NanoSteps Brainstorming 3 - And a Step to the Right

[Bob Schroeck]

When the Grinch left the house he saw a creature in grey
Was playing with Max at the front of the sleigh.
It stood when it saw him, and said, "Hello, sir.
You should know that red jackets don't go with green fur."

The Grinch smiled broadly -- a wide, toothy sight --
And said, "Why, I'm Santa, and it's cold out at night.
Red jackets and hats are the things Santa wears
Anything different and I'd be putting on airs."

"If you're Santa, I'm Elvis," the grey creature said,
"And if I thought *that* I'd be wrong in the head.
But I know you're not Santa, I know it quite well.
You're the Grinch, stealing Christmas.
I can tell by the smell."

"Ah, you have me," the Grinch said, preparing for flight
For he could not waste time on his mission tonight.
But he wondered, and puzzled -- just a question or two:
"What are you?" he asked. "You're clearly no Who."

"This is true, I'm no Who. A Who I am not."
And it grinned. "You might say I'm more of a... What.
And sometimes a Where, and often a When.
But the people I'm born of are ofttimes called 'Men'.
The Whos took me in -- they're welcoming folks!
They even will smile at the worst of my jokes.
And though I'm their guest my keep I would earn --
So Town Guard and Sheriff I act as in turn.
And as guard and as sheriff I know who you're not.
Who you are is the Grinch, with a foul grinchly plot."

"So you're hoping to stop me?" the Grinch asked the Man.
"Defeat me and ruin my beautiful plan?"

"Oh, no, not at all," said the Man as he knelt
To once again pet Max's brown furry pelt.
"Now most of the time I would stop such a crook,
But this is one time I know the end of the book.
So take the Whos' Christmas to the top of Mount Crumpet --
I know that you'll bring it back tooting a trumpet,
With you and poor Max here both loving the ride."
And with that the Man stood, smiling, then stepped aside.

Spoiler

Dr. Seuss' How The Grinch Stole Christmas