Work Text:
Jimmy was never comfortable around strangers. It was what his mother always taught him. Stranger danger. A lesson he learned before he could even walk, that he’ll remember for the rest of his life.
“But what if when- when- when I’m a police officer and- and I have to ask a stranger questions?” he asked his mom.
She shrugged. “Well then, honey, you better be careful when you do.”
Jimmy was often a lonely boy. In his first-grade class, he kept to himself in the back, reading quietly or making crafts. He made an origami heart for his mom and sister, Eve, several colored pictures of himself with his family that filled up the walls of his house, and a police badge for himself. He stuck a piece of tape to the back of it and wore it around wherever he went, transferring it from one jacket or shirt to another.
He didn’t need friends when he had his family. Though his sister was 22 years older than him and was already beginning her life with her fiance, Eve was present in Jimmy’s childhood. She’d babysit him, play with him, and watch cartoons with him while listening to all his infodumps about his special interests. His mother though, she was someone special to him. He’d cry and cry if he ever had to leave her side for longer than twenty minutes.
He had no father. He made a promise that when he became a police officer, he’d find him. For now, he loved the family he had.
Christmas was always a magical time for him. Every year on Christmas Eve, he’d pace around all night flapping his hands, too eager to even shut his eyes to blink. It’s this night that he allowed his door to be closed overnight so he couldn’t leave his room- a rare occurrence that only happened on certain nights. His mother would come into his room when it was time, and the moment Jimmy saw the opening, he ran through it, tripping over his own two bare feet and knocking into every single wall before he reached the tree (unless his mother reached him first). He needed help unwrapping the gifts more often than he didn’t, but his excitement when he saw what he got was worth it all. Most from his mom, some from Eve, lots from Santa. He felt like the happiest boy on the planet.
This winter’s day, he found himself with his loving family in a large shopping mall. One of his least favorite environments, but his mother said she had a surprise for him. Something to cheer him up after a difficult day of school bullying.
Jimmy agreed with a sad nod and got up, keeping his head down as he made his way towards the car.
His homemade badge was pressed onto his jacket as he walked, holding his mother’s hand with his head down, tuning out the world for his own little version in his head, where he is the head of the police force of Manhattan, entrusted by the comptroller himself, and day by day making the streets a safer place.
His mother stopped walking, and so he did too. Curiously, he looked up and around, and he couldn’t believe his eyes.
Several kids in front of him stood with their families, and past them all, Santa Claus himself sat, talking with all the little children, making them laugh, and sending them on their way with candy canes.
Jimmy audibly gasped, making his mother chuckle. She squeezed his shoulders and got down on her knee to get level with him. “Here we are, Jimmy.”
Jimmy could barely believe what he was seeing. Even Eve and Richard got a chuckle out of it.
“Isn’t this exciting, Jimmy? You’re gonna meet Santa!” Eve asked.
Jimmy bounced on his heels, flapping his free hand up and down in front of him. He stopped as the line moved closer, appearing faster than it did before. Jimmy hoped it would move faster and faster and faster so he could meet Santa sooner.
Finally, what felt like in no time, there he was at the front of the line, next to meet Santa himself! The kid before him seemed trouble. He had this evil look on his face, and an exasperated father in a green flannel, telling his child- “Marty”- off after every sentence that came out of that kid’s mouth.
As it was his turn, Jimmy put on his I’m-a-very-brave-police-officer voice as he said, “Was that kid giving you trouble, Santa?”
His words got a giggle from the elf standing behind him as Santa shook his head. “Not to fret, young one,” he reassured as he patted his lap.
Jimmy turned to his family. They all nodded. Richard seemed distracted on his phone.
“Go ahead,” Eve encouraged.
And so he did. He climbed onto Santa’s lap and took a seat.
He couldn’t will himself to turn his neck upwards, so he stared at the floor as Santa asked, “And what is your name, officer?”
“I’m Officer Jimmy!” he almost yelled.
“Officer Jimmy! And how old are you?”
“I’m six years old!”
“Ho ho ho!” Santa bellowed, making Jimmy laugh slightly and squirm in his seat. “What would you like for Christmas, Officer Jimmy?”
“A real badge,” Jimmy asked, pointing to his homemade badge.
“Oh, that is extraordinary! Did you make this?” Jimmy nodded and smiled. “It’s one of a kind, Officer Jimmy. Just like you.”
Jimmy pointed to Eve. “And my sister wants a wedding dress!”
Eve covered her face as it slowly turned red, laughing with her mother. Richard finally looked up from his phone but couldn’t connect the dots on what he missed.
“Well, I’ll let the elves know!”
Eve took out her phone, as did their mother. “Jimmy, can we get a photo?”
Jimmy nodded excitedly and put both arms around Santa as he smiled, with the loudest, “CHEESE!” he could muster. Both got several photos before putting their phones away.
“Thank you so much, and a Merry Christmas, Officer Jimmy!”
As Jimmy stood up, he turned around and gave Santa a salute. He saluted right back.
His family ate at his favorite Fillipino restaurant that evening, and the whole evening, Jimmy barely touched his plate. His mouth never shut as he talked about how happy his meeting with Santa made him, boring Richard while enticing Eve and his mother. “Can I meet him again?”
His mother chuckled. “Maybe next year.”
Next year.