Page 1 of The Grinch who Loved Me
CHAPTER1
RYLAND DOWNS
Ryland Downs had a good life. A quiet life. Yes. But a good life.
His dad, Rick, was the reason it was so quiet. He didn’t like people and couldn’t figure out how to be around them. He struggled in crowds and around others and didn’t talk much when he was home.
His mom was the opposite. She really liked people and talked all the time. But, when she met his dad, she fell hard and fast and they got married quickly.
Over the years, Tillie started to get quiet, like Rick. She told him she didn’t mind the quiet and the solitude of their small home, and for a long time it was happy.
She found out she was pregnant with him, and she was excited to add to their small family.
Rick was worried, but once he saw how excited Tillie was, he was also on board.
And then Tillie went into labor and Rick couldn’t handle the thought of being in a place with so many people and germs and other issues that he felt would arise, so, his mom decided to stay home to deliver their baby and a midwife came out to assist.
His father stayed by her side the entire time and when their son was born, it was the best moment of their lives.
Ryland was born healthy, with a strong set of lungs, and let his parents know it.
He was a demanding baby and his mother gave into every single cry. But when he was old enough to start talking, his voice wasn’t loud and demanding anymore.
His parents were both quiet, so Ryland also started to be so.
He barely learned to talk, taking after my parents and staying quiet. He didn’t mind it. My mom tried to get him to talk, but he was his father’s son, and took after him in more than just looks.
Ryland didn’t understand why his father didn’t like people or crowds, and started to also be the same.
His mom pushed for him to make friends when he was younger, but Ryland didn’t like it. He told her they were too loud and that he was happy to be alone.
And his mom wanted him to be happy, so she stopped pushing him to make friends and was content to watch him play and make up games on his own.
For years, he was content. Until it was time for him to go to school, like everyone else.
He didn’t like it. He told them he didn’t want to leave home. That he didn’t want to be with the other kids. That he didn’t like the other kids and though his mom fought with him, Ryland was stubborn like his dad and refused to go..
And they went along with it. Agreeing with him. He was happy at home and they were happy to keep him there as well.
His mother would teach him school in the morning and then he would go help his father in his shop after he got done.
He would sit quietly, watching his dad put the cars together and asking him question after question.
His dad would answer me patiently, showing him how each part fit in the different engines.
It was Ryland’s favorite thing. He loved seeing how they fit like a puzzle and watched as they made up the car.
To him, it was the best. Cars made sense. People didn’t.
And because of that, he was more than happy to help my father when he felt he was ready.
Ryland would finish with school in the morning and then rush out to help with any of the new cars that his dad was working on and because of his smaller hands, he was able to get into places his father couldn’t.
They were a good team and Ryland loved every moment of it.
Tillie would be in the house, baking, cleaning or spending time in her garden and was content with life.
They had a small patch of land that they grew vegetables and fruits on, and Tillie learned how to use each one and would can them for later use.
