..." she growled. "He almost deserved that."

Indy's eyes went wide. "Eh? He's rather into himself I know, but...?"

"He ruins people and he has the audacity to get up there pretendin to be a model citizen o' this town." Capri said curtly.

"What? Who has he ruined? MarthaMay Whovier?" Indy asked. "He hasn't done something to her, I hope...It's no secret he's got it bad for her, but she wasn't here tonight."

"It's not Martha, Indy." Misery said, approaching Indy and touching her shoulder.

"I wish Martha was here, to tell 'im to take his pompus self and..." Capri clenched her fists. "Indy, ya might as well know...It's the Grinch your mayor ruined...When they were both little kids."

"And Mr. Grinch never got over it." Misery added.

"What could a little kid do to the Grinch?" Indy asked.

Capri and Misery looked at each other at Indy's question, as if saying, "what did he do? if you only knew, Indy-May Who"

Capri touched Indy's hand, "Hold tight, I'll show ya."

"Indy," Misery said, "you remember hearing how Capri sent Lady Une's soldiers back to another time...?"

"Yeah!" Indy said, "Like, yikes."

"We're goin back in time, not permanent like," Capri reassured Indy, "But what Augustus did to the Grinch, happened when they were both little."

Indy quivered.

Misery nodded at Capri. Both knew Indy understood what they were about to do.

Indy felt Capri take a firmer hold on her, and then the place seemed to fall out of view. For a moment there was utter darkness and a weightless feeling.

Indy took in a sharp breath.

Capri squeezed her hand a little to reassure her.

Then, another place came into view, and Indy felt solid ground beneath her again.

A light snow was falling around them.

It was a snow covered landscape outside, and Indy found herself in a house she'd seen on a town street before but had never been in...The place where the Grinch spent his first 8 years.

"Don't worry, no one knows we're here." Capri said to Indy. "They won't hear us talkin either."

"Really? Cool." Indy breathed.

"The Grinch's home." Misery said rather sadly next to indy.

The door opened. A little boy shuffled into view in the doorway, a bag over his head.

Indy laughed at the sight, "Why's he got that over his head?" she whispered to Capri.

"He's ashamed of 'is looks." she replied darkly.

Indy's face fell. "I'm sorry."

He held up the bag he was carrying. As he walked alone to school, he peeked inside the bag, and took out something - a parcel.

"I'm glad you were wrong this time, Capri, he was just hiding Martha's present." Indy said in relief." For all Indy knew, he could've also been hiding another present up the bag he'd had over his face.

"There's more." Misery answered sadly.

The scene changed, only for a few moments, back to the house. The old biddy was talking to someone on the phone, saying things like "I've never seen the Grinch so excited about anything, even Christmas. It's that new friend of his, do you know,"

She laughed, "He's even gotten little Martha a present? First time he really seems to understand how wonderful giving is."

There was a pause, then another laugh. "That's cute. But no dating until he's 18."

The scene switched back to the Grinch on the way to school.

"I wasn't as excited about giving when I was that age." Indy admitted.

"You were surrounded by family and friends, but very few if anyone spared even a kind word for him in that school." Misery said unhappily.

Indy returned a sad glance.

The Grinch arrived at the school, amid the chatter of other kids, most of them too busy to even notice.

But Augustus saw his favorite target and came over to show him up. He had also brought a gift for Martha, and wasted no time telling the Grinch "You don't stand a chance with her. You're eight years old and you have a beard!"

Indy tsked and jabbed an unseen finger in his direction.

Capri narrowed her eyes.

"Class, quiet please." The teacher, Miss Rue Who's delicate but rather annoying voice said as they all filed in and took their seats.

"Man this feels weird, being in school at my age." Capri quipped.

Indy and Misery giggled.

The lessons went by uneventfully, everyone fidgeting, anxious for the present exchange.

Indy noticed this. "This brings back memories. It was so much fun looking forward to the gift exchange and all that."

But Capri and Misery remained somber next to her.

"It ain't gonna be so nice fer one o' these kids." Capri muttered bitterly.

"Please don't tell me Martha rejected the Grinch's gift in favor of Augustus's." said Indy.

"All right class," the teacher said as the bell rang, "Christmas is about to begin!"

The children all exclaimed in pure excitement and joy and jumped up out of their seats. Even the Grinch leapt up.

The teacher laughed, and tried to establish some sort of order to the proceedings.

The scene went on with the exchange beginning. There were squeals of delight from excited kids who got what they really liked. And others who were more subdued because they weren't so happy with the things their friends had picked out.

Martha gave a present out to another girl, and Augustus had opened one from another boy. He soon started to pout a little as he noticed Martha wasn't coming to give him a present. And she didn't even seem to notice the one he was holding, waiting to give her.

The Grinch finally got up the nerve to approach Martha, once she wasn't occupied with the other girls around her. "Merry Christmas MarthaMay."

Before Martha could say a word, the minature future Mayor of Whoville started instantly laughing at the poor Grinch's present and inciting the others to join in.

"Aw, shadup!" Indy hissed.

Miss Rue had also noticed the Grinch seemed to be hiding his present and would not take the bag off his head. When she finally succeeded in getting him to give up the present and take the bag off his head, everyone saw that he had tried to cut his hair, and hadn't done a neat job of it, being only a little kid.

"Wow, look at that hack job!" Augustus laughed, and the other kids joined in.

The laughter was terrible...and it's effect devastating.

"From kindergarten to grade three the Grinch had to put up with that crap, and the other kids were not strong or smart enough not to join in." Misery said darkly.

"Poor kid's had all 'e can take." Capri said, gritting her teeth.

"Damn!" said Indy.

By then, the Grinch was yelling and had grabbed his own present to hurl across the room. "Stupid present!" He exclaimed, and it hit a stack of gifts across the room.

Kids began yelling and screaming at his outburst of anger

Everyone backed up as he held up the tree above his head.

Indy's eyes went wide at that. "Holy crap!"

"Stupid tree!" He yelled in anguish as he threw it. Everyone scattered.

Indy could see in the small Grinch's eyes the rage and hurt that had been building up in him for so long. Tears came unbidden to her own eyes.

The little Grinch looked at the panic he had caused, at the tree that had destroyed the presents, at Martha's stunned and shocked look. He sighed in resignation and fled the room.

The next Indy saw of him, was a brief scene of him packing up a few things. Then heading out of town.

"I hate Christmas!" his tortured scream hung in the air as he fled for the mountain. "I hate it!"

Beside Indy, Misery had tears in her eyes.

Capri's fists were balled up and she was biting her bottom lip.

Indy's head was down and the few tears she started shedding had become a torrent.

"That's the last Whoville's seen of 'im." Capri said in a soft, shaken voice.

"Damn!" was all Indy could manage to get out. She sniffled, hissed, and stamped her foot.

The scene changed.

Darkness, the weightlessness, and once again, they were back in the abandoned building.

"Now ya know why I want that guy canned." said Capri. "He's been pretendin to be Whoville's best ever since. Well...One o' these days..." she growled almost to herself.

"Yes," Misery sighed. "one of these days."

"I'm sorry this was so hard on ya Indy," said Capri, offering her a tissue and putting an arm around her.

"But you're right." Indy choked. "He's got no business pretending to be an example of Whoville spirit when he's capable of being so cruel."

"And he's never apologized or admitted to having done wrong, not from what I've managed to find out." said Misery.

"But you are very well respected in this town, more than that other reporter who's so in-your-face. You were ready t'know the truth of what made the Grinch hate Christmas an' why." Capri added.

Indy nodded.

They talked among themselves for a little while longer, then Misery and Capri left, followed by Indy.

The only ones left in the place were the cleanup crew, and several medical people trying to help the last few unfortunate sufferors of the chocolate movement.