Happy Holiday to those that celebrated yesterday! I apparently highlighted on Gideon in this chapter, not sure why, but oh well! We still have a ways to go, and I want to touch upon as many characters as I can! Plus, Gideon is just so darn cute.
Thank you all for your reviews, I really appreciate and value them all!
Chapter Eleven- They Hate, They Don't Know, That Scares Them
Father Wakerton was a beloved rabbit, who preached sermons of old tomes, of the founding creators of this land, the first male and female to set foot on fertile soil. The children loved Father Wakerton, the elderly respected him. Just before his death, he preached about equality and interspecies relationships, that their Almighty would not ban as the Almighty accepted and loved all.
"These are the coming times," he said, his voice wrinkled with age. "My Children, the Almighty accepts love. He does not accept hate. There is no hate in this house." He would raise his arms to the roof of his domain, encased with stained glass, that when the sun hit just right, it flowed into the room. "For this is the Almighty's house."
Some felt a tad different. Bunnyburrow was a small and simple stretch of country where everyone was a neighbor to someone, and going to church was a thing you did as part of the community. Many of the elderly, however, did not agree with Father Wakerton and did not accept two different species marrying.
Most kept their lips buttoned and just turned their heads the other way. What they couldn't see didn't bother them as much. Some held relationships in secret. What they didn't know couldn't hurt anyone. Hearing of Judith Hopps returning pleased the townspeople, however, her choice of intentional mate was an entirely different story. Judy was their daughter, their sister, their cousin. So, when she and Nick walked down towards Gideon's shop hand in hand, it had a few whiskers twitching and some fur bristled.
"A bunny and a fox, have you ever seen such a thing?"
"You would think predator and prey- especially the prey; you would think she'd be worried about him eating her in her sleep."
Hands on hips, head shaking. No one knew what bothered them more; whether it was two different species, or the fact it was predator and prey. But, people talked, that's exactly what they did. Telephone tag was played and messages were misconstrued, and the lines were ever buzzing.
"I don't know what kind of future they think they could have together."
"I don't want this message spread to my children."
"This is just not okay."
Mrs. Ringwald picked her head up as he swept the front of his shop, listening to two hens as they clucked on by, engrossed in their talk of their dislike for this new concept that wasn't terribly new. If memory served the old sheep correctly, as much as history was filled with pureblooded families, there were mixed species that had done even better. Paying attention in history class really paid off as she recalled these facts.
Winifred Ringwald had grown up, watching Father Wakerton attempt to transition the people towards the new age and so many were resistant. So many interspecies couples had to go into hiding to avoid the attacks and hisses. She feared, above all else, that those times would resurface. People feared change and what could become of it. Glancing back into the shop, she thought to Gideon and his little crush on the young daughter of the Hopps Family, Judith. But more importantly, the new budding relationship she saw between Gideon and their daughter Vivian. What kind of world would be ahead of them if they weren't free to love? Slowly, she cursed with each vicious sweep of the old broom against the clean concrete.
Business relationships were one thing, somehow people could accept buying a snow come from a rodent, but you couldn't be in love with that same rodent and imagine him in a relationship with a lemming. The sheep rippled the welcome mat and swept the debris that fell from between the cracks. She prayed, with all her might that tonight at the fair would be a peaceful celebration of life in Bunnyburrow and in honor of Father Wakerton.
Winifred thought about Father Troy. He began by preaching what Father Wakerton had left off, but soon it died down when there were too many complaints. Winifred thought it was wrong. Father Troy had an authoritative presence, but a gentle touch. He never would have forced the beliefs on everyone, but he had the capability to teach that interspecies relationships weren't going to harm anyone. The Good Book even said to, however, many still clung to hate.
At this, Winifred bowed her head and picked her head back up when Judy and Nick approached the shop door and smiled to them. They were one of the few couples who weren't afraid to express their relationship openly. Perhaps in Zootopia things were different, but here? This was an old country with old country values.
"Almighty, please watch over them," Mrs. Ringwald whispered to the heavens.
"And the winner, for the fourth year in a row, first prize of the Wakerton Blue Ribbon is Mr. Gideon Grey for his Blueberry Pie!"
The people of Bunnyburrow rounded their applause, paws tapping and clapping in the air as the mayor of Bunnyburrow pinned Gideon's pie with the blue ribbon. The Hopps family whistled as it was their blueberries that won him the ribbon.
"Gosh, everyone, thank you." Gideon Grey was one humble fox. He raised the pie for all to see and a lucky few would have a slice. It was just another ribbon for his collection, but they gained his business more credibility. Now he would have four ribbons to display in his glass case. Someone took a photo of him holding the pie that would go with the ribbon and he finally set it down back on the first place table.
The sun was beginning to set; young ran and skipped from ride to ride, calling for their mothers and fathers to notice them as they passed by. They spun, rolled, slid down slides and hopped in potato sacks. The fair would have made Father Wakerton very proud. Father Troy oversaw the fairs, walking slowly in his robes. He had a booth for confession hour, an hour to anoint the sick, to bless the children and give his blessings to those who asked.
The lights turn on for the evening hours; Mrs. Ringwald began cutting slivers of pie as she ran the kiosk as the Hopps had the first sliver of the ribbon winning pie. Stu beamed with pride as Bonnie tended to the children, fighting over cotton candy and carrot cake, begging to play games and just asking for general attention.
"Judy, can you please help me?" When Bonnie didn't receive a response, she lifted her head to find Judy nowhere in sight. "Judy? Now where in the heck did she go?"
Judy walked the grounds with Nick, sharing a cone of cotton candy as Nick teased her by putting the sticky goods on her nose. It twitched, inhaling that sugar up her nostrils gave her a headache after a while, but rather than being annoyed, she laughed.
"Get it off right now, Nick Wilde!"
"Mm, maybe if you ask nicely," Nick teased as he plucked a small bit for himself and licked his mouth clean.
"Nick!"
They were just on the outskirts of the string lights and oversized bulbs to illuminate the fair. He leaned down and licked her nose before stealing a kiss as she felt herself blushing. Why? She hadn't the faintest clue. She gave in and returned his kiss, her paw gripping his shirt as she silently demanded deeper. Nick laid her down as they were finally alone, away from prying eyes. He had been waiting for this moment for a long while.
Nick eventually parted from her for air and smirked as he finished off the cotton candy, saving her the last bit as she licked the pink sugar from her paws. Nick glanced back at the fair and the mammals attending and tilted his head gently. He'd never seen a fair like this before. He worked fairs, hustling popsicles and yes, he made a lot of money during those events. But to actually enjoy one? This was a new experience and he was thrilled to share it with Judy.
"I appreciate you taking me here," Nick said. "I don't think I ever thanked you for it, Fluff."
Judy tilted her head up to read his expression. He looked straight ahead.
"There's no need to thank me. We deserve to enjoy ourselves occasionally. We work hard."
Nick smiled down at her, kissing her between the ears as he plopped down atop a hill on the grass. No dead grass, anywhere, it was lush all ways around. This place was like a paradise, thought Nick. The lawns were really taken care of here, he was impressed. Judy was teaching Nick, slowly, to learn to live and enjoy life. He worked so much during his that he had almost forgotten to go after what he wanted and live for him. But, Judy wasn't allowing him to forget.
"You look beautiful tonight."
Her reaction, the wideness in her eyes and how they softened in appreciation really got him grinning. He should compliment her more; he realized he didn't do it enough. Judy leaned against him and watched from afar, realizing this was much better than playing the same games she did every year. Then again, she only had those same games to play; she didn't have Nick years prior.
After handing out the last slice, Gideon wiped his brow and cleaned his paws on his apron. It was no use how many times Mrs. Ringwald cleaned them for him, they were always dirty by day's end. She often joked with him how he needed a wife, but Gideon never took settling down seriously. No one ever caught his eye with the exception of Judy, but now he was learning to let those feelings go for the sake of her and Nick. He had been ignoring those who had been paying him mind and it wasn't fair to them.
Of course there was Clara Hopps, but she was too needy. He knew early on she wanted to be taken care of; she was not a hands on kind of girl. And then there was Warner, but he didn't fancy the men, so unfortunately it wouldn't work out between the two of them. And then there was Vivian Hopps, who did not mind getting her hands dirty in the soil, or didn't mind hoisting a crate to pitch in, even in a pretty yellow sundress. Gideon was too blinded to notice just who noticed him; upon opening his eyes, well, there was a ton of clarity.
Mrs. Ringwald often joked about him being attracted to them Hopps bunnies. Gideon tried looking elsewhere with no luck. His eyes always roamed back to the Hopps girls. Vivian actually offered to help sell with Mrs. Ringwald, passing pies and small cakes Mrs. Ringwald herself baked. The older bunny passed a box to Mr. Hopkins and noticed Gideon sliding over to their end.
"Vivian, dear, why don't you take a break?"
The young rabbit's eyes quirked before nodding gently and turning to nearly bump into Gideon after wiping her paws off.
"Goodness, Gideon! You startled me!"
Gideon chuckled and apologized, extending his arm to her and offered to walk with her along the fair grounds and treat her to something to repay her for her hard work. It wound up being a carrot cake on a stick with icing surrounding it. It was a new type of good he personally hadn't experimented with. Pies suited him just fine, and Mrs. Ringwald's talent for mini cakes and cookies generally helped business greatly.
There was something magical about these events that brought everyone together. Gideon enjoyed unity and the warmth of everyone congregating, as opposed to the bitterness and anger he faced in his childhood. He never wanted such hostility and aggression again. He was taught to be a predator that it came from his D.N.A, so he learned to act out on it. Yes, he was born a predator, he was born to get ahead otherwise he lost the game of life. Foxes didn't have much luck in regards to a place, if he and Nick could relate to anything, it was that. So, Gideon bullied his way into getting his way. He was aggressive and an agitator and made Judy an example.
Through meeting peaceful individuals after his high school graduation, Gideon learned how wrong he was. He could still be dominant, an alpha, but without violence. He understood his father taught him those ways because that's all he knew. Everyone mistrusted foxes, outside of Bunnyburrow, that was. Once he realized that not everyone was his enemy, namely the Hopps family that Gideon didn't have to be cruel and manipulative to get by when they gave him a fair chance. In turn, the Hopps set Gideon as an example and things changed for him and he was touched. He wanted to pay every ounce forward.
"It sure is nice out tonight, ain't it?"
"Sure is," Vivian said, gazing up at the stars, how breathtaking the clear sky truly was.
Father Troy smiled at Gideon and Vivian before turning around at the sound of children both excited with a pinch of fear. The fear is what caught him as honed in, listening as a commotion was brewing. Anger resonated from the coming group, hoisting signs and reaching them in the air. He couldn't hear what they were shouting, but it was coming closer.
Bonnie glanced over, as did Stu and slowly it was a domino effect of every member of the fair to glance over. Nick pointed the crowd to Judy as she rose from her seated position with Nick. Something was ominous and awry. This was not right. This group was angry and was going to cause a disturbance to the happy airs of the fair everyone in the town had worked so hard to put together.
The black robes of Father Troy stood out as he made his way towards the opening of the fair, beneath the welcome awning. He would not allow a ruckus to transpire. Bonnie herded the kids together and left them in the care of Mrs. Ringwald as she and Stu approached with Father Troy. Gideon kept Vivian close to him, that instinct kicked in but this time to protect. Judy and Nick hurried down from the hill, downward and into the pit that began spitting venom at Father Troy.
"We do not look kindly upon their kind being here." The hens pecked.
"This is a wholesome community, Father, you often remind us of this. Draw the impure out." A monkey added.
"Foxes and Bunnies do not belong together!" A weasel cried.
It was a rally. A rally to draw out the interspecies couples and send them far away.
"They are not welcome here, Father." The weasel continued.
Father Troy looked back at Gideon and Vivian, Nick and Judy. His heart ached for these innocents who were suffering from the wrath of the townsfolk. Gideon looked down at Vivian and placed her in the arms of her father. It stung to hear the women applaud Gideon on doing the right thing as he did what he did to protect her, but Nick was no pushover. He placed Judy to him tightly. There was more than one way to protect a loved one.
"My children," Father Troy addressed everyone. "The Almighty does not see a wrong taking place here. He accepts and embraces everyone. The Good Book does not imply-"
"Are you with us or against us, Father!?"
"The Good Book does not show evidence of his disapproval against this, sisters, so why do you?"
Silence emanated then. Such hatred was shallow and sent so many in fear. This fear was unwarranted. Father Troy opened his palms out, staring at each of the protesters before them.
"Show me a verse in The Almighty's Book and we shall discuss this further. But until then, this group here is committing the wrong and I am disappointed in all of you. Father Wakerton preached of change being upon us. No one should fear change. No one should fear love. We can learn more from love than from hate."
"Ever since Father Wakerton passed, this town has begun to crumble," Bonnie voiced.
Stu looked down at his daughter, then back to the group to do what no one thought he would. To make a point, showing he had no fear, he placed Vivian back into Gideon's arms and extended his arms around both Judy and Vivian with their protectors. This was the right thing to do.
"I see no wrong here," Stu said, feeling his heart hammer in his chest as he glanced back at his wife before directing his last comment to the angered crowd. "And neither should you."
Father Troy sighed. There was so much confusion, so many tenseness and shallow hatred. He couldn't put his paw on it, but he noticed a few begin to withdraw from the group. This was far from over, but this was enough to put the issue at a standstill.
"We will write a letter to City Hall," The hen said. "This here is impure. The law for marriage should not be passed."
"I'm sorry you feel that way," Judy said from beneath Nick. She swallowed the lump in her throat. "And to think, we have evolved from thousands of years of savage behavior. Do not tell me we have regressed," she said, wriggling out from between her father and Nick. "You hate because I love someone that's different? Tell me how that interferes with your daily life? Your world still turns, regardless of who I love." She was now plucking at desperate strings for examples.
"Gazelle! You love Gazelle, right? It was just released that she's involved with a tiger. You still love Gazelle, though, right? This is pointless."
Slow murmurs welled up after Judy had finished, standing proud although on the inside, she wanted to collapse from exhaustion. Part of her thought she thought she wouldn't be able to stave off a crowd like this. But, if she could manage a press conference, she could manage some protesters. A paw clasped hers, it was Vivian, as she squeezed her sister's paw. Regardless of what was happening between her and Gideon, supporting her sister was the right thing to do.
"You know this won't be the last of this," Judy hushed to Vivian.
"I'm ready if you are."
Gideon and Nick looked to one another as the crowd made their comments, but slowly dispersed. There was nothing left, Judy had managed to silence all of them and Father Troy was prepared to intervene. Judy and Nick were prepared for a riot to commence.
"Unnatural, Fox, impure," Father Troy murmured aloud. The key words he took out of that whole ordeal. He wanted to get down to the root of this. He knew there were those who were unhappy and some made comments during his service whenever it came up in the paper or on the news. It unsettled many of his mammals and the chickens that came in months prior. But, he couldn't allow the misery of others disrupt what made his brothers and sisters happy.
Who would think a quiet town was capable of this? A quiet, cozy town where everyone was someone's neighbor. It was a peaceful escape from city living, the same could hardly be said now.