Once-ler One Shot Collection

The Thneedmas Party. (Once-ler x Reader)

Greenville was bustling with holiday traffic. Already a thick layer of snow covered the ground. Except where plows and businesses had already taken care to shovel out. You walked along the main street watching everyone cheerfully hurrying back home. There they would surely tuck away present they bought until it could be wrapped. It wasn't that you disliked the holidays. That was quite contrary. The dislike for the holidays was because of a man. The Once-ler, the self made millionare. Everyone was obsessed with his thneed, even him. The town even changed a holiday's name! Happy Thneedmas people giggled as they passed you by. Even for just a marketing ploy it was rather annoying every time you heard it. The trees were wrapped in twinkling lights and everyone you passed seemed full of cheer. People rushed into stores hoping to get a thneed for their loved ones. It seemed to be the most popular gift this year.

"I might throw up if anyone thinks I want that garbage," you huffed beneath your breath.

But you couldn't have spoke those words at a less inappropriate time. A group of carolers were passing you by and one overheard your remark. They stopped the others and they all huddled quickly. It wasn't a moment sooner that they started singing the jingle for the thneed. The tempo was a bit slower than normal and one person brought out some jingle bells.

"Everybody needs a thneed," they sang.

"A horrible thing that no people need," you immediately sang back.

The group immediately stopped and looked at you. With a half smile you started away from them. But you heard one of them say something before you were far enough away from them.

"What a Grinch," they said.

You turned back to see them all heading away from you. That hurt. This used to be your favorite holiday. It was just different this year. Of course every other year it was about marketing but this year the thneed, and that Once-ler, took it too far. He was probably in his large house counting his money. Surely he wasn't at all concerned with ruining the holiday for you. No one else seemed to mind. You reached your house and walked inside. It was quiet and dark. No one else lived with you. A light flicked on in your living room as you flopped on to the couch. It was a long day at work and this Thneedmas stuff really irritated you. It was only a week until...you really didn't even know what to call the holiday anymore. You moved around letting the lights almost twinkle between the branches of the fake pine tree. The phone rang as you reach over the couch to pull it off the charger.

"Hello?" you answered.

"Hey, ______, is this a bad time?" your best friend's voice answered.

"No, what's up?"

"You're going to love this! I just got us tickets to the best thing ever."

"A tropical vacation?"

"No, I got tickets to the Thneedmas party at the Once-ler's place. Everyone who is anyone is gonna be there."

"Except me. No way am I going."

"Why not? Are you being a Grinch this year."

"Apparently. That is the second time I was called that today."

"Maybe because it is true. Come on. You might meet a guy. Or even him. He's rich and handsome. Plus free drinks and food."

"You had me at free drinks and food."

"Not the handsome bachelor?"

"He's not that good looking," you lied tossing the magazine with him on the cover onto the other couch.

"I'd be okay meeting him," she said with a giggle.

"I'd tell him he ruined my favorite holiday."