The entrance of Precinct One was getting its much-needed touch of seasonal decorations, all of them in preparation for the holiday fundraiser. This annual event hosted by the ZPD not only gave folks the ability to meet the officers that served their beloved city, but it also was an opportunity to give back to the community.
In spirit of the season, toy donations were currently being accepted in a drop-off area outside of the precinct, as well as in several locations around the city, all of which would be given to kits at the local elementary school. Any money donations would be going to the program that assists the low-income families around this time of year.
While what they were using to decorate wasn't anything extravagant, it was still sure to give upcoming visitors some holiday cheer. Lights had been strung across portions of the area, as well as the front desk where Clawhauser normally was. Two different Christmas trees were put up and ornamented, one on each side. The one on the left was one strung with multi-colored lights, and decorated with glittery bulb ornaments, and the other was a special one, put up in memory of the officers who died in the line of duty.
When it came to smiles, just about everyone of the ZPD officers one on their face as they finished up what else needed to be done. Even Officer McHorn was grinning widely as he helped with the decorating, and normally he wasn't exactly somebody that one would call a smiler. However, there was one mammal within the walls of Precinct One whose mood seemed to be the opposite of the others.
Chief Bogo let out a huff as he strolled in and looked around, making his way over towards the front desk. As he did so, groovy holiday music blasted from the little piece of decor sitting on top of the counter. The silly prop positioned there was a reindeer with a light-up nose that danced back and forth to the music that played. Even though Clawhauser, being the bubbly mammal that he was, seemed to get a kick out of it, Bogo did not. Every time somebody walked by and made its little sensor go off, that jingle echoed through the station, making him want to roll his eyes at it.
"Will you please just get that thing off the desk, Clawhauser?" the cape buffalo asked.
The cheetah nodded his head, took it from off of the desk and flicked the switch on the bottom of it. "Yes, sir," he said, stowing it underneath where he was sitting.
The ovine huffed once more before looking over at the officers, who seemed to be putting the finishing touches around him. "Alright," he said to them, his tone indicating that he wasn't in a festive mood whatsoever. "Now that we have the decorations finished, that's another thing out of the way." Looking over at the canine officer nearby, he asked, "Wolford, how many donations have we received in the drop-off box outside?"
The wolf answered, "The box is nearly full with toys, sir. As a matter of fact, we just had several mammals stop by a few minutes before you came out."
"That's good to note," Bogo responded, walking away from where he stood and making his way back to where his officer was located. Before he did so, he turned around and said, "As soon as we're finished with our fundraiser, though, we're going to be removing a good bit of the decorations down. The trees will be staying up, especially the commemorative one, but the rest of the decorations can be removed. There's enough of that Christmas cheer for everyone outside."
Those last few words that came from him sounded as if he didn't really want much to do with the holiday season. While most of the officers nodded their heads understandingly, one of them in the room inquired something to him.
"Why do you dislike Christmastime so much?" Officer Hopps said.
Right as he was about to place his hoof on the doorknob and turn it, he looked back at the gray rabbit that asked him the question. The inquiry managed to surprise him for a very brief moment. One wouldn't just question somebody on why they voted for their political party instead of the other, nor would they ask why they thought their religion was better than somebody else's. The question that had just been brought up to him felt like it was somewhat along those lines of discussion.
"It's… a long story, Hopps," Chief Bogo replied. "I don't want to talk about it."
The gray doe paused a moment before starting to say, "But, sir-"
"I said that I don't want to talk about it!" the buffalo said sternly.
"The holidays are supposed to be the best time of year, sir," Judy replied. "I don't see any reason for someone to not-" The rabbit was interrupted when the ovine turned around and pointed at her.
"Enough!" he boomed. "We're not going to discuss this, Hopps. Unless you wish to start the New Year on parking duty, I'd suggest not asking me that question again. Is that clear?"
The leporine sighed and nodded her head. "Yes, sir."
Chief Bogo opened the door and started to make his way back in. He was only halfway through the doorway when he sagged his head. Looking back at Judy another time, he muttered, "If someone that loved the holidays more than anything else was taken from you too soon, you wouldn't have much love for them either."
Officer Hopps watched as the buffalo finally shut the door behind him. She walked away from where his office was and back to the front desk, wondering about what he had meant when he said that.
Someone who loved the holidays more than anything being taken from him too soon? she thought. Perhaps a family member passed away around this time.
Just then, her partner started to stroll towards where she stood, a look of concern visible on his muzzle. "Carrots," he said. "I overheard some of what Bogo said but not all of it. What happened?"
"It's okay, Nick," she replied. "It just seems that he has an evident disliking towards Christmas."
"I wouldn't say he dislikes the holiday," Clawhauser said, offering his two cents on the matter. "He's just… not really a festive guy."
Wolford walked over towards them and chimed in, "He only decorates the precinct like this for the event, but as soon as it's over most of this comes down. Just like he said earlier."
The cheetah at the desk continued, "And don't get it wrong. He doesn't dislike the fundraiser whatsoever—giving back to the community's something he's also done; it's the rest of the elements that make up the season that he's not a fan of. I don't think he's celebrated Christmas the traditional way for quite some time."
"What?" Judy said in shock. "No carols or mistletoe or chestnuts roasting on an open fire?"
"None of that stuff, as far as I know," Benjamin replied. "I remember him saying something about his mother, who absolutely loved Christmas, passing away a few days before the holiday back when he was young. He said he hasn't celebrated that way since."
"So that's who he meant when he said that…" the rabbit muttered to herself.
"That's really sad," Nick said. "I can see why he's not really into all of the extra decorations, then. It probably reminds him of his mother before she died."
"Yeah," Judy replied with a sigh.
"Hopps," called McHorn from the opposite side of the hall. "You think you could help me real quick and take these empty bins down to the supply room."
"Sure thing," the rabbit saw back, making her way over to the rhino to help him.
As she walked over to the ungulate, the lagomorph thought about what Bogo had said. She prayed that maybe the cape buffalo would feel the Christmas spirit once again, and that the season would become joyous once again instead of a sad time of year.
Sometimes it took a miracle to transform one's perception on things. But it was Christmastime, after all, which meant that it was the perfect time for miracles to occur. And sometimes they occur when they are least expected.
The Following Day...
Bogo strolled through the sidewalks of the shopping district, bundled up in his dark gray jacket. The weather was starting to become cooler than it was the last few days, but it was still an enjoyable temperature for the out and about, browsing through the shops on either side of the street.
Around him, coming through some loudspeakers installed by the city, was the sounds of classic Christmas tunes. As he quickly breezed passed the windows of the shops to the left of him, beckoning those present to come inside and grab holiday gifts, he took the next left and started to walk down the other street.
On the opposite side of this street were a series of light displays, propped up by where a local ice cream shop was located. Since the sun was just setting, they weren't lit up yet, but it appeared that a group of mammals, probably a family with kits, was walking up to each one of them in order. Getting closer look at what the displays were from where he stood, Bogo realized they were actually depicting the objects from a familiar Christmas carol. He could hear the family singing it loud enough for him to hear as they walked along.
The buffalo huffed as he continued to walk along, eventually coming up to a nearby toy store, a small establishment that was trying to attract customers with its window display. He paused for a few moments to look at it. In the window was a toy locomotive going in continuous circles on its metal track, and there were other props on the sides of it. One of them was supposed to be Santa's workshop, and the other on the opposite side was a sleigh with reindeer pulling it.
"You know," a voice said to his side, "they always get the depictions wrong."
Bogo was startled by the fact that someone had suddenly appeared beside him. He turned his head to see that an ocelot gazing at the window display. When did he get there?
"What?" the buffalo said, confused as to what he was talking about.
The feline pointed at the sleigh prop in the window. "The sleigh," he said. "They got it all wrong?"
Bogo was now more confused. "Why do you say that?"
"First off," the ocelot replied, "the sleigh's color is all wrong. It's never that bright red in real life. And it's not powered by reindeer anymore; they were getting tired of hauling and they started doing things differently."
"Uh-huh..." Bogo just nodded his head at the confusing words of the mammal standing beside him. Who was he and what in the heck was he talking about?
He's possibly delusional, the buffalo thought.
"It's true. The whole crew was ready to strike so they went to strictly holiday cheer as a fuel source." The spotted mammal sounded as if he was certain that all of this actually happened, and that he was recounting a real-life event. He looked over at the buffalo and asked, "Anyway, this display, though, is pretty nice. Gets you in the mood for Christmas, doesn't it?"
Bogo huffed in response. "I'm just waiting for the holidays to be over, if I'm being honest."
"Waiting for the holidays to be over?" the feline repeated. "You want the most wonderful portion of the year to just be done?"
"That's what I just said." The ovine shrugged his shoulders. "Haven't enjoyed this time of year the way I used to in quite a long time."
The ocelot nodded, crossing his arms as he stood where he was. "Yes, I see, Idris," he replied. "It's a sad reminder of something that occurred years ago."
The fact that this stranger called him by his name caught Bogo off guard. He never saw this mammal before in his entire life, so how did he know his name? The news reports simply referred to him as Chief Bogo whenever a press conference came about, so not many, outside of the precinct's staff and some of his distant family, called him by that.
"How do you know my name?" he asked, his mouth hanging open as he looked back at the ocelot.
The spotted mammal replied, "I know about you, as well as many others around Zootopia. For instance..." He looked behind him, pointing towards a dingo in a blue coat that was jogging his way down the sidewalk in the distance. "He has a little brother who's going to have to spend Christmas in the hospital, battling illness. All he wants this year is for him to get better." He then looked back at Bogo and said, "I know that you haven't enjoyed Christmas the same since your mother died. It was the twenty-second of December, if I'm correct, back when you were only about eleven years old."
The cape buffalo could feel tears forming in the back of his eyes, but he held them back. Instead, he looked back at the feline and pointed in his face. "Who the hell are you and how do you know these things?"
The ocelot simply smiled back at him and answered, "My name is Joshua. And as I said before, I know about you and many others."
"What exactly does that mean?" Bogo snapped. "Are you some sort of stalker that gets enjoyment out of putting your nose into what's going wrong in somebody's life?"
Joshua replied, "I can assure you that I am not who you think I am. My information is given to me by who runs the great place I work in."
"What kind of work do you mean?"
The spotted feline laughed, his smile remaining. "You ask a lot of questions, Bogo," he said.
The ovine answered, "Believe me, I have plenty."
"If you must know what my line of work is, I will tell you. You could say that I'm in the toy industry, and by that I mean that I'm responsible for building them and preparing them for delivery."
"So you're a factory worker?"
"You could say that. It's not for a certain company of toys, though; where I work makes all different kinds for all different ages. Dolls, toy cars, choo-choo trains. We make it all."
"And you said you had someone that bestows information about certain mammals into you. Who might that be?"
"He goes by many different names around the globe. Most of us call him by his formal name, Kris Kringle."
Bogo paused when the ocelot told him that name. In that moment, he honestly felt like laughing directly at him. There was no way that this feline was working for Santa Claws. Considering that he was nothing more than a fictional figure, one he had stopped believing in after his brother convinced he didn't exist, it seemed impossible.
Same applied to guardian angels and all of that different stuff others pledged belief in at one point or another. The way he saw it, you believed in something like that with all of your heart, only to find out just how ridiculous what you were believing was.
Then again, Bogo started to think, he knew about what occurred in his younger years. His family never had any ocelots as close friends. This was a total stranger to him, and somehow he knew this like he had witnessed it himself. There was no room for coincidence or logical explanation here.
"You're trying to tell yourself that this is impossible," Joshua said after a moment of silence. "You're saying to yourself, 'I thought Santa wasn't real.' But I'm telling you right now that he's as real as you and me."
"So that's supposed to make you one of his helpers then?"
"Correct." The feline smiled even wider than before. "Been one for as long as I can remember."
"So if you're supposedly someone who makes toys like you say you are," Bogo said, "then what are you doing here, speaking to me?"
"You see," Joshua replied, "there are several individuals that are selected to help folks that have lost their love for Christmas find the joy again. I am one of those individuals, and I was sent to find you, Bogo."
"If you're actually from Santa's workshop, then I want you to answer me something."
"Very well..."
"Santa's supposed to know about all of the mammals around the world, right?"
"Yes, absolutely."
"Well, if Mr. Kringle knows about me and told you about me, then what was the present I asked for when I was five years old?"
"You're the kind of mammal that doesn't put faith in something until they have all of the evidence before them." Joshua sighed and put his paws in his coat pockets. "The answer is quite simple, honestly. You asked for a toy police car with lights that flashed on the top, and a police hat. Since your father was an officer, you knew at that age that you wanted to follow in his steps."
"You're right..." Bogo said.
"I know that," Joshua answered. He stepped away from the window of the store and started to walk forward. "Come with me. There is more I must tell you."
The ovine followed the ocelot as they both made their way forward, passing up the store they were originally standing in front of.
"I understand that the sudden passing of your mother left you not wanting to celebrate the holidays anymore," Joshua said. "It makes you miss her when all of the decorations and stuff are all put out."
Bogo sighed and nodded in agreement. "It's just that when I see all of these mammals with these big smiles on them... I-I don't know how to put it. I guess I haven't felt that joyous for Christmas to arrive since then. It's just been another day on the calendar for me."
"But your mother wouldn't want you to give up on the holidays because she's gone," Joshua said. "I don't think anyone would want you to do that after they pass away. She would want you, if anything, to carry on the traditions, and doing so remember all of the good times you and her had together."
Bogo simply remained silent upon hearing the feline's advice.
"Also," the ocelot continued, "think of how many smiles you are bringing to little kits when you and the others at the ZPD do the toy drive. Your mother would be thrilled to know that you and the mammals in blue do that for all of the families that come to it."
"My mother always was helpful to everyone she knew. If there was something wrong, she would just drop everything and help somebody out."
"She might not be here in the flesh to see all of the great things you are doing for your community," Joshua said, "but that is why I came with something to give to you."
"What's that?"
The spotted mammal beside him reached into his pocket and pulled out a small white box with red ribbon across it. The ovine took it from out of his paw and started to remove the ribbon from it. He opened it up to reveal a snow globe, not the size of a regular one but not miniature either.
"A snow globe," Bogo muttered under his breath. "What am I supposed to do with this?"
"I know you're unsure of the specialness of this snow globe," Joshua said to him. "But there is actually two things special about it. Firstly, did you see what house that is on the inside of it."
Inside of the snow globe was a small navy-colored house. Bogo immediately recognized that this was the exact look of the house he grew up in.
"How?" he said as he gazed at it.
"Never underestimate the magic of the North Pole, my friend," Joshua answered. "The second thing that is special about is something you are about to find out for yourself. Turn that little dial that's on the bottom of it and you'll see what I mean."
Bogo did as he was suggested, turning the snow globe upside down and giving the little dial a few good turns. He flipped back up again, and the little flakes inside of it sprinkled down to the bottom of it. The hushed sound of light musical notes came from the object in his hoof. What was being played was a Christmas song, but not just any of them. It was the one her mother always hummed as she wrapped their family's tree with tinsel. Hearing that melody being played caused tears to form in the eyes of the buffalo, but he quickly wiped them away.
He continued to gaze at the snow globe he had just been given, but when he picked his head back up he realized that he was no longer standing on the sidewalk of the city.
What the... he thought.
It appeared that he was now standing in a large hallway. The walls to sides looked like they were painted the color of stained wood, and it appeared that there were a large amount of picture frames adorning them.
"Where is this?" Bogo asked.
Joshua was only a few steps behind him. He didn't answer his question and just continued to walk in front of him.
Bogo slowly made his way forward, stopping every few steps to look at what photographs were in all of the frames on the walls. He quickly realized that they were all pictures of him and his mother together.
Ones of him when he was really little.
Ones of when the family went on their annual beach vacation.
Ones of him and his parents on his birthday.
And of course, ones that were taken during Christmastime.
As he paused to gaze at the individual photographs, he quickly realized something else about all of them. As it impossible as it seemed, each of the photos were moving as if they were actually recordings on a tape. This phenomenon was completely magical, something that only seemed possible in the school those Harry Otter movies took place in. Yet it was happening right in front of him, and it was far from a dream (even though it all felt like something that would make up one).
Bogo started to walk forward once again, catching up with Joshua as he slowly strolled along, singing something quietly to himself. They eventually passed up all of the photographs on the walls, coming up to a more spacious area. The only light source in this space came from a tall Christmas tree, illuminated with strands of white lights. The decorations on it that he could see from where he stood, as well as gold tinsel that was strung around it, reminded him so much of-
Right then and there, he heard humming that came from a voice that he hadn't heard in so many years. It was the sound of his own mother's voice, and she was humming the same tune that the snow globe, still clutched in his hooves, played a moment before.
A figure started to appear in the space, floating into view the way spirits did, and as it got closer Bogo saw that it was his own mother. He started to tear up in that moment, and he didn't he even attempt to prevent the tears from forming.
The spirit of his mother stopped humming and looked over at him. "My son..." she said in that soft voice she always used to speak in.
Bogo started to smile; he hadn't heard that voice in such a long time. "Mom," he said back, currently at a loss of what to say other than that.
"How glad I am to see you."
"I miss you so much." Bogo sniffled. "You don't know how much I wish you were still here."
"I know, son," his mother replied. "But just because I'm gone doesn't mean you should give up on the holidays altogether."
"But what's the point in celebrating if you and some of the ones I love the most aren't here to celebrate with me?"
"I'm always with you, even though you can't see me. I'm always here." His mother held out a hoof and placed it on his chest. "In your heart."
The touch of his mother left him in a small state of surprise. In movies and the like, spirits weren't able to touch you, and would just go through you since they weren't in a physical body. But this was not the case here. Then again, the ocelot told him to never underestimate the North Pole's holiday magic, which was something he'd never do again after an experience like this.
"And how about all of those nice mammals at the precinct, who help you when the toy drive comes around? I'm sure you could celebrate with them afterwards."
"But I'm not even sure where to start. I haven't really took part in any Christmas traditions in so long."
His mother smiled back at him. "I'm sure your friends will be more than happy to include you in their holiday merriment. They'll show you the many ways to celebrate, and in doing so rekindle the holiday spirit you haven't felt in quite awhile."
"You're right."
"I always am. All mothers are."
What followed was a hug shared between mother and son. Bogo smiled wider than he had in years. "I love you, Mom," he said.
"I love you, too, son," his mother replied. "Don't ever forget that." After a brief pause, she added, "Now then, I believe you have an upcoming toy drive that you and the mammals in blue need to prepare for."
"That we do," Bogo agreed. He hugged her tighter before letting go.
She then smiled back at him. A few seconds later, Bogo saw the sights around him starting to fade away. The Christmas tree in front of him, the hall of framed photos behind him, and everything in between. All of it seemed to just dissipate.
The ovine blinked his eyes, and when he opened them again he saw that he was back on the sidewalk, where he and the ocelot stood when he was handed the snow globe. He squinted as the rays of the setting sun shined in his vision once again.
"I can't believe that all just happened," he muttered.
Overhearing him was Joshua, who grinned beside him. "Ye of little faith," he remarked jokingly.
"Thank you for this," Bogo said. "That's I got to say. Thank you."
"As a member of the North Pole's crew," the spotted feline replied, "it was my pleasure. It does my heart good to help bring smiles to those who are in need of them. Anyway, it's time for me to go. You have a merry Christmas, Bogo."
"Safe travels," the cape buffalo said to him, now feeling an amount of joy that couldn't be taken away.
Thanks to some holiday magic, something he had always thought was nothing but poppycock, he felt the Christmas spirit within him for the first time in years.
One Day Later...
The doors to Precinct One flew open, and those walking around the main hall saw something they hadn't expected to see whatsoever. Chief Bogo ran inside with a wide grin plastered on his face, something that the officers didn't typically see from him, and a Santa hat on the top of his head.
"Merry Christmas, everybody!" he proclaimed loudly with a hearty laugh.
Nick and Judy, who were standing beside the front desk, exchanged looks at each other.
"Umm," Clawhauser said from the desk, "Are you okay, sir?"
"Okay?" Bogo repeated. With a huff, he remarked, "Never felt jollier."
The cheetah leaned forward towards the fox and rabbit. "Something's wrong," he whispered as the buffalo walked away. "He's never came in like that before."
"Maybe he drank a little too much eggnog the night before," Nick whispered slyly in reply.
"Or," Judy chimed in, "Chief Bogo has experienced what I like to call a Christmas miracle."
"You mean like in the movies, Fluff?" the fox by her side asked. "I mean, it's very well possible for something like that to occur. But life isn't exactly the same as it is in the movies."
"Actually," Clawhauser said, "I kinda have to agree with Judy on the whole miracle possibility. 'Tis the season for miracles, after all."
"That's exactly what I was thinking," the gray doe replied with a smile.
"And forget what I said before about the decorations having come down immediately after the toy drive," Bogo suddenly announced. "They're going to be staying up until the New Year. As a matter of fact, I'm thinking we oughta get more decorations and deck these halls better than ever!"
Just then, Officer Wolford and Officer Fangmeyer came strolling into view, wondering what the Chief was currently going on about.
"What's Bogo sayin'?" the wolf asked.
"I think he just said we're going to put even more decorations out," the tiger officer to his right said.
"Well, what are you all waiting for?" Bogo hollered to the officers around him. "We got an event to get ready for!"
Author's Note: Hey there, readers! The idea to write a story centered around Bogo had been buzzing in my head for quite awhile. And with the holidays quickly approaching, I decided to write something about him that took place during Christmas. On another note, this marks my eightieth chapter!
Anyway, I hope you all enjoyed this. I've got a couple more Christmas stories that I'm going to be sharing in the coming days, so there's plenty more where this came from!
As always, your feedback, whether good or bad, is gladly appreciated.
'Til next time, everybody! :)