Another Christmas Tale

A variation of a variation on a theme by Dr. Seuss... The Grinch's twin brother lived also alone, Because he, too, was supposedly bad to the bone, And a sad tale it is how his heart turned to stone. Unlike his sibling, it wasn't always that way, And when he was young, to his family's dismay, He tried his best to behave well's he could every day. He would willingly share when he had treats to eat, He helped little old ladies and kids cross the street, He walked dogs, rescued kittens that got trapped up a tree, And cleaned windows, mowed lawns, and washed cars, all for free. But, as he grew older, things started to change, And townsfolk began to regard him as strange. Little old ladies now shrank from his touch, And kids called him bad names like "Old Green Guts", and such. But why did they suddenly treat him so mean Just because his complexion had turned a bright green? Though he tried his Grinch best to make them all understand That in his teens he turned green like the rest of his clan, Still, they teased him and taunted, wouldn't leave him alone, And inch by inch the Grinch felt his heart turn to stone. His family was pleased he had come to his senses, What good was a heart if it left him defenseless Against bigots and bullies and salacious slurs? But they'd help him get back at those cravenly curs. Then they told him about their most devious plan, They were plotting to kidnap that Santa Claus man. They'd also take Rudolph, and even the sleigh, As well's the other eight reindeer, if they got in the way. And oh! the weeping and wailing would fill them with cheer When nobody found gifts when they woke up this year. They set traps up on rooftops all over the town And blocked up all the chimneys so Santa couldn't get down. Then they spread out and waited for the sleigh to appear, But they'd not anticipated things would be different this year. They'd have known had they followed the medical scene That air travel was banned due to COVID-19. By Christmas Day morning the head Grinch said, "Abort it!" And another foul plot to spoil Christmas was thwarted. Seems Santa planned all along to use delivery drones To stack gaily wrapped presents in front of each home. Moral: Now as I leave you, here's some Christmas advice: Just because someone's different doesn't mean he's not nice. So take care what you say, and beware what you do… There just may be a Grinch in your neighborhood, too. Author's note: Dear reader, according to my archives I wrote this piece in Dec. of 2020, the first year of COVID. I really can't explain the delay in sharing it with you, and I am sorry for it.