A Housepets! Christmas Carol...

[JageshemashFTW]

The Holiday Season had taken Babylon Gardens by storm, as it did every year. It was the day before Christmas itself, and those who weren’t scurrying every which way to tackle the last few loose ends of preparing were settling in with friends, family, and loved ones, anticipation of that most joyous of celebrations right around the corner.

A fine layer of white powder blanketed near every inch of the town, pets and humans alike wandered about with good tidings to spare for any willing to share, boughs of holly and garlands of pine were strung up alongside the twinkling rainbow of lights hung along street lamps, signposts, and more. The Milton Family’s giant Christmas Tree could be easily seen from the town proper, propped up in the center of the mansion’s front yard for the whole town to enjoy.

The Babylon Gardens’ Rec Center, rented out, as per usual, to the Good Ol’ Dogs Club, was abuzz with activity as the G.O.D. worked overtime to prep the place for the annual Christmas Party.

“Sash, one of the garlands in the auditorium got knocked loose.” Fox said, carrying a box of food to the kitchens as he flagged down the cream and brown lass. “Can you grab someone and hitch it back up?”

“Can do, Foxy!” Sasha said, giving him a two-finger salute. “Rex! I need you, big guy!”

As Sasha grabbed the muscle-bound bulldog and pulled him away, the two passed by a black and brown dog who had her nose buried in a clipboard, reading down a list.

“How we doing Duchess?” Sasha asked.

“On schedule, but we could be ahead of schedule.” Duchess remarked. “Has anyone seen Bino? I can’t find him and his chores are starting to stack up.”

“If I know Bino, he’s going through his… ‘Tradition’ right now.” Rex said, grimacing as he rubbed the back of his neck.

“‘Tradition’? Do I even want to know what that means?” Duchess asked, raising an eyebrow.

“Aren’t you his girlfriend?” Sasha asked. “You haven’t noticed?”

Duchess scoffed. “I can hardly be bothered to keep track of every little banal quirk of my bag-holders. Look, if you see Bino, tell him to shelve whatever personal crisis he’s going through and get his butt down here.”
---
“Shelve whatever personal crisis you’re going through and get your butt out here.” Bino barked, pounding his fist against the outside of Joey’s doghouse.

“J-just a sec!” Joey’s voice squeaked out from inside.
“I swear, if you’re doing anything… unnatural with that rat of yours.”

Joey’s face popped out of the doghouse, looking more than a little perturbed. “She’s a mouse, thank you very much!”

“Whatever. Still creepy.” Bino said. “Would you hurry up?”

“Jeez, why the hurry?” Joey said, ducking back into his doghouse. “It’s not like you enjoy this sort of thing.”

“Your right, I don’t. Which is why I don’t want to spend anymore time here than I have to.”

Joey popped his head back out. “What, you don’t like spending time with your little brother?”

“Well, y’know, I would. Except I have actually important things to be doing, Joey!” Bino said, not catching the wince from Joey’s face.

“Yeah… Sorry, bro.” Joey said, slinking back inside.

Bino turned to face away from the doghouse as he heard his brother rummaging inside. He sighed, watching his breath freeze into vapor in front of him. Another year, another Christmas to get through.

“Got it.” Joey said, half-heartedly, as he clambered out of his doghouse. In his hands was a delicately wrapped green box, complete with red ribbons tied up in a bow on the top.

“Bout time, here.” Bino said, shoving a crumpled wad of dollar bills in Joey’s hands before snatching the gift from him. Bino gave it an experimental shake as he held it to his ears, something small and solid bouncing around inside.

“You didn’t get something too nice, did you?” Bino said. “Not like last year?”

“I assure you, it is an entirely average gift.” Joey said, melancholy clear on his face from the routine. “Fido will have absolutely no strong feelings for it one way or the other.”

“Good. It may be ‘bad form’ to give the guy crap for the Holiday’s, but I’m certainly not gonna give Mr Golden-Boy the satisfaction of getting something decent from me.” Bino said. “Can’t even be bothered to shop for the low-life.”

“Yes, bro.” Joey said, deadpan. He had completely given up trying to convince his brother against this passive-aggressiveness years ago.

“Alright, that’s done. I’m off.” Bino said, turning to make his way to the G.O.D.

“H-Hey! Wait a moment!” Joey said, scrambling to catch up to Bino. “Um… Listen, Bino. I know you’re busy and everything with the G.O.D. but…”

“Spit it out, Joey.” Bino said, not breaking stride as he continued walking.

Joey knew this was a crapshoot at best, but he also knew he had to at least try. “It’s just… Fido wanted me to spread the word to you that… he wants to spend Christmas with us at his place. Both of us, all of us. As a family.”

Bino didn’t say anything. In fact, he didn’t give any indication he even heard him. Joey took that as an invitation to continue. “And… And Sabrina will be there, and so will Squeak. Just… One big happy family! All of us, together… For the first time in years.”

Bino was silent for a second before scoffing. “Yeah, put me down as a hard ‘No’ on that RSVP. Bad enough I have to smile and play nice with the jerk during the gift-exchange. No way in heck am I extending the same courtesy to that mangy cat he parades around with for a whole day. The freaking nerve of him. Lady openly ruins his life, gets him kicked out of the G.O.D., and he still throws it all away for her. Just goes to show how damaged the guy actually is.”

Bino looked back at Joey before his expression softened, just a bit. “Look, Joey… Just forget about trying to fix this… thing between me and Fido. It was broken before you could even talk.”

“I… I grew up with you two always arguing over… everything, really.” Joey said. “Come to think of it… I don’t think I’ve ever seen you guys hug or even seen you smile when your around him.”

“It’s not right, you know.” Joey said, stating a fact rather than asking a question. “It’s not right to hate your own brother.”

Bino stopped in his tracks. He gave an exasperated sigh as he ran his hand down his head. “I don’t hate the guy, Joey. I just…”

“What?” Joey asked.

“...Nothing. Just… Leave it alone, okay? It doesn’t concern you.” Bino said, resuming his walk and leaving Joey behind in the cold snow.
---
In hindsight, Bino should have picked a different route to the club. One that didn’t go right past the home of the two most annoying pets in all of Babylon Gardens.

The Sandwich Residence.

He hoped he could just slink by without anyone noticing him-

“Hey, Bino!”

Of course, Bino would be a much happier person if he actually was that lucky.

Surprisingly, or rather not so surprising, the voice calling out to him belonged to neither of the two residents of the abode, but to the black cat he had the unfortunate ‘pleasure’ of sharing his own home with. Through absolutely zero consent on his part.

“Bino! Merry Christmas Eve, dude!” Max called from the front porch of the house, lazily cupping a glass of milky-white eggnog in hand.

“Max.” Bino said, curtly, before continuing on his way.

“Hey! Where’re you going? Come say hello for a bit!” Max said, waving his free hand from the railing to grab the dog’s attention.

Bino groaned, but deigned to get this over and done with. Like ripping off a band-aid.

Turning back on his heel, Bino walked back, stepping up the wooden steps to the porch. “Starting the celebrations early, are we?” Bino said, gesturing to the eggnog in Max’s hand.

“Nah, this is clean.” Max said, taking another swig of the glass as if to prove his point. “If I’m on anything right now, it’s Christmas Spirit!”

Bino almost barked out a laugh that he bit down. “Well, you’re clearly enjoying it, whatever it is. I won’t keep you.”

“Well, hold on! I wanted to ask you something.” Max said, gently placing a hand on Bino’s shoulder.

Bino groaned and rolled his eyes, but turned back to face Max all the same.

“Listen, I’m gonna go for broke and lay it all out on the table here. Grape, Peanut, Tarot and I are having a little shindig right here, tomorrow. Mr and Mrs Sandwhich are pulling out all the stops. I’m talking Christmas ham and turkey, I’m talking stuffing, I’m talking pies! We’re gonna sing karaoke, play some games, it’s gonna be an absolute blast!” Max said, his smile getting wider and wider.

Bino shrugged. “Sounds like fun. You enjoy yourself.” If anything, Bino was actually kind of glad to hear that Max would be spending the majority of Christmas outside their house. Give him some much needed peace and solitude from his malarkey.

“Well, that’s kind of what I wanted to talk to you about. How would you feel about coming with me back here tomorrow? Y’know, help make the Yuletide gay and all that?” Max said, offering Bino one of his toothy grins.

Oh, you have got to be kidding me, Bino thought to himself. “Well, I’m just the Bell of the Ball today!” Bino said. “And how exactly do the others feel about this?”

Max chuckled, embarrassed. “Admittedly, Grape and Tarot needed a little bit of convincing, but time of peace and goodwill and all that. And Peanut was all for it, he’s up for any chance to get you to be nice for a few minutes, bless his heart.”

Bino shook his head. “Y’know, that’s the second offer I’ve been given to make myself absolutely miserable on the Holiday by surrounding myself with people I can’t stand.”

Max’s ears drooped a bit, but his smile remained on his face. “Oh come on, Bino. You honestly going to stand there and tell me your just going to spend Christmas holed up in our house, alone?”

“For your information, I’m going to be decking all the halls I could ever want at the G.O.D. Christmas Party. Which, by the way, none of you are invited to.” Bino said. “I’m certainly not gonna be hurting for things to do on Christmas.”

Max shook his head. “Bino, that’s not the same thing and you know it. I know the club is important to you, but it’s not…” Max trailed off.

“Not what?” Bino said, raising an eyebrow.

“It’s not family.” Max said.

Bino was silent for a second, glaring a hole into Max.

“Is that… Is that what you think we are, Max? Family?” Bino accused.

“I just meant-” Max tried to say before Bino interrupted him.

“No no no. Let me make one thing perfectly straight here. We are not family, Maxwell. We just live in the same house. It wasn’t my decision for Dad to bring you home one day, it wasn’t my decision to have you mooch off us day-in and day-out, and it certainly was not my decision to have you annoy me and make my life a living heck from the sheer fact that I have to share living space with a mangy, flea-bitten, cat.” Bino said, driving those last four words in with a poke to Max’s chest with each word.

“So take your ‘family’, and shove it!”

With each and every word, Max’s ears drooped lower and lower against his skull. Bino will admit, he can’t remember ever seeing Max so withdrawn.

Course, he found it hard to muster up the ability to care.

“Nice to see some things never change.” A new voice called out.

Bino drew away from Max to see Grape leaning against the now open door frame, glaring daggers at Bino. “I think a simple ‘No’ would have sufficed.”

“This isn’t your business.” Bino snapped.

“Then take your business off my porch. Forget what Max said, I don’t want to see your face anywhere near here tomorrow.” Grape hissed, getting up in Bino’s face.

“Well good! You don’t want me here and I certainly don’t want to be here. I’m glad we could come to an agreement.”

“Get out…” Grape said, eyes narrowed into slits.

“Oh, believe me, I am gone.” Bino said, marching down the steps and down the road. “And a Merry Christmas to you both!”
---
Still fuming from Grape getting up in his nose, Bino trudged along the cold, gray streets towards the G.O.D.. Night was starting to fall as the last rays of sunlight were only just peeking out over the horizon.

“Family…” Bino muttered to himself. “What good has family ever done for me?”

With Bino lost in his own bitterness, he failed to notice another pet turning the corner on the sidewalk at the same time as him.

Sadly, she failed to notice him as well, what with her attention mostly being focused on the boxes of food she was carrying. Between their mutual distractions, the two careened directly into each other, sending both tumbling to the ground and scattering boxes everywhere.

“Gah! Watch where you’re… going…” Bino said, taking a second to recognize the young woman lying on the snow across from him.

Rubbing her aching head was a periwinkle cat with darker-toned stripes running down along her arms, sides, and framing her head. She blinked her pale yellow-eyes, trying to reorient herself, before noticing the mess around her.

“Oh… Oh nonono.” She muttered, trying as she could to salvage as much food as possible. “Oh, Heath is going to be so upset.”

As she parsed out which foodstuffs were beyond saving, she looked up at her accidental assailant, a nervous smile playing across her face. “So sorry about that! I should have watched where I was… going…”

Just like Bino, the young cat’s mind slowed to a crawl as she started to recognize the dog in front of her.

“Bino?”

“Allegra?”

Despite herself, Allegra let out a nervous chuckle. “Hah, wow, how long has it been?” She said as she gathered up as much of the boxes she could, setting them down on a sidewalk bench next to them. “At least seven, eight years, right?”

“Around that…” Bino muttered, slowly getting up to his own feet.

“Ah, sorry. Give me one second.” Allegra said, before heading back towards the ground to pick up the unsalvageables, giving them a mournful look before tossing them into a nearby waste-bin.

Still stunned from the wave of nostalgia hitting him, Bino’s hands moved on his own to help Allegra toss out the ruined food.

“Thanks.” Allegra said. “Such a waste. This was supposed to be for the Christmas Banquet at Heathcliff’s tomorrow. We saved up so much money, I don’t know how we’re going to replace all of it.

“Heathcliff’s?” Bino asked, not recognizing the name.

“Oh, it’s where I work. It’s kinda like a diner slash nightclub out in the alleys of the town. Sort of like a Good Ol’ Dogs club for cats, just with more food.”

Bino pretended not to be insulted by the comparison.

“Anyway, thanks again. Sorry for bumping into you. It was…” Allegra winced, biting her tongue as she tried to think of the right words. “Nice? To see you again.”

“Is it?” Bino’s mouth said without consulting his brain.

“Ahem.” Allegra faked a cough. “Well… I should be getting back to Heath’s. Try to salvage what I can from this.” She said, grabbing the still intact boxes from the bench. “Merry Christmas, Bino.”

With that, she walked past Bino and kept walking, not looking back a single time. Bino was sure she quickened her pace when she was far away enough to think he wouldn’t notice.

Bino stared for a few more seconds before shaking his head, resuming his trek towards the G.O.D.
---
“Well, not much left to do now.” Duchess said to Bino, barely looking up from her clipboard. “Honestly, you’d probably be more of a hindrance than help right now. We only have a few grunt-work chores left to do and even those are a little bit above your skill-set. So why don’t you just head home and don’t mess anything up tomorrow?”

Bino sighed. Honestly, he wasn’t going to argue against getting an excuse to go home. He was drained from having to deal with both Joey and Max needling him, and his run-in with Allegra left him feeling… melancholic. It was not a good feeling.

“Right, well… I’ll see you tomorrow, then?” Bino asked, hopefully.

“Oh, heaven’s no. Just because I organize these events doesn’t mean I want to hob-knob with the riff-raff. If you need to find me tomorrow, I’ll be in the back counting the generous donations.” Duchess peeked up from her clipboard to give Bino a not-too-subtle glare. “Do me a favor and don’t need me.”

“Gotcha…” Bino said, trying to find any avenue for any affection from his girlfriend. No such luck. Duchess was not the type of lady to believe in public displays of affection. Or private displays of affection. Or internal displays of affection.

Which was all fine by Bino. He had nothing but respect for her pride.

Cause that was it, really. Pride. Certainly not vain tolerance or barely disguised disgust.

“So… Merry Christmas?” Bino offered, hoping to elicit some kind of response.

“Mmhm.” Duchess muttered absentmindedly, her nose already back in her clipboard as she turned and walked away, leaving Bino alone in the middle of the main hall.

Without much left to do, and wanting more than anything to go home and take a nap, Bino walked out the door to the club, having only just entering from the cold mere moments ago and now sending himself right back into it.

As the door closed, whistling as the wind outside started to pick up, Sasha looked up from the popcorn garland she and Rex were fashioning for the G.O.D. Christmas Tree.

“Poor guy.” Sasha said, more to herself. “I like Duchess, but she is not the type for a mutually affectionate romantic relationship.” She huffed. “Believe me, I’ve tried.”

Fox whipped his head back on hearing this, raising an eyebrow in shock. “That is a very different mental image I have of you, and I’m going to calmly and maturely process it, and I’ve processed it.”

“See? You’re getting better everyday Foxie!” Sasha said, beaming a wide smile at the husky.

“I can’t help but feel like I’m missing some context there? Ow!” Rex said, sucking his thumb after poking it with the needle he was using.

“Long story and a lot of soul searching.” Fox said. “That’s not here or now.”

“Back to my point!” Sasha admonished, rolling her eyes at the two boys. “Does anyone else feel incredibly sorry for Bino? I mean, he always seems so sad and lonely this time of year.”

“Meh.” Fox meh’d, shrugging his shoulders. “Honestly, it’s kind of his own fault. You treat everybody around you like crap, they’re not gonna have a lot of cheer and goodwill towards you to spare.”

“Maybe. But does anyone think he’s just getting worse?” Rex said. “I mean, a few years ago, he was just kind of a brat. Now it seems like he’s on a very self-destructive spiral born from a life-time of multiple personal emotional scarring and crippling self-esteem issues.”

Sasha and Fox stared at Rex.

“What? I follow the guy around too. I pick up on these things.”

Fox shook his head. “Look, even if we wanted to help the guy, what could we really do? Issues or no issues, everything Bino does is by choice. You can’t help someone like that unless they want to be helped, and I don’t see Bino asking for it anytime soon.”
---
Max had already come home since Bino saw him earlier that day. He didn’t say a word to Bino, just grabbed his dinner of microwave mac and cheese and immediately absconded to his room.
Fine, Bino thought. Less of a headache for him to deal with.

Their Dad was out late tonight, working hard today so he could work less tomorrow. So it was Beggar’s Banquet tonight with the promise of a much more hearty meal for Christmas.

Bino didn’t care. Food was food. Rummaging through the fridge yielded a quarter-filled plastic carton of potato-salad. It probably wasn’t that old.

Bino grabbed the carton and a spoon from the drawer and dug right it, not seeing the need to dirty a bowl when there was only a bowl full left that he could just eat right out of the carton.

Something about the salad made him think back to earlier that day, when he bumped into Allegra. All that food sprawled on the ground looked like they might’ve been very appetizing before they got coated in dirt, snow, and gravel. Slabs of meat, trays of pastries, fresh fruit and vegetables ready to be prepared into some amazing treats.

Bino’s mind idly wandered to imagine the feast that food could have been. He imagined himself right there, in the middle of that banquet, indulging and partaking in a true, proper, Christmas Feast.
He imagined Allegra by his side, enjoying the food with him, smiling at him.

Then he stopped imagining.

He looked down at the scraps of potatoes still left in the carton before unceremoniously dumping it, carton and all, into the trash-can.

Time for bed, he thought.
---
Either Dad forgot to pay the heating bill, or it was getting even colder as evening turned to midnight. Bino shivered in his bed, pulling his comforter closer to no avail. It was as if the cold was coming from within him as well as without.

Moments before Bino thought he might actually freeze to death, the bells of a clock chimed loudly.

Odd, as no one in the house owned a non-digital clock capable of making such a sound.

Bino’s eyes opened in an instant as he bolted out of bed, feeling strangely warmer than he did a moment before.

The clock bells that shouldn’t have existed chimed louder and louder, forcing Bino to cover his large, brown ears to shut out the pounding, booming noise.

He idly thought to how in the name of all that was holy was Max sleeping through this? Still pressing his ears close to his skull, he peeked his head out and peered through the open door to Max’s room to confirm that, yes, Max was sleeping soundly past this cacophony, not a care in the world.

Finally, the booming bells subsided and then eventually came to an end. As Bino slowly lowered his hands from his ears, he took a quick glance at the digital clock by his bedside, the red numbers blinking silently.

12:00

Midnight on the dot.

Bino was about to wonder further what could have caused that ungodly noise, when he heard something else. A rummaging noise coming from the kitchen downstairs.

Thinking that some of the neighborhood raccoons broke into their house… again, Bino deigned to take care of the problem himself.

Which meant, of course, grabbing the baseball bat from his closet to beat this mystery intruder senseless.

Bino was not exactly light on his feet, hissing silent curses at the stairs for creaking under his weight as he tried his best to creep up to the kitchen unnoticed.

The light was on and, based on the shadow dancing around the floor, there was definitely someone in their.

Holding his bat above his head, Bino screwed his eyes shut before charging into the kitchen, brandishing his weapon as bravely as he could.

“MERRY CHRISTMAS YOU SON OF A-!”

“Charming young woman?” A soft, female voice spoke out.

A voice Bino knew very well. A voice he hadn’t heard in god knows how long.

A voice that, by all intents and purposes, should be impossible for him to be hearing.

Risking a peek through one of his closed eyes, Bino gasped in shock as his grip on the baseball bat went slack, the blunt instrument slipping from his fingers as it clattered against the floor.

Standing in front of Bino, nonchalantly making what was apparently a cup of hot chocolate as though she owned the place, was an elderly but no less beautiful brown dog with large brown ears.

Bino at first thought he may have been looking at some kind of twisted fun-house mirror, made to make him look older and… female.

But it was the eyes. Her eyes. A shimmering ocean blue that Bino had only seen in two animals. His younger brother, Joey, and the woman who gave him those very same eyes.

The woman who gave them all of their eyes, their names, their lives.

“...Mom?” Bino asked… He wasn’t entirely sure what.

“Hi sweetie. God, look how big you’ve gotten.” His mother said, sighing in contentment as she took Bino in, giggling as she gave a poke to Bino’s paunch. “Heehee, in more ways than one. You always were my little chubby-bubby.”

Bino blushed, hearing his old puppy nickname that only his mother ever called him. He stammered and sputtered, unable to accept what his sight, his touch, and even his sense of smell was telling him, given the absolutely heavenly aroma coming from the mug of hot chocolate in her hands.

It smelled just like how he remembered it.

“It’s so good to see you again.” Bino’s mother said, wrapping her arms around her shell-shocked son, being careful not to spill a drop of the hot chocolate.

It was her warmth that took Bino by surprise the most. That he could actually feel her arms wrap tight around him, holding him close. He swore he heard her heartbeat, knowing that was impossible. Were her arms always so small? He remembered them utterly engulfing him when he was a puppy.

After a long time, seconds, minutes, hours? She finally withdrew, her warm and gentle smile never leaving her face.

“You still take five marshmallows?” She asked, holding up the steaming mug in her hand.

Taking his stunned silence as affirmation, she turned on her heel to the open bag of marshmallows on the counter, dutifully counting them one by one just as she did when he was younger so he could be sure she got the right amount.

“This… This isn’t real.” Bino said, despite all evidence to the contrary.
“You… you can’t be here.” Bino said, slowly backing away from the specter in front of him. What was odd is that the rest of the house outside the kitchen seemed darker than normal. Or was it just that his mother cast such a radiant light by contrast?

Feeling light on his feet, Bino absently grasped for one the dining room chairs to sit on, never taking his eyes off the figure in front of him.

“This is… This is a dream!” Bino said, laughing nervously. “Of course it’s a dream. No, you know what this is? This is that potato salad! I knew it was bad, I knew it! Right now, I’m still sleeping in my bed, drooling on my pillow, while some bad mustard sauce is making me trip out.”

Bino laughed a little harder, despite not seeing the situation as anything funny. “That’s what you are. You’re just a clump of rotten potatoes, mustard and sour cream.”

His mother let out a giggle. God, he always loved hearing her laugh. He always loved making her laugh. “I’ve been called a lot of things, but that’s a new one!”

Still smiling, she walked into the dining room with hot chocolate in hand. Did the lights just turn on as she walked in? Of course they did. This was a dream. Of course his dead mother had magical light-turning on powers.

“Here you go, sweetie.” She said, placing the mug down in front of him.

Bino looked into the mug and saw, by all accounts, a very appetizing looking brown liquid with five floating buoys of sugar, starch, and gelatin.

Slowly, he grabbed the mug and brought it to his lips, blowing slightly on the steam coming off the edge of the brim.

He took a sip. It was delicious.

Exactly how he remembered it.

This dream was certainly sparing no expense on authenticity.

Bino took another sip, larger than the first, then another until he was voraciously gulping down the contents of the mug, the warm liquid soothing his throat after spending all day in the cold.

“How are you feeling right now?” His mother asked him, having taken a seat on the adjacent chair on the table. “I understand this is… kind of a shock.” She almost looked guilty as she placed her still warm hand on his own.

Bino didn’t even notice when he reflexively wrapped his hand around hers. “Better, now that I know this is a dream and you aren’t going to eat my brains.”

His mother put a finger to her mouth, looking pensive as her eyes trailed upwards. “Hmm, I don’t know. Coming back from the grave did leave me rather peckish. Maybe just a nibble!”

With that, she sprung forward, playfully rubbing her face over Bino’s head, yelling out ‘Om-Nom-Nom!’ in the most ridiculously over-the-top monster voice she could.

Bino squealed like a puppy as his mother flickered her fingers at that ticklish spot over his ear that he knew she knew he had. “M-Mohom! Stahahap!” He laughed as he half-heartedly pushed against her.

The two devolved into laughter as she pulled away from ‘devouring’ her son only to collapse into him for an engulfing hug. Bino was worried for a quick second about waking Max, but then he remembered this was all just a dream.

A very vivid, very lucid dream, but still just a dream.

If this was only going to last until he woke up, he might as well enjoy it.

“So… what’s next?” Bino asked, pulling away slightly to look his mother in the eyes. “I mean, you came back from the dead to hang out with me, I’m assuming you have something planned?”

Once again, Bino couldn’t help but notice the look of guilt that flashed across her face. “In a way… I do. But you’re not going to like it.”

Bino raised an eyebrow at this. “What, am I grounded or something?”

His mother shrugged. “In a sense. Do you want to know what one of the most popular past-times in the afterlife is?” She asked, continuing when Bino gave her little more than a shrug in response. “Watch the living. Our friends, our families. Those we left behind. It does us good to see how they’re getting on every once in a while, and seeing how much they’re growing even without us.”

Bino grimaced upon hearing this. “So you’ve been… watching me?”

She nodded. “Bino… I’m worried about you. Worried about the young man you are becoming. I remember, a long time ago, when I could just feel your heart. Yours and your brothers. And always being so blown away by the light that shined from you. But… that light…”

She placed a hand on Bino’s chest. “It’s lost its luster. The cracks are only getting worse each year. You still have your good heart, son. I know it, I can feel it. You just need… a reminder.”

Bino looked down, ashamed. Were he to hear it from anyone else, Bino wouldn’t pay such things anymind. It wasn’t his fault that others couldn’t handle his honesty.

But… to hear that from his mother?

Bino clasped his hand around hers, holding it tight. “So this is, what? A therapy session?”

“The world beyond this one is vast and incredible. There are so many wonders…” She shivered a little, and Bino could actually feel her touch grow colder. “And so many horrors. In some respects, the next world isn’t so different from this one.”

“I… called in a few favors. Pulled a few strings. And found some… specialists who have offered to help.”

“Specialists?” Bino asked.

“Ghosts, sweetie, like me. Three to be exact. You can expect the first one at one o’clock sharp, then each ghost every hour, on the hour. They’re guides, teachers.”

She gave a sad smile to her son, and Bino felt her hand get even colder.

“Listen, Bino, whatever you choose to do after tonight will be your choice, and your choice alone. And know that no matter what comes of this, I will always love you and I will always and forever be so proud of all you’ve been through and all you’ve accomplished.”

Her hand was like ice now.

“But for tonight, if only for tonight, I implore you son. Be of open mind, take heed to what these spirits have to say, and take the lessons they teach to heart.”

It was actually hurting Bino’s hand to hold on to hers, but he couldn’t bring himself to let go.

“I can’t stay much longer. I’ve pushed my luck staying for as long as I have already.”

“What?” Bino whispered. “No… No no! You can’t leave now! I just… I just got you back.”

Bino felt his eyes water. He didn’t understand why he was getting so upset, it’s not like any of this was real. It just felt real in every way.

“Above all else, Bino…” She paused, lifting her head up to give a gentle kiss to his forehead.

“Have a Merry Christmas…”
---
Bino’s eyes flew open as he sprang up from his bed.

“Mom!” He called out, but there was no one there.

He was back in his bed, back in his bedroom.

The clock by his bedside read 12:25.

He felt something warm on his face and reached up to wipe away a wet patch under his eyes.

He sat there, stunned and silent, for a good while until the clock displayed 12:32.

Finally, he lay back down, covered himself with his comforter, and tried to shut out all memories of his dream.
---
(Taking a break from World of Fantasy for the Holidays to work on this little number. Hope you all enjoy!)

[trekkie]

This is very good. I hope the spirits are able to convince Bino to change his ways, and it is nice to see that Bino seems to feels some regret about treating Joey and Maxwell so badly. Duchess is till acting like a charming young woman, towards Bino, I see. I look forward to Bino meeting the spirits.

[Nathan Kerbonaut]

Bino and his mom had me tearing up. There's a lot of depth to his character, it'll be interesting to see how he changes. Excellent job!

[trekkie]

Yeah, reading it again, Bino and his mom was pretty emotional, I hope that Bino can rediscover his softer side.

[Amazee Dayzee]

This story is getting off to a real fabulous start here! I can't wait to read more and see what's coming up next!

[NHWestoN]

Alright, a good seasonal story!

[JageshemashFTW]

After tonight, Bino would look back on this and muse how he had a dreamless sleep immediately following what he was sure was a most vivid dream.

But, then again, how can one dream within a dream?

Bino slept not-quite-so-soundly, still clinging to the comforter on his bed to fight off the cold, as the clock by his bedside dutifully ticked away the seconds and minutes.

12:58

12:59

1:00

Just as before, Bino was blown from his slumber by the cacophonous rampage of clock bells, ringing so loud as to almost seem to be coming from inside his head. Just as before, Bino tried in vain to cover his ears, flinging himself to the ground as he writhed against the noise.

“STOP!! STOP IT!!”

Whether in response to his pleas or just good timing, the bells did subside as silence took hold. Bino stayed on the ground, not yet willing to release grasp on his ears until he was sure the noise would not come back.

Slowly working his way to his feet, Bino looked around his room, instinctively looking for anything out of place.

“...Mom?” Bino offered to the emptiness, vain hope dripping out.

He shook the thought from his head. His mother was dead. Dead and buried.

It was just a dream, he reassured himself.

He was about to return to his bed when he winced as a bright light flashed across his face, for only an instant.

Squinting his eyes, he looked up at the source of this offending light, to see that it was coming from… somewhere beyond his window. A source of light that seemed to hang, evanescent and ethereal, just outside his window. His window on the second-floor.

Without warning, his windows opened. Not suddenly or abruptly, but carefully drawn open as if out of respect for the denizens of the abode.

The light seemed to grow in presence, in shape and form, as it… stepped into Bino’s room from the window. As Bino continued to squint at the light, holding his hand above his eyes to shield him from the glare, he could just make out the silhouette of a figure stepping out of the light.

It seemed like a woman, a young animal about his height. The clothes were the first thing Bino notiched: A flowing white robe that trailed along the floor of his room in soft, velvety ripples. A glint of metal in her hands brought Bino’s attention to a strange cone of copper or brass that she carried, large enough to reach the breath of one shoulder to the next with the point stretching down to the waist.

As she got closer, and the blinding light finally started to dim, Bino could see that this mysterious intruder was in fact a dog, a cream-colored lass with chocolate brown muzzle, ears and paws. Her eyes shone like pink diamonds through the light, full of sparkling mirth as they peered at Bino through bemused curiosity, regarding the creature in front of her.

An errant thought went by in Bino’s mind about how this girl looked familiar. He was certain he had seen her likeness before, but the more, and more, he tried to place a name to the face, the more his memories alluded him. As though there was a gaping hole where an obvious answer should be.

Finally, the light dimmed to a cozy glow throughout the room, but did not fade. As Bino’s eyes adjusted, he saw that the source of the light was, in fact, coming from the girl herself.

Her head was on fire.

Bino blinked once, twice, then once more as he struggled to accept that little fact. It was not a normal fire, not flickering or blazing like a torch or bonfire, but still and calm like the wick of a candle, only far too large to maintain such serenity.

But it could not be mistaken for anything but fire. Bino could even feel the warmth emanating from the girl as she stepped closer and closer.

She stood there, calm and still as the fire surrounding her head, as she regarded Bino. Apparently waiting for him to regard her in kind.

“Who… Who are you?” Bino finally stammered, only vaguely recalling his mother’s warning.

The girl smiled as her fire licked the air. “I am… What was. What was and what has always been.”

Bino tilted his head. “I don’t… Who are you?” He asked again, clearer and more adamant. “What’s your name?”

The girl smiled as she seemed to drift across the floor of Bino’s room, circling him. “I have had many names, and many faces. I am that which is remembered when joy must have purpose.”

She stopped her drifting in front of Bino again, her face right up to his.

“I am the Ghost of Christmas Past.”

Bino took a step back as the Ghost drifted closer, worried of being burned by her flame. “How far in the past are we talking?”

“Your Past.” The Ghost said.

With that, the Ghost drifted back towards the window.

“I… I don’t mean to insult you.” Bino said, showing tact that surprised even him as he erred on the side of caution. “But… Are you aware that your head is on fire? Do you… want me to get you some water?”

In the corner of his eye, Bino barely noticed the Ghost tighten her grip on the brass cone in her hand.

“This flame is the Light of Truth.” She explained, patiently as a teacher would her student. “Tended to by the generations of both Man and Beast. While my flame may dim or spread to burn, it is not so easily snuffed.”

Her constant smile turned wry as she shot a coquettish look towards Bino. “Would you so quickly snuff Truth itself?”

Depends if the truth is something I wanted to hear, Bino thought to himself, but very wisely did not say aloud.

“Why are you here?” Bino said, finally getting to the crux of the issue.

“You have your own light. One that has lost its luster.”

Bino’s ears folded against his head as his mother’s words were repeated.

“So you’re the… specialist she was talking about.”

“I am here to show you memories of what was, so that you may carry them into what will be.”

Bino scoffed. “Why? What’s the point of showing me things that have already happened? Why show me things I already know?”

The Ghost raised an eyebrow, her wry smile never leaving her face. “Do you truly remember? Or do you just choose to remember? And for that which is remembered, do you choose how to remember them?”

Before Bino could rebuke, she held her hand out towards him. “I was bidden to aid by one who loves you. Will you not indulge, for her sake alone?”

That stunned Bino for more than a few seconds. If, and this was a big if on Bino’s part, this wasn’t a dream and his mother did in fact organize this...

“What do I need to do?” Bino asked.

“Take my hand and hold on tight. Do not let go.” The Ghost said, keeping her hand steady.

Bino stared at the hand in question before slowly reaching out and grasping it his own.

Within seconds, The Ghost tightened her grip as the window blasted open, sending a torrent of snow and freezing air into the room.

Bino brought his free arm up to shield his face from the biting air before he started feeling a weightlessness take hold of his body.

Looking down, he saw that his feet were in fact slowly rising off the floor, the claws on his toes scraping the carpeting as the howling wind seemed to lift him into the air.

Bino was barely able to let out a scream before the Ghost flew out the window like a bullet, yanking Bino’s arm and pulling him across the night sky like a rag doll.

The Christmas lights in the streets below raced past in blurred, bright lines. Bino screamed in terror, holding on to the Ghost’s hand in a vice grip.

“OH GOD!! DON’T LET GO!! DON’T LET GOOO!!”

Still screaming his head off, Bino reached out with his other arm to grasp the Ghost’s robe, climbing and clambering up to the ghost to wrap his arms around her and hold on tight.

Bino screwed his eyes shut, feeling nauseous from witnessing the ground fly by so far below them. He felt the air rush past him as the Ghost continued to fly towards… wherever her destination lay, with Bino more or less along for the ride, whether he liked it or not.

Finally, after much, much, much too long, the rushing air gradually slowed to stillness and Bino felt a ‘thump’ as the tips of his toes touched what felt like cold, wet, stone.

Risking a look, Bino peeked with one eye open and saw that the Ghost had in fact landed on what looked to be a concrete sidewalk next to a road.

With a sigh of relief, Bino relinquished his hold on the spirit as he collapsed to his knees, breathing heavily.

“Oh, solid ground! Thankyouthankyouthankyou!!”

After kissing the snow-frosted sidewalk for a good few seconds, his head bolted up to glare at the Ghost, an innocent smile playing across her face.

“What the heck was that!? You nearly gave me a dang heart attack!”

“Let it never be said that the path to one’s past is always a gentle crossing.” The Ghost said, lightly patting Bino’s head before gesturing him to get to his feet. “Come now, we have much to see and little time to waste.”

“‘Path to one’s past’?” Bino repeated as he stood up. “What is that supposed to mean?”

“Look around.” The Ghost said, gesturing around them. “Does this place not seem familiar to you?”

Doing as the Ghost suggested, Bino gave a cursory scan to… wherever the spirit had flown them. One thing was for sure, they definitely weren’t in Babylon Gardens anymore. Babylon was a small town, suburban in every way save for a few eccentricities like the Milton Manor. But this…

This was a proper city! A megatropolis of steel skyscrapers, a veritable concrete jungle. Gone were the open roads and rows of trees that overlooked the neighboring forest. These buildings were tight, cramped, and arranged in an efficient grid.

People started to mill about, how had Bino not noticed them before? City energy was prevalent as the hustle and bustle pushed and shoved one another to get to where they were going. Not out of malice or hostility, but simply because they all had somewhere to be and couldn’t stop for trivial things like manners.

“Wait…” Bino said, squinting his eyes as he gave a more careful view of the city-scape, slowly recognizing the landmark they were in. Like a painting in the process of being made, the world around them seemed to ‘fill-in’ as details became more… real, for lack of a better term. The multitude of giant monitors and jumbotrons, arranged and propped up on the sides of all the surrounding buildings, feeding the comers and goers with media and advertisement twenty-four seven brought everything flooding back to Bino.

“We… We’re in Times Square.” Bino said, looking back at the Ghost.

“You took me to New York!?”

The Ghost nodded.

“B-but… That’s all the way on the other side of the country!” Bino babbled. “We were only flying for seconds, maybe a minute or two! How on earth did we get here so fast!”

“Think not of distance, but time.” The Ghost replied, floating silently to Bino’s side. “Two thousand and five hundred miles all exist within your memories. That is what we crossed, not the miles themselves.”

“But this… This is where I grew up. This is where I was born!” Bino said, still unable to truly grasp the scope of what had just transpired. “This… was my home.”

Bino looked around once more, as if making sure New York City was, indeed, still there. “Why have you brought me here?”

“I told you.” The Ghost admonished. “To show you what has been, so that you can take it into what might be. But before I can do that, I must ask you one simple question.”

“What?”

“Brooklyn or Queens?”

Bino was taken aback a bit by the bluntness of the question. “Um… Queens?”

The Ghost brought a finger to her lips in thought. “Hmm, I figured you’d be one or the other. No matter, time is still forever short. Take my hand once more and we’ll be off.” The Ghost said.

“Oh no! No way! I lost my lunch after last time, we can take the subway like God intended!” Bino said, crossing his arms in defiance.

The Ghost merely held up a hand, trying to calm her charge. “We are already in the past. Such passage is behind us now. This will be… gentler.”

The Ghost kept her hand where it was, clearly waiting for Bino. He glared at the offending appendage once more before slowly reaching out with his own hand.

“You better not be trying to pull one on me…”

Finally, Bino grasped the Ghost’s hand and, like before, a chill wind started to pick up around them. That said, this was a much more gentle breeze than the maelstrom from before. The wind surrounded them in a vortex of snow, blinding Bino to their surroundings. When the miniature blizzard subsided, Bino saw they were somewhere else entirely.

In front of Bino was a complex of small, brown houses, arranged in a loose slapdash of the same columns and rows as the rest of the city.

“Queensbridge.” The Ghost said, confirming what Bino already realized.

“Oh my God. I haven’t been here since I was a puppy.” Bino said, taking in the all-too-familiar sight. “Look! Look! That’s one of the neighborhood puppies I used to play with!”

Indeed, a small terrier pup was running up to the time-displaced pair, giggling like a mad man as he dodged a bombardment of snowballs from behind.

“Jack! Jack, it’s me! Bino!” Bino said, waving his arms wildly to get the terrier’s attention. At first, it seemed that the young Jack had indeed heard him as he raced straight towards the two… only to keep going as he passed through Bino’s legs, like water through a sieve.

“Woah! What the-!” Bino yelled out, jumping in surprise as pawed his legs, finding them just as solid as ever.

“These are the shadows of what has already been.” The Ghost explained, placing a comforting hand on Bino’s shoulder. “The past is written in stone, immutable. We are but phantoms to them. They cannot see us, hear us, nor touch us.”

“Oh…” Bino said, ears drooping. “I mean, I guess that makes sense. So, what do we do now-?”

But Bino’s question was cut off when he heard a decidingly familiar voice.

“You’re gonna get it, Jack!”

Looking back at where the snowballs were being flung from, Bino saw another young pup, barely up to his knees. A brown mutt with large, dark brown ears and wild green eyes.

“Oh…” Bino said.

Bino saw himself, no older than a year or barely past a toddler as far as dogs are concerned. The puppy was howling with laughter as he continued to lob snowballs at the equally jovial terrier, who had since bunkered behind a hill of shoveled snow to prepare a fresh supply of ammunition.

Bino stood there, for how long, he didn’t know, just watching his younger self play with his childhood best friend.

“I was a cute little scamp, wasn’t I?” He asked the Ghost, nudging her with his elbow.

“You would be hard-pressed to fail to find the joy and innocence a child can bring.” The Ghost said, watching with her own smile at the antics of the two boys. “But this is not why we’re here. Take my hand once more.”

For a moment, Bino was unwilling to leave the memory behind. How long after this simple little snowball fight had Bino ever been so carefree? He honestly couldn’t remember.

“Seems everyday these days, I’m worried about something or other.” Bino mused. “Making sure the G.O.D. stays running, making sure Duchess is happy, or just trying to get through the day without something pulling me down.”

“Bino.” The Ghost said.

“I know, I know.” He finally held his hand out, this time letting the Ghost take hold of him. As before, the wind picked up and they were transported by way of a flurry of snow.
Once again, Bino blinked as he took in his surroundings and found himself reeling in Deja Vu.

His old house.

Everything was exactly how he remembered it. The rustic brown, wooden paneling making up half the walls before giving way to plaster. The concave roof that made the house feel as cozy as a cabin. The fireplace filling the living room with dancing shadows.

Bino heard a babbling noise next to him as he glanced down at his feet, spotting an absolutely tiny baby pup with a brown spot over one of his blue eyes.

“Joey…” Bino muttered to himself, instinctually bending down to touch his now literally baby brother.

He pulled back as Joey waddled past him, paying him no mind.

Right, shadows of the past, Bino reminded himself.

His kept his gaze on the infant as he continued to waddle with purpose to the other denizen within the living room, waiting with open arms to scoop the pup up.

“Hey! There’s my little man!” Said Bino’s mother, looking just as beautiful as she did earlier that night in Bino’s kitchen.

Bino felt his throat tighten as he held back a choke.

“There is no need for silent reflection.” The Ghost said, reminding Bino of her presence. “Speak, what comes to mind?”

“What comes to mind?” Bino repeated. “What do you think? My mother is right there in front of me, who I haven’t seen in years. All I want to do right now is to go over there and give the biggest hug that I never could as a pup. But I can’t.”

For the first time since Bino met her, the Ghost’s face fell. In sadness? In pity? Who knows?

Suddenly, the door opened as Bino’s younger self came bounding in, covered in snow as the spoils of victory.

“Bye, Jack! I’ll seeya tomorrow!” Bino’s younger self called out from the open door.

“Bye, Bino! Merry Christmas!” Bino heard Jack’s voice from outside.

The younger Bino was about to step into the house proper before his mother sprang up.
“Oh no you don’t, mister. Let me get a towel before you track snow all over Jason’s house.” She said, gently placing Joey back down on the floor before going down a side-hallway where Bino remembered there being a linen closet.

“Aw, Mom!” The younger Bino pouted.

“Don’t ‘Mom’ me.” She said from down the hall before coming back with a white towel.

The younger Bino only offered minimal resistance as he was scrubbed down by his mother. “Who cares about that dumb-dumb Jason?”

“I do. He’s a good human and he’s given us a good home. Least we can do is not make a mess of it.” His mother explained.

“Well, yeah. Aren’t humans supposed to give us homes?” The younger Bino asked.

His mother sighed. “Not always, sweetie.”

As she pulled the towel away, she looked down at her handywork and had to fight back a giggle at her son’s mussed up fur. She gently grabbed his chin to pull his face up to look at her. “Hey, let’s lose the grumpy-face, okay? You know what tomorrow is?” She said, a playful smirk on her face.

Immediately, Bino’s face lit up. “Christmas!”

All annoyance at her mother’s fussiness disappeared as the young pup charged into the house, bouncing like a rubber ball. “It’s Christmas, it’s Christmas, it’s Christmas!”

Bino stopped his chanting as he turned back to his mother, excitement clear on his face. “Can we please get a tree this year? We haven’t had a tree in soooo long!”

His mother sighed as her smile fell. “I know, sweetie. Next year, I promise. Come hail or high water, we will get a Christmas Tree.”

The pup was clearly upset, but it passed in a blink. Whatever minor disappointments may come, it was clear it wasn’t going to impede his enjoying the holidays.

At least, that’s what Bino remembered thinking. Until next year actually came.

This time, the Ghost did not offer her hand. This time, there was no vortex of snow. The house remained just as it was, but the people within started to fade away.

“Hey, what’s going on?” Bino asked the Ghost.
“Watch.”

Bino did as the Ghost said and kept his eyes peered for whatever would come next. Just as the figures within the memory started to fade away, new figures began to fade in.

There sat two such actors in this play of memory at the dining room table, at the far back of the house. One was his mother, looking much more dour than usual. Sitting across from her was a young, human man, a messy scruff of a beard covering his jaw.

“Amy, we can’t keep putting this off.” The young man said.

“Don’t pretend this is such an easy choice, Jason.” She said, her words biting with spite. “These are my children we’re talking about.”

“Amy, I’ve done everything I can.” He pleaded. “It’s not like this doesn’t hurt me too. I love those pups, and it’s precisely because I love them, because we love them that we have to do what’s best for them.”

Amy sighed as her face fell into her hands, unwilling to let Jason see her. “I can’t. Jason, I can’t!”

She looked up, tears streaming down her face. “I can’t just give them away.”

“So many other pets go through this.” Jason offered. “It’s just not realistic to expect me to provide for an entire family of dogs, no matter how much I may want to. This is… normal.”

“Not me!” Amy snapped. “Not my pups!”

“I’ve tried, Amy.” Jason said. “I’ve tried my best to give you all a home you could be safe in, but it’s just not possible anymore. What am I going to do when I can’t pay my bills? When I can’t pay for our food? If we don’t do this, then you and your pups will be outside in the cold. At least this way, they can still have good, kind homes to take care of them.”

Amy was silent for a long time, her tears never stopping as she choked and sobbed. “You promise me… Jason, you promise me that no matter what, they won’t be separated. Wherever they go, they go together. Even if they don’t have me, they are going to have each other.”

“I promise.” Jason said, taking Amy’s hand in his own. “I’ve already been scoping this place out. Big, open suburbs they can run around and play in. Real nice, friendly people that love pets. I mean, adore pets. They’ll be treated like royalty.”

“Where?” Amy said, bluntly.

“... A long ways away, on the west coast. A place called Babylon Gardens.”

Amy said nothing, then finally nodded. “Okay… Just… Don’t say anything yet. Christmas is tomorrow. Let them enjoy it.”

Jason nodded. “I won’t say a word.”

They didn’t need to, Bino thought. This was his memory after all. As Bino fought back his tears, he looked behind him to confirm what he already knew.

His younger self, peeking from the edge of the hallway, shocked and horrified upon hearing his mother agreeing to give him up.

The actors leave the stage, the curtain falls, and all is black.

As if worried about letting his mother see, he finally relented and allowed the tears to come forth.

“They had to rip me away from her when it came time for us to leave. I wouldn’t stop screaming.” Bino said, forgetting for just a second that he wasn’t alone.

“Did you ever see her again?” The Ghost asked.

“The three of us only ever went back to New York together once…”

“For the funeral.”

“Take my hand.”

Bino wordlessly did as he was told.

The vortex came and went, just as it did before, and suddenly Bino was back home.

His other home, Babylon Gardens.

“So is that it?” Bino said, rubbing his eyes. “Are we done?”

“There were other Christmases beyond that.” She said.

“What? Are we going to go through each and every one?” Bino snapped.

“Take heart, Bino. Our journey is not yet over.”

“And when will it be!?” Bino yelled, turning to face the Ghost, snarling. “What more do you want from me? Is this just how you get your kicks? Are you enjoying this?”

The Ghost held firm, neither sadness, nor rage, nor joy on her face. “What I do, I do not to harm you, but to help you. To show you memories of what was-”

“Yeah, yeah! ‘To carry them into what will be’.” Bino said, parroting her words back at her. “Well, go on then! Show me what was! What’s next on this demented slideshow?”

The Ghost gestured behind him. “See for yourself.”

Begrudgingly, Bino turned on his heel to see himself once more, older than he was but still younger than he is. Teenaged, if such a term meant anything for dogs.

As the younger Bino trudged along the snow-kissed streets of Babylon, he grumbled and muttered to himself, clearly perturbed.

“Okay, so clearly I’m not having a very Merry Christmas.” Bino said, watching himself march by. “What’s your point?”

The Ghost said nothing, but clearly there was some response to Bino’s query as the world dissolved and reformed, placing the duo within quite the familiar abode.

“The D.O.G.?” Bino asked. “Wait, something’s off here.”

Looking around the oft-abandoned Rec Center, Bino took notice of how barren the building was of the usual accoutrements. There were less chairs, less refreshments, less dogs!

Those that were in attendance were of a much younger crowd than Bino was used to seeing within the club.

“Wait a minute, I know what this is!” Bino said, marching over to the speaker’s podium. Upon which stood a stack of note cards, detailing in bullet points the larger beats of a prepared speech.

“This is our first Christmas Party! This was only a few months after Fido and I founded the club…”

Bino looked out over the gathered crowd, suddenly hitting him how positively tiny the turn-up was. “God, I don’t remember it being so small. We look less like a club and more like a bunch of kids messing around. Back then, it all seemed larger than life. Like I was doing something really important for the dogs of this town.”

“And were you?” The Ghost said, suddenly appearing next to Bino, making him jump.

“Gah! Uh… Well, I’d like to think that I was. I mean, by definition, dogs don’t really have a lot of worries, but I still felt like the club gave a greater sense of community to the dogs of this town.”

“It wasn’t really a matter of doing so much as being.”

“And are you proud of this achievement?” The Ghost asked, floating to hover by Bino’s other side.

“Heck yeah, I’m proud!” Bino exclaimed. “It may not look like much now, but this club really skyrockets into becoming something amazing!”

“Ahem.” A voice said behind him. Turning around, Bino saw his own younger self step up to the podium. Reacting more than acting, Bino stepped out of his own way as the more adolescent of them picked up his note cards.

“Hello, and welcome to the Good Ol’ Dogs Club’s first annual Christmas Party! Hopefully the first of many, many more to come!”

The assembled dogs gave a polite round of applause, one even being nice enough to give a hearty ‘Yeah!’

“Now, I know things are a little light in terms of party favors. The G.O.D. is explicitly non-profit, after all. But I hope that we can all band together next year and the year after to make each Christmas Party even better than the last!”

‘Tight’ was putting it mildly, from what Bino actually remembered from the event. No one in the D.O.G. outside of Fido had much in the way of a sustainable salary. So the budget for the party was more or less limited to whatever Bino could beg his Dad to spring for.

To that end, one single punch bowl filled with kool-aid, and a cheap karaoke machine with one busted microphone that his Dad dug out of their attic. They were living the high life.

Bino rubbed the back of his neck as he looked back on just how pitiful it all really was. He actually couldn’t help but agree when some of the other dogs started eyeing the exit, his younger self completely unaware of how much he was blowing this.

“For now, let’s put aside thoughts of what might be and focus on what is here and now. And here and now, we are surrounded by good company and good tidings. For we are Good Ol’ Dogs!” The younger Bino said, finishing his speech in anticipation of applause.

To his credit, a few did give a clap or two. Mostly out of politeness.

But, as is always the way, the showboat had to showboat, Bino thought.

Knowing it was coming, yet dreading it all the same, Bino winced as the doors to the Rec Center flung open as a squad of dogs in K-9 uniforms suddenly marched into the main foyer, pulling along with them a table on wheels with a bountiful feast of all kinds of Christmas goodies, including an honest to God turkey sitting pretty in the center.

As the assembled dogs ‘Ooh’ed and ‘Aah’ed over the spread of food, another unit of police dogs brought in yet another table, this one carrying a coffee machine rigged to also make hot chocolate. Another unit wheeled in a not-too-small Christmas Tree, already decorated and shining pretty. Another unit wheeled in an actual karaoke machine that made Bino’s karaoke machine feel self-conscious about itself.

Finally, at the end of this parade of everything anyone could ever want for a Christmas Party, who else would be the bringer of this bounty than Fido himself, decked out to the nines in his spiffy K-9 uniform.

“Merry Christmas, G.O.D! From the offices of the K-9 unit to you!” Fido called out, eliciting an uproarious applause from the assembled club members. “Help yourselves to all the refreshments you could want, the boys in blue and I are gonna be busy setting up this little number.” He said, patting the not-at-all busted karaoke machine.

The younger Bino stood stock-still from his position on the podium, all attention from the club completely off him, as his eye twitched at this display. He clambered down from his perch to march over to his brother, currently working with another police dog over how to set up the karaoke machine.

“Hah! My brother, ladies and gents!” Bino said, raising his voice over the sudden chatter of the previously taciturn club members. “You can always count on him!”

Giving a fake laugh, Bino turned towards Fido, all joy gone from his face. “What is this!?” Bino hissed at his brother. “Where did all of this come from!?”

Fido smiled his wide smile as he clasped his hands over his little brother’s shoulders. “Isn’t it great! I was just telling the boys back at the station about our club, and they wanted to pitch in for the Christmas Party! Really make it one to remember.”

“Well, the rookie gave us a pretty good pitch.” A german-shepard K-9 said, currently untangling the power cord for the karaoke machine. “A club like this can be really good for fostering a sense of community. Not just for dogs but everyone in Babylon Gardens. Your older bro’s really got a good head and a good heart for putting all this together.”

Fido blushed as he rubbed the back of his head. “Aw, shucks! I can’t take all the credit. Bino here… Bino?” He looked back to where his brother was standing not moments ago, just missing seeing the door to the Rec Center close.
---
Once more, Bino and the Ghost were outside, seeing a repeat of his adolescent self walking past, grumbling.

“Yeah, that was pretty much par for the course, I’m afraid.” Bino remarked, watching his younger self sulk away. “No matter how hard I try, no matter how much effort I put in, all Fido has to do is just exist and the universe will always find a way to make him the Golden Boy.”

“Must recognition always follow? Is the effort put in not its own reward?” The Ghost genuinely asked.

“Sure, in a perfect world. But we’re not perfect. Heck, I’m not perfect.” Bino admitted. “Of course we want recognition for what we do. There’s nothing wrong about wanting to feel appreciated. But so long as Fido was around, hogging the spotlight, I’d be lucky if people remembered my name.”

“You really have no idea how bad it was.” Bino said, turning to the Ghost. “How bad it still is! I wasn’t just jealous of the guy, I was non-existent! What am I supposed to take pride in when, no matter what, he’ll always upstage me? How am I supposed to muster the ability to care about whether or not I’m doing the right thing when the universe will always conspire to make it so that I am always wrong and he is always right.”

Bino threw his hands up in frustration. “Because, you know what? They’re right! Fido is amazing! He is just that dang good at everything he tries! He is an absolutely fine, moral, upstanding pillar of the community! And a pillar that big, a pillar that massive… casts an awfully big shadow.”

As Bino continued to rant and rave, the Ghost only floated, still as a leaf. Hearing all he had to say. Bino huffed as he sat back on a sidewalk bench.

“You could go blind in a shadow that big.”

“Was it not you who claimed that the club was to foster community? Is that not what you and your brother both accomplished, together?” The Ghost asked.

“And yet, only his name will be remembered.” Bino said, spitefully. “They’ll only ever cheer for him. They’ll only ever beg him for his poppius.”

“Poppius?”

“Inside joke, you wouldn’t get it.”

“I just wish…” Bino said, looking off to the side. “I just wish he could see how much he’s hurting me. Because it does, y’know? It does hurt. That’s the worst part, that he doesn’t even notice. That as far as he’s concerned: He’s the bestest big brother in the whole wide world.”

The Ghost was silent as she let Bino muse, their journey through the past clearly taking its toll on the young dog.

“If it helps…” The Ghost offered. “I do know of one animal here in Babylon who did, in fact, appreciate you… for a time, at least.”

Bino’s ears perked up as he looked towards the Ghost, the tiniest spark of hope in his eyes.

“Who?”

“Will you take my hand, one last time?”

Bino thought for a second, then grasped the spirit’s hand, now embracing the vortex of snow.

When his vision returned, Bino saw… that it was only moments after. There his younger self was, still just as perturbed over the farce of a Christmas Party, trudging along.

“So what is this now?” Bino asked.

“It is a rare, but wondrous gift when one heart touches another.” The Ghost said. “Made all the more bittersweet when such a gift is lost.”

As Bino watched his younger self, the tiniest inkling of a memory began to come forth.

The younger Bino sniffled though he refused to cry, refused to give his brother the satisfaction. He was about to cut his losses and head home, when he heard something muffled nearby.

Turning the corner on the sidewalk, Bino traced the sound to an alleyway, leading just down to a dead-end. Poking his head into the alley, just a bit, Bino swore he could make out the sound of…

Crying?

Weighing his options, Bino looked to his left and right, trying to see if there were anyone else to take notice of the mysterious crying noise. Anyone else who could deal with this problem and leave his conscious unscathed.

No such luck. It was the afternoon on a Christmas, everyone would be huddled up inside with their families. Everyone except Bino, that is. And whoever this mystery cryer was.

Groaning, Bino knew he wouldn’t forgive himself if he left now. Steeling his resolve, he tip-toed down into the alleyway, taking great care not to make any sudden noises. After all, just because something cried didn’t mean it couldn’t tear you limb from limb just for startling it.

Bears could cry, wolves could cry, incredibly lost tasmanian devils could cry.

Finally, Bino reached the dead-end of the alley, and rounded around the lone dumpster at the end, the only place any crying creature could be.

To his surprise, and relief, it was just a cat. A pitiful looking periwinkle cat with purple stripes who looked to be about the same age as him. He guessed, he wasn’t sure how well that translated to cat years.

Bino breathed out a loud sigh. “Are you freaking kidding me? It’s just some cat?”

The cat in question shot her head up, startled at the sudden new presence. “Wh-Wha-?”

“What’s the matter? Someone steal your nip?” Bino asked, hands on his hip as he looked down at the sitting kitten. “What are you doing here?”

The cat said nothing as she looked the pup in front of her over, as if appraising him. “Um… Nothing.”

“Yeah, it looks like a whole lotta ‘nothing’.” Bino said. “Y’know, you could have seriously worried someone with all that boo-hooing.”

The cat tilted her head, wiping her tears off on her arm. “You… you were worried?”

Bino blushed, taking a step back as he held his hands up. “I-I didn’t say that! Of course I wasn’t worried, I hardly know you!”

“Um… I’m Allegra.”

“Okay, wasn’t really asking, but…” Bino trailed off. He stood there, not meeting the cat’s eyes. “Look, are… Are you okay?” He finally asked. “You’re not, like, in trouble or anything, are you? Do I have to be on the lookout for someone whose got beef with you?”

Allegra’s eyes widened as she shook her head. “No! No, nothing like that! I was just… um…”

“Yeah?” Bino coaxed. “Come on, spit it out.”

Allegra tried in vain to find the right words, or at least words she would actually want to say, before sighing in defeat. “I’m trying to find someplace to sleep. All my usual spots have been taken by some larger toms and, now, I don’t know where to go.”

Bino mentally slapped himself. Of course, he thought. An alleycat.

“Boy, that…” Bino said, tugging the edge of his collar. “Yeah, that sucks.”

Two regarded each other in an awkward silence.

“Well… bye!” Bino said, giving a half-hearted wave before taking off back the way he came.

“Oh… Um, okay. Bye…”

Bino was about to clear the alleyway, back into the fresh air of the empty street ahead of him…

When he heard crying again.

Stopping dead in his tracks, Bino clawed at his face in frustration, already regretting what he was about to do.

“Hey!” He called back into the alley, grabbing Allegra’s attention.

“Y-Yeah?” Allegra said, poking her head out from the side of the dumpster.

“Look, I might have a place you can stay.” Bino said, rubbing his arm. “But only for a few nights! It’s not a five-star resort, but it’s a roof over your head and the rent is free, so-”

Whatever further snark Bino had planned was interrupted when a blur of periwinkle suddenly slammed into him, almost knocking him to the ground as arms wrapped tight around his chest.

“THANKYOUTHANKYOUTHANKYOU!!!”

Bino grimaced as he instinctively withdrew from her touch, barely managing to muster the stomach to give her a light pat on the back.
---
Bino peeked out over the fence to his human’s backyard. No one in sight.

“Okay, be very quiet and do as I say, got it?” Bino whispered to the kitten beside him.

“Mmhm.” Allegra nodded, smiling for the first time since Bino met her.

Two went to work, clambering up and over the fence before leaping off to the other side. Allegra landing gracefully on her feet… while Bino slipped his footing and landed on his butt.

To her credit, Allegra immediately went over to help the pup to his feet, brushing the dirt off his posterior.

“Woah, hey!” Bino exclaimed, pushing Allegra aside. “Hands off the merch!”

“Oh! Heh, sorry.” Allegra said, sheepishly. “So… Where to?”

“Up there.” Bino said, pointing straight up.

Allegra followed his finger up to the canopy of the lone tree in the Byron household’s backyard, taken aback a bit at the sizeable treehouse resting in the branches.

“Yeah, that’s been there since before Dad moved in.” Bino said. “I don’t really use it, so I guess you could stay here, for a little bit.”

Bino looked to his side… only to see that Allegra had already bolted up the tree and making her way inside.

“Wh-? Hey! Hold it!”

With a little more effort on his part, Bino was able to clamber up the wooden ladder to the doors of the treehouse, seeing that Allegra had already made herself quite comfortable.

“This is amazing!” Allegra said, twirling around the interior of the treehouse as though it were the Grand Hall of Buckingham Palace. “I can’t believe you’re letting me stay here!”

“For a few nights!” Bino reminded her. “I don’t want my Dad finding out I let some squatter onto his property, got it? You get your bearings, you get your head on straight, then you leave.”

“Oh… Right, right, of course.” Allegra said.

“Alright, so… You want anything to eat?”

Bino immediately knew he said something wrong when Allegra zipped up to him, putting her face very close to his face. Way too close for Bino’s comfort.

“You mean you’re going to feed me!?” Allegra said, eyes shimmering.

“Uhhhhh… Sure?”

Allegra blushed a deep crimson. “Wow…”
---
From below the treehouse, The Ghost of Christmas Past observed the shenanigans of the two children, letting out a mirthful giggle. “And how long did she stay in your treehouse?”

Bino scoffed. “Almost half a year, the little mooch. A few nights, my tail!” He yelled out to the children above him, knowing full-well they couldn’t hear him.

“You showed kindness and compassion to a soul in need, and for very little recognition beyond her own.” The Ghost praised.

“For all the good it did me.” Bino muttered as he side-eyed the Ghost. “Look, I know you know how this ends. I know what’s coming, so let’s just get it over with.”

The Ghost’s smile took a bittersweet twinge, like a patient mother trying to explain why an unruly child’s behaviour was unacceptable. “As you wish.”
---
Months past, for the memory at least. From Bino’s perspective, it had only been seconds. He stood now in a playground, watching with detached apathy as his younger self and Allegra faced each other, framed on all sides by symbols of childhood.

Bino couldn’t have picked a better backdrop to ruin their childhoods if he tried.

“I don’t… I don’t understand?” Allegra muttered. Her eyes were red.

“Look, do I need to spell it out for you!” Bino yelled out. “We can’t hang out anymore. Ok? Take a look at us, Allegra. Take a good, long look.”

“I’m… I’m looking, but I don’t know what you want me too-?”

“You’re a cat!” Bino finally said, bring it all up to bare. “I’m a dog! This isn’t normal. We’re not supposed to be friends!”

“But… But we are! We are friends, Bino!” Allegra pleaded. “I don’t care if you’re a dog!”

“Well, that’s great for you, Allegra, but others aren’t going to be so open-minded. I’m the head of the G.O.D., for crying out loud! Do you know what will happen to my image if the club finds out about you? About us? They’ll think I’m a cat-lover!”

“What… What’s so wrong with that!?” Allegra said, sadness slowly giving way to anger. “So what if your a cat-lover? I don’t care!”

“Well I do!” Bino said. “Because I’m not, Ok? I am not some brain-damaged degenerate who's going to throw away everything I’ve been building up to for some flea-bitten, mangy, alleycat!”

The word ‘alleycat’ echoed in the air. The playground was silent.

“Tell me you never cared about me.” Allegra said, garing daggers at Bino. “Tell me the time we spent together meant nothing to you, and I’ll leave.”

Bino was silent, fuming.

“Why would I care about a cat?”

There were no more words. Allegra merely turned around, and walked away.

The actors leave the stage, the curtain falls, and all is black.

“So, there it is.” Bino remarked, knowing the Ghost was right behind him. “My first friend in this dump, and I kicked her to the curb. And do you want to know what the worst part is?”

He turned to face the Ghost, her smile now completely gone. “I would do it again.” Bino said, neither sadness nor joy in this statement. “I wouldn’t enjoy it, but I would do it. Because everything I said still holds true. There was no future there. Not for the two of us.”

The Ghost sighed. She seemed… older. Do ghosts age? Bino thought. Her flame seemed to be getting dimmer. “Your brother did not seem to reach the same conclusion.”

“And look how that turned out for him! Kicked out of the G.O.D., on probation from the K-9, made the laughing stock of the entire neighborhood!”

“And, yet, he is happy.”

“Well, bully for him!” Bino shouted. “But there are more important things than happiness, even my own!”

For the first time since Bino had met her, the Ghost lost all traces of mirth, all traces of patience. “And what important matters they are. Recognition and renown, the cheering crowd, at long last, the spot light! Tell me, how lonely are you in that spot light?”

“Shut up.”

“While Fido huddles by the fire with his lady, bundled and safe from the winter cold, how comforting are the congratulations?

“Shut up.”

“As Allegra feeds those who are hungry and needy in her alley, how much good does your solitude spread?”

“Shut up!”

“You are a child seeking attention, ever distraught when others earn through deed and through heart.”

“I SAID SHUT UP!!”

Bino did not think, he just acted. Always, he only ever just acted.

He grasped at the brass cone, wrenching it out of the Ghost’s grip, before slamming it down on the spirit’s fiery head, fully intent on snuffing out her flame.

A blinding light burst out from the rim of the cone as her head was engulfed, but Bino screwed his eyes tights and held firm, tightening his grip on the brass cone.

Finally, the struggling ceased. As Bino opened his eyes, he saw that he was alone. The Ghost of Christmas Past was gone, the brass cone had disappeared from his hands.

He was back in his room.

The clock read 1:48.

[trekkie]

That was very good. I like how you showed us how Bino came to be who he is, I can relate to him to a certain extent, it always felt like I was in my brother’s shadow. It must have been hard on Bino to leave his friends and neighborhood. None of this excuses his nastiness, of course but it does help explain it.

[Amazee Dayzee]

Really digging how exactly this chapter has come out! Looking forward to the Ghost of Christmas Present next!

[Nathan Kerbonaut]

Outstanding chapter. Bino's past certainly explains a lot about his present self. Though he's made mistakes, I sympathize for him.

[Amazee Dayzee]

I think that we all can sympathize with him a bit better now.

[NHWestoN]

Lyrical and touching.

[JageshemashFTW]

Bino didn’t attempt to go back to sleep. He knew there would be no point.

At this point, Bino knew he would have to be the highest caliber of moron to still think, after all of this, that this was still just a dream. And he wasn’t quite there, just yet.

No, his mother really did contact him from beyond the grave. He really did meet a primordial spirit of Christmas. He really did travel to the past and saw his greatest failures displayed before him.

The clock read 1:55. Five more minutes.

Bino pondered what would come next. Three ghosts, his mother told him. Each appearing one after the other, every hour on the hour. Who would this next ghost be? What would they show him, and for what purpose?

And more importantly, would he care to listen? Bino clenched his hand, still feeling the cold, copper in his touch from when he wrenched the cone from the Ghost of Christmas Past.

He was sure he didn’t… kill her. She was a ghost, she was already dead. If she had ever been alive to begin with.

No, wherever the Ghost went, she was still as well as ever. She was simply… fed up with Bino. He couldn’t blame her.

Because it didn’t change what he did do. Everything the ghost said was the truth, whether Bino wanted to admit it or not. He took her concerns, her empathy, her guidance, and he spat it back in her face.

He wondered what his mother would think of him right now.

The clock read 1:59. Bino covered his ears, wincing as he waited for what he knew was coming.

The moment that clock read 2:00, the booming bells returned in full force. Now that Bino knew they were coming, and had time to prepare himself, it was a much easier time riding out the thunderous noise until it finally subsided.

As the chiming died down back into silence, they were replaced by another noise. One much more inviting and comforting than the ominous bells.

Laughter. Great booming laughter, carrying boundless joy and wonder up to the dark and cold interior of Bino’s room, coming from downstairs.

Bino sighed and stood up, deigning to get this over with. He casually walked past Max’s room, not at all surprised to seem him dozing away, not a care in the world. Of course Max couldn’t hear the bells or the laughter. They weren’t meant for him.

Bino stopped at the head of the staircase leading down, trying in vain to gain a peek of whatever might be waiting for him below.

He saw a golden light coming from their living room, but not much else. The booming laughter continued and Bino wondered if this second spirit was Father Christmas himself for how boisterous he was.

Apparently, the spirit was getting impatient from Bino simply standing atop the stairs, and his laughter died down to speak.

“Come in! Come in, and know me better, Man!”

Bino gulped and marched down the stairs, ready as he would ever be.

As he descended, his eyes widened at the sight before him, his breath taken from him before he could utter a word.

From one corner of the living room to the other was a feast of food, the scope of which Bino was sure had never been seen by man, all the hallmarks of a classic Christmas banquet: turkey, roast ham, long links of smoked sausages, stacks upon stacks of cookies, towers of pies and buckets of pudding. Cornucopias large enough for Bino to physically walk into filled to the brim with fresh fruits and vegetables.

But more than the variety of food was the sheer volume. Were Bino to invite every single man, woman, child, and pet in Babylon to come and eat this feast to their full, he would still have enough left over to fill every piece of tupperware in his house.

And that would maybe cover half of it.

It seemed like such a banquet should be physically impossible for his meager living room to contain it all, and yet it did. Whether by some trick of the eye or honest to goodness ‘Christmas Magic’, Bino couldn’t say.

The golden light Bino had noticed before was awash all throughout the room, seemingly coming from everywhere and nowhere at the same time, making the room feel all the more cosy and the food all the more delectable looking.

At the center of the smorgasbord, in an ornate yet comfy looking wooden chair, sat whom Bino could only assume was the second spirit of the night.

This spirit was, in many ways, the opposite of the first. While the Ghost of Christmas Past was a lithe, gentle-looking, young lady, this spirit was larger than life and louder than thunder. A massive mountain of a steel-gray bulldog wrapped in a green robe with white, fluffy trimming going down the length of it. A crown of holly circled his head, bringing Bino’s attention to his emerald-green eyes that sparkled with an untold wonder.

But what caught Bino’s attention more than anything else was an empty scabbard tied to the side of the spirit’s waist with a belt of leather. Bino gulped at the thought of such a large man brandishing an appropriately large sword, but he saw no trace of a sword within the scabbard nor anywhere nearby.

He continued his jolly laughter as he took monstrous bites of a frankly comically oversized turkey leg, regarding Bino with a playful smirk.

“Come in, and know me better, Man!” The Ghost said, spreading his arms wide in greeting, a smile from ear to ear.

“You… already said that.” Bino remarked, slowly approaching the massive spectre.

“Oh, did I?” The Ghost said, looking genuinely apologetic. “You’ll have to forgive me. When one lives in the moment, it can be hard to keep track of what has been.” As if to punctuate his point, the spirit bit off another shred of meat from his turkey leg, washing it down with a drinking horn filled with a purple liquid Bino was hoping was juice.

“You’re a little absent-minded, spirit.” Bino said, smirking a little at the display before him.

The Ghost wiped his mouth off on his green sleeve, which Bino noticed looked immaculately clean and not covered in turkey grease at all. “No, I am a large, absent-minded spirit!”

The Ghost had a laugh at his joke while Bino took another, closer look at the food surrounding him, taking in the smells and warmth from the still freshly cooked meats.

“You’re welcome to partake, if you so choose.” The Ghost said, taking notice of Bino’s salivating. “But tarry naught, we’ve much to do and little time to do it.”

Bino, not wanting to reject the Ghost’s hospitality, snapped off a link of sausage before taking an experimental bite. Immediately, Bino’s head shot back as the juices and seasoning of the link rushed down his throat, filling his stomach with a comforting warmth. One single bite, and Bino was about ready to collapse onto the floor in a food-coma.

“What… is all this?” Bino said, gesturing vaguely about him. “Where did it all come from?”

“This feast is man’s generosity to man. Every shared piece of food, every kindness paid forward, every well wish and good tidings makes its way to this banquet.” The Ghost said. “If I may, you’re own contributions to this feast have made much to be desired.”

As he said this, the Ghost reached into a pocket in his robe and flicked something small and round towards Bino.

Acting on instinct, Bino caught the tiny bauble and examined it closely.

“A grape?” Bino said, wondering where the spirit was going with this.

“You’re own kindness when you gave a home to a fellow in need.” The Ghost said before snorting. “A miracle it has not shriveled into a husk.”

Bino slowly closed his hand around the grape, taking care not to crush it. A flash of a vision crossed his mind as he saw Allegra’s smiling face for but a second.

“Keep it.” The Ghost said. “But do not eat it. It is not meant for you.”

“Then who is it meant for?” Bino asked.

“If kindness be repaid, be it matched with kindness.” The Ghost said, getting up from his seat.

Bino shrugged, not even attempting to try and make sense of the Ghost’s riddle. He pocketed the grape in one of the compartments in his collar, meeting the Ghost’s eyes.

“So what happens now? I’m assuming you have some more trips down memory lane to show me?”

The Ghost let out another boisterous laugh, slapping Bino on the back a little harder than necessary, Bino thought. “Be I the Ghost of what has already been? Nay, sir. I am he that is now. I am the wonder and merriment that can only be found in the here and now. I am the warmth of family as they shelter us from the frozen cold. What has been, what will be, matters not for this is the night before the day when all is calm and all is bright.”

The Ghost gave Bino another smirk, Bino swearing he could see an honest-to-god twinkle in his emerald eyes. “I am the Ghost of Christmas Present!”

“Christmas Present?” Bino parroted. “As in… Now? Right now, right this very second?”

The Ghost shrugged. “Eh, give or take an extra twenty-four hours.”

“Still though, kind-of feels like you got jipped on the positioning.” Bino remarked. “I mean, the first Ghost gets all of the past to play around in, and you only get one day?”

“The past was, once upon a time, the present.” The Ghost said, walking casually to the door. “What will be will eventually become what was, but not before it meets me. Every Christmas, another of my kind is born to partake in the joy of Christmas, spreading faith and good-cheer. I have over two-thousand brothers and sisters, by way of Christmas.”

“Two-thousand, eh?” Bino said. “I can barely handle having two. You must have a lot of fun writing Christmas Cards to every single one of them.”

The Ghost laughed his laugh again, but Bino noticed it was a bit sharper than before. A bark rather than a bellow.

“Come then. The night wanes and we’ve our business to attend. Mustn’t tarry.” The Ghost said, gently pushing Bino on the back towards the door.

“It’s freezing cold outside!” Bino snapped. “Can’t I at least grab a coat?”

“Ugh, always dithering about when the time is now!” The Ghost said. Bino watched as the Ghost, in a huff, lifted his drinking horn up before snapping his fingers at the lip of the horn, igniting the contents inside into a small flame.

“This shall keep us plenty warm enough.” The Ghost said, brandishing his new make-shift torch as he opened the door.

Surprisingly, the Ghost was right as Bino could barely feel the chill to his skin from the blast of cold air. He did not exactly feel warmth so much as he felt a lack of cold.

“Best you grab hold of the tassels of my robe. You do not want to end up lost on so dark a night.” The Ghost said, handing one such tassel hanging off his leather belt to Bino.

Bino, knowing better than to question some weird ghost-logic, took hold of the tassel and held it tight as the Ghost led the way into the inky, blackness of night.

As the two walked on, Bino noticed that it was, indeed, unnaturally dark even for a winter’s night. All about the two was a pitch void that Bino instinctually drew back from, unaware of what was waiting within. The only source of light was from the Ghost’s flaming drinking horn, enveloping the two in a bubble of golden light, almost like a shield protecting them from the darkness surrounding the two.

Bino’s eyes trailed from the tassel in his hand to the leather belt to the empty scabbard bouncing off the Ghost’s side.

“If you don’t mind my asking…” Bino said. “Why is your scabbard empty?”

The Ghost laughed once more. “One can hardly champion the cause of peace were one to wield a weapon of war.”

“Then why carry a scabbard at all?” Bino asked.

“Because while I may never draw a blade from this scabbard, mankind eventually will.”

Bino was silent after that as the Ghost kept leading him… wherever he was leading him.

No matter how far or how long they traveled, Bino’s eyes refused to adjust to the pitch blackness around. Bino wondered if the rest of the world beyond the light of the Ghost’s torch even still existed. But after long, much too long in Bino’s mind, something other that inky black appeared on the horizon.

It was almost as though some heavenly hand painted a part of the world within the darkness then abandoned the project part-ways. From the edge of nothingness, the two wanderers suddenly found themselves walking along a cement street.

It wasn’t until the void had been completely replaced with actual matter and substance that Bino realized it wasn’t a street at all, as Bino was beset on both sides of the cement path by looming buildings giving way to walled off, wooden fence-posts before going back to brick and mortar walls, pressing into Bino in a tight, narrow corridor.

“What’s so special about some dank, dingy alley?” Bino wondered aloud.

“Judge not the home for where the hearth is kept. Judge the warmth said hearth gives.” The Ghost said, continuing his trek without breaking stride. “There are many who have no recourse, no refuge from the elements. Speak no ill of them, not while I stand alongside.”

Bino nodded, fearing he may have touched a nerve. The last thing he needed was two primordial entities mad at him.

“We are here.” The Ghost said, stepping aside so that Bino could see.

Bino took in a slight gasp, not sure what he was expecting to see, but certainly not this.

Just ahead, gated by a moth-eaten banner of cloth hung from one side of the alley to the other, was some sort of gathering place. By all accounts, it looked like some kind of outdoor restaurant, if all the furnishings and accoutrements were, at best, scrounged up at bargain bin clearance sales and, at worsts, dug up from a nearby dump.

But what really took Bino’s interest was the fact that the entire establishment, if it could even garner such an epithet, was crowded with more cats than Bino had ever seen gathered in one place.

Many of the cats were clearly customers, lounging back on makeshift chairs made from apple crates and copper-wire spools. Some cats were clearly more comfortable on their feet, dancing the night away as a pair of cats in the corner played instrumental Christmas carols on a violin and keyboard, respectively.

Certain cats were apparently meant to serve as staff, seating guests (whom even more were slowly trickling in… Even through Bino’s incorporeal form) or taking orders before sending them to the back of the alley, where whatever constituted for a kitchen was located.

The ‘kitchen’ in question was little more than a repurposed oven with a few rows of microwaves and hotplates for lesser meals, but it appeared to do the job.

“Wait, I… I think I’ve heard of this place.” Bino said, searching his memories. “Something Allegra said earlier today, about a club for cats. Heath-something...”

Bino looked up at the Ghost, craning his neck to meet his eyes. “Is this it?”

The Ghost said nothing at first, merely scanned the crowded alley, smiling at the dancing cats or at the cats digging into their, admittedly, good-looking meals.

“Whether by fire or by thunder, whether warm or cold, Christmas has a way of bringing the spirit of merriment to all who gather under a single hearth.” The Ghost said before nudging Bino’s arm, pointing to the kitchen at the far back. “Though, there are those who have a natural talent to nurture those flames.”

Bino looked over to where the Ghost was pointing, and had to fight back a gasp.

Walking out of the kitchens, a plate of savory vittles of dried meat in her hands, was a very familiar looking periwinkle cat, smiling as she sauntered over to one of the tables near the center of the club.

“Here you go, fellas! One jerky platter for the table.” Allegra said, placing the plate down.

“Thanks Ally. Say, whatcha even doing here on Christmas anyhow? A sweetheart like you has got to be somewhere better to be, right?” One of the more elderly cats at the table said. Almost immediately, Bino could tell he was an alleycat given his rugged, disheveled fur, marked with white, faded scars. The same could be said for most of the cats in the club.

But not Allegra. Her coat was as pristine as her smile, never once leaving her face. Bino wondered how she managed to live day in and day out on the streets completely unscathed.

“No such thing, Chester.” Allegra said, picking up her notepad from beneath the platter of jerky where she was holding it. “Correct me if I’m wrong, but this is the night we’re supposed to be with family and friends, right? Then I’m right where I belong.”

“You’re too good for this dump, Ally.” Chester said, shaking his head. “But if you ever did leave, I imagine we’d all miss you terribly.”

“Well, good thing I’m not going anywhere.” Allegra said before finally turning to head back into the kitchen.

“Come, come.” The Ghost said, reminding Bino of his presence as he gently nudged on Bino’s back towards the rear end of the alley. “Stay with her. She’s as much your guide tonight as I am.”

“What does that even mean?” Bino asked, yet obeyed all the same, walking past the merry-making of the patrons. The ambience was, no other word for it, festive as Bino caught only snippets of chatter and babble of small-talk, well-wishing, bread-breaking.

Finally walking into the kitchen itself, Bino saw that Allegra was not alone. The chef, or the closest thing that counted, was an orange tabby with quite the distending waist-line. He appeared to be religiously checking on a cooking thermometer jutting out of the seam of the oven’s door, eyes constantly glancing back and forth between the meter and the stained glass, as in glass that was stained and smudged with black gunk, window on the door.

Bino took a peek for himself to see, through the soot and grease stained window, that there was an, admittedly small, chicken roasting away inside. Bino couldn’t imagine it would be very gourmet in standards, but he got the feeling that none of the alleycats back behind him would care all that much.

“How are we doing, Heath?” Allegra asked, looking over her notepad. Bino guessed she was looking up her next order.

“We’re down to the last round of grub, Allegra. We’ll bring out the chicken as the big show-stopper, give everyone a shred to toast to, but then we have to close up shop.” Heath said, taking a break from his fettering to do another count of the food still left over.

Allegra breathed a heavy sigh as she looked apologetic at her boss. “I’m so sorry, Heath. If I was more careful, we would have twice as much food. This year’s banquet is a total bust because of me.”

Heath didn’t even turn to look at her, merely raised his hand to wave off her words. “Now, don’t you go starting that again! It was an accident, Ally. No one is blaming you for slipping on a patch of ice.”

“Wait, patch of ice?” Bino said, tearing his eyes away from Allegra to address the Ghost. “No, that… that isn’t right. We bumped into each other. I made her drop all that food.” Bino crossed his arms. “If this is anyone’s fault, it’s mine.”

Bino’s brow furrowed in thought as he gave another glance at Allegra. “Why is she covering for me? It’s not like it would matter. Nobody at this club hardly knows me, and it was just as much an accident on my part that it was on hers.”

“You’re a funny little man to be so confused by the most basest examples of kindness.” The Ghost chided, shaking his head. “You ask what reason has she? What reason has she to indulge in vitriol? What reason has she to besmirch your name?”

Bino gave a sharp, humorless laugh. “If you were here for the previous Ghost, you would know I gave her plenty of reason.”

“Look, Allegra.” Heath continued, completely unaware of the invisible spectators in his kitchen. “It is what it is. We can’t go all night moaning and bemoaning. Let’s just enjoy what we have, eh?”

Heath placed a gentle hand on Allegra’s shoulder, who finally relented a small smirk. “Okay, fine. But we make it up with a banquet twice as big next year!”

Heath laughed. “Then start saving up your tips!”
---
For better or worse, the banquet went by without a hitch. There were some among the gathered patrons who grumbled under their breath at the meager portions, but they were quickly elbowed into silence whenever Allegra moved within earshot, making sure she heard nothing but praise for the feast.

Bino had to admit, she made for quite the salonnière. The second the feast came out for all the tables gathered, she played the part of the dutiful hostess, bouncing back and forth from table to table to ensure everyone was enjoying their meal. What took Bino by surprise was how personal Allegra got with each of her customers.

“You’ll give my love to the twins when you head home, alright?”
“Jake! How’s your mother? She still got that thing with her hip?”
“Miguel! I haven’t seen you in years! How did you enjoy the country?”

It seemed that, wherever Allegra went, yuletide cheer went with her as though she radiated holiday joy.

Bino thought back to how Allegra likened her restaurant to a ‘Good Ol’ Dogs Club’ for cats. At first, Bino was incensed at a comparison even being made in the first place. But watching Allegra doing her absolute most of making everyone content, spreading connections and fostering community.

She reminded Bino of himself.

The only difference is that everyone seemed to actually like her.

“What does she have that I don’t?” Bino wondered aloud, more to himself than to his guide.

“Tis true, you and her share the goal of bridging your people together, building monuments to cooperation.” The Ghost said, somehow getting his hands on a piece of chicken from the banquet, despite his intangibility. “The difference being… She actually practices what she preaches. For her, sharing warmth, good food, and good company is it’s own reward, rather than a ploy to achieve regard and renown.”

Bino sniffed derisively. “Must be nice, to want for something so simple.”

“Simple?” The Ghost said, flashing an annoyed glance at Bino. “Hardly. The fortitude required to give of one’s self to the happiness of others. The sense of joy when your heart truly touches another, and both grow in strength. There truly is nothing mightier… than the meek.”

Bino said nothing. He just continued watching Allegra. Watching her be a better advocate for community than he ever had been.

When the food had been eaten to its last crumb, it’s clear the festivities were winding down to an end. A few cats were cutting their losses and heading out to whatever constituted as home for them before it got any later.

Though it seemed a few had an idea to keep the celebrations going just a little longer.

“Hey, Allegra! Sing something for us!” Chester called out over the mild chattering of the cats still lingering.

“Oh no! I don’t think so!” Allegra said, trying to hide a blush behind her notepad. “If I start singing, it’s gonna start raining boots.”

“Come on!” Chester insisted. “This is the only time of year we can get you to belt it out! C’mon, for Christmas?”

Whatever further apprehension Allegra had gradually dissolved as the rest of the restaurant started chanting Sing! Sing! Sing! Even Heath was getting in on the chanting, clearly just as eager as everyone else was at the prospect of Allegra cutting loose.

“Alright, alright, fine! Ya buncha vultures!” Allegra said, laughing. With little more than a bemused huff, she walked over to the two musician cats who were only seconds away from putting away their instruments, yet seemed perfectly willing to keep the show going for one more song.

Allegra huddled herself over to the black cat’s ear, whispering something out of anyone else’s earshot. The black cat smiled and nodded before whispering in kind to their tan-colored compatriot.

The black cat started things off with a lightning-fast medley of keys, each a half-second in length, before the violinist joined in with an upbeat tempo.

Finally, Allegra started to sing. Whatever Bino was expecting, he was completely blown away as soon as she sung the first lyric.

“I don't want a lot for Christmas
There is just one thing I need
I don't care about the presents
Underneath the Christmas tree.”

As Allegra began, a quiet hush fell upon the crowd, Bino and the Ghost included, who seemed just as eager as the rest of Allegra’s audience.

“I just want you for my own
More than you could ever know
Make my wish come true, oh
All I want for Christmas is... youuuu.”

At the pause, Allegra opened her eyes, half-lidded, before shooting a wink Bino could have sworn was meant for him had he not been invisible to her. He started feeling a little warm.

“I don't want a lot for Christmas
There is just one thing I need,
I don't care about the presents
Underneath the Christmas tree
I don't need to hang my stocking
There upon the fireplace
Santa Claus won't make me happy
With a toy on Christmas day.”

As the song started to pick up the tempo, Allegra apparently couldn’t keep the showgirl inside for very long, belting out the verse as she swayed to the music. To say there were cat-calls from the cats in the crowd was an understatement.

“I just want you for my own
More than you could ever know
Make my wish come true
All I want for Christmas is you.”

As the song continued, the assembled cats started going crazy, hooting and hollering like mad-men as Allegra continued to practically scream the last few verses.

“I won't ask for much this Christmas
I won't even wish for snow,
I just wanna keep on waiting
Underneath the mistletoe

I won't make a list and send it
To the North Pole for Saint Nick
I won't even stay awake
To hear those magic reindeer click

'Cause I just want you here tonight
Holding on to me so tight
What more can I do?
Oh, Baby all I want for Christmas is you.”

Bino had to admit, she had a beautiful voice. Part of him idly wondered if she’d be willing to perform for the G.O.D. before Bino pushed that part of him down into the ground. What was he thinking?! She was still a cat! The tempo picked up again as Allegra sauntered off the the impromptu stage, singing her heart out over everyone’s cheering.

“All the lights are shining
So brightly everywhere
And the sound of children's
Laughter fills the air

And everyone is singing
I hear those sleigh bells ringing
Santa, won't you bring me the one I really need
Won't you please bring my baby to me!”

Finally, the song drew to a close as Allegra sung the last verse.

“I don't want a lot for Christmas
This is all I'm asking for
I just wanna see my baby
Standing right outside my door

I just want you for my own
More than you could ever know
Make my wish come true
Baby all I want for Christmas is…”

The crowd held their breaths, and Bino was surprised to find himself holding his with them.

“Yooooooou!!”

As Allegra held the last note, the two cats behind her jumped in with their own “All I want for Christmas is you, Baby!”, repeating the vocals as Allegra held the note longer and longer.

The crowd went wild, whistling and clapping as Allegra finished the note with aplomb, giving over-exaggerated bows and blowing kisses to the assembled cats.

Bino would be lying if he said he didn’t clap too.
---
As quickly as the vision appeared, so too did it fade away back to the black void from before.

“Grab hold.” The Ghost said, offering Bino his tassel again, all the joy from Allegra’s performance completely forgotten. “Lest you fall to the wayside.”

Bino did as he was told, grasping the tassel once more, just in time before the restaurant at the end of the alley, before Allegra and Heath and all of the alleycats, disappeared from existence.

“I wasn’t even technically there.” Bino mused. “And that was still the most fun I’ve had at a Christmas Party in… In a long time.”

The Ghost allowed a slight smile. “What wonders abound on this most holiest of nights, that such kindness can transcend such barriers. Even ones so stubborn.” He said, casting a pointed glance behind him.

“Yeah, yeah.” Bino muttered, shaking off the accusatory stare. “So… where to next?”

“You were shown what happens when one makes merry for its own sake alone.” The Ghost began, leading Bino along. “Now you shall see what happens when one rejects the hearth for bitterness and pride.”

“What do you…?” But Bino’s question died in his mouth as the Ghost’s meaning became clearer and clearer.

The next pocket of existence to form from the void was none other than the house Bino would normally avoid like the plague, especially on today of all days.

The Sandwich Residence.

“Oh no…” Bino said. “No, no, NO! Absolutely not! I’m out! Let the darkness take me.”

Bino let go of the Ghost’s tassel and turned to make for the empty void, seeing oblivion as a much more sensible option than going inside that house. He maybe took a step and a half before a large gray hand plucked him off the ground by his collar, holding him in the air.

“Come here, you silly little creature!” The Ghost admonished, keeping the thrashing Bino at arms length. “What is it you fear so?”

“Ain’t nothing to do with fear.” Bino remarked, feet dangling in the air. “I just don’t want to be the subject of a giant roast against me when I don’t even have the presence, literally, to defend myself.”

Bino groaned as the Ghost paid him no mind, carrying him unceremoniously back to the house. “Look, I get it. This is all a big slice of humble pie served just for me. I know what your trying to do, but can we please just skip it?”

“No.” The Ghost said simply. “For the simple fact that what you may see inside may just surprise you.”

“Doubt it.”

Without another word, the Ghost carried Bino through the door, passing through it like water through a sieve.
---
Inside the house, Max apparently wasn’t kidding yesterday about Mr and Mrs Sandwich preparing a proper Christmas feast. It was reminiscent of the same feast that now covered every square inch of Bino’s living room, just much, much, much smaller in scale.

Two humans Bino assumed were Peanut and Grape’s humans were currently cuddling on the couch, a crackling yule log video playing on the tv while they whispered sweet nothings to each other.

Thankfully, Bino didn’t have to watch the display long as the Ghost, still keeping a tight grip on Bino’s collar, strode right past the two and into some kind of room off from the living room, separated by a white, wooden door. Some kind of playroom, Bino assumed, set up for the animals of the house to entertain themselves during their party.

Just as Max said, he was there alongside Peanut, Grape, and… that weird pomeranian girl Bino sometimes saw hanging out with them. Tammy-something.

Seemed Bino and the Ghost caught the four of them right in the middle of an ongoing guessing game.

“Is it blue?” Grape asked.

“Nope.” Peanut said, standing at the front of the room before everyone else, whom were all lounging on bean-bag chairs, empty plates and discarded bags of chips and cans of soda littered the floor around them. Looking behind Peanut, Bino saw some kind of video-game had been put on pause. He assumed this little party game was just something to vary up the night’s entertainment.

“Wait, are there any blue vegetables?” Max asked. “That’s not one of my questions, I’m legitimately asking out of curiosity.”

“Are you temperate or tropical?” Tamara asked.

“Uhh… Don’t know. Not really an agriculturalist here.” Peanut said, shrugging his arms.

“Time!” Grape said, looking at what Bino assumed to be a stopwatch app on her phone.

“Argh! It was avocados, by the way.” Peanut said, taking Max’s seat as the latter got up to take his turn.

“Alright, the score is 3 for Maxie and me, 2 for Peanut and Tarot.” Grape said.

“Don’t worry, we’ll get them in the next round.” Talulah said, gently patting Peanut’s knee.

“Okay, Max. What do you got for us?” Grape asked, smiling as Max started to rummage through a bowl Bino, at first, thought was full of chips but turned out to actually be full of tiny strips of paper.

Pulling one of the strips out and reading it, a quick smirk flashed across Max’s face. “Oh, this one is going to be easy! Alright, say when.”

Grape picked up her phone again, hovering her finger over the screen. “And… Start!” She said, pushing down on her phone.

“Alright, are you a person?” Peanut asked.

“I am.”

“Are you alive?” Tracy asked,

“I am.”

“Are you someone we know?” Grape asked.

“I am”

“Do you live here in town?” Peanut asked.

“I do.”

“Are you a dog?” Taylor asked.

“Hmm?” Max pondered, feeling up his pointed ears and his long tail. “Despite all appearances, Yes.”

“Are you in that dog club?” Grape asked.

That dog club, Bino thought in annoyance. She knew what it was called!

Max let out a quiet chuckle. “Very much so, yes.”

“Are you a friend of ours?” Peanut asked.

This time, Max visibly stalled as he tried to answer. “That’s… a difficult question. I have my friends, but I also have people who are decidedly not my friends.”

Grape smirked, thinking she may have the answer. “Are you a grade-A jerk?”

Bino’s ears pulled back against his head.

Max, for some reason, seemed uncomfortable at the question. He coughed into his hand, seemingly trying to think of some way to not answer the question. “On… On my worst days, yes.”

“You’re totally Bino!” Grape said in triumph, Peanut and Taralynn looking over to Max for confirmation.

Max sighed, seemingly sad over getting his team another point. “Yep, that’s me.”

Grape pumped her arms, letting out a little cheer. “Woo! Two-point lead, that’s game! Max and I get first pickings for the turkey!”

“Yeah, yeah. Live it up.” Tamzin said, rolling her eyes.

“Hey, not my fault Max picked an easy one. Are you a jerk? Yes? Who else could it be!” Grape said. “Bout the only good thing tonight to come out of that creep.”

“Okay, I get it!” Bino snapped, getting up close to Grape’s face who didn’t, and couldn't react. “I’m a jerk! I’m a pain in the tuchus! I make everyone around me hate me! If they gave out medals on Planet Overblown Ego, I could be a friggin’ Olympian!”

Bino turned to face the Ghost, eyes watering as he snarled at the spirit. “Is this what you want me to say!? That I’m a massive creep who alienates everyone around me? That people are right to want nothing to do with me? That I push everyone’s buttons because I want them to hate me almost as much as I hate myself? Well, guess what, Casper? No friggin’ duh!”

“Grape, lay off.” Bino heard Max say behind him.

That, needless to say, jolted Bino out of his tirade. As Bino turned to face a surprisingly annoyed looking Max, he saw that Grape was just as surprised as he was.

“Lay off?” Grape repeated, incredulously. “I’m sorry, are you forgetting what that bozo said to you yesterday?”

“I remember.” Max said. “That was… That was between us, so just lay off. Ok?” Max said, narrowing his eyes as he looked away from meeting Grape’s.

“I’m sorry, but are you actually defending him?” Grape asked. “Max, he wasn’t just being belligerent ol’ Bino last night, he practically went for your throat. I was there, Max, I saw the whole thing. He wanted to hurt you, that’s not something you just brush under the rug and say ‘Oh, same ol’ Bino!’”

“Look, can we just… You guys don’t live with him, okay?” Max said, turning to glare at his friends. “I’m not blind, alright? I know Bino has issues, a lot of issues. It’s just…”

A tense silence settled as Max struggled to find the words.

“I see more of him than anyone else does. I see him behind closed doors, when he thinks no-one’s looking. I see him when he, for one second, stops putting up a front, and you know what I really see?”

Once again, silence. Even Bino was waiting for his answer.

“I see someone who is profoundly, cripplingly lonely. Now, don’t get me wrong, Bino is a walking, talking aneurysm, I’m not denying that. But do you know what he does when he comes home from that club of his?”

Max took the continued silence as permission to push on. “Nothing. Absolutely nothing. He’ll just go up to his room and sulk until he has to go back for whatever crap that she-witch of a girlfriend has for him next. He has no life outside of that club. He has no friends outside of that club.”

“You wanna know the truth, Grape? The real reason I invited Bino to come join us today? It’s because I felt sorry for him.” Max said. “Because, I thought, if he could be a part of something, anything, other than that dumb club… I don’t know.”

“I don’t know what I was expecting, or what I hoped to accomplish.” Max relented, shrugging his shoulders in defeat. “But I’ve lived with the guy for years. We were raised as brothers for years. Regardless of what he may say, regardless of how we may feel about each other, you don’t go through something like that with someone and not… feel something for them, y’know?”

Max gave a very pointed glance to Peanut, gesturing over to Grape. “I know you two know what that’s like.”

Peanut and Grape found they couldn’t meet each other’s eyes at that.

Finally, Max breathed in a long breath, slumping down on another bean-bag across from the group. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to get that heated. It’s just… I don’t know.”

“I don’t know what to do with him.”

“Max…” Bino muttered. He didn’t know what else to say. He didn’t know what else he could say.

The whole room was stuck in an uncomfortable miasma, with no-one seeming willing to shelve everything that had been unloaded for the sake of keeping the festivities going.

Finally, Peanut huffed as he sprang up from his bean-bag, walking over to a small, red cooler at the corner of the room. When he returned to the circle, he began passing around bottles of orange-cream soda to everyone present. Everyone present that they could see, at least.

“A toast, then?” Peanut offered, raising his bottle up. “To Bino?”

Grape scoffed. “Seriously?”

“Yes, seriously.” Peanut replied. “You guys remember what today is, right?”

“No, Peanut.” Max said, the slightest trace of a smile coming back to his face. “Remind us.”

“It’s Christmas.” Peanut said, either not noticing or not caring about Max’s sarcasm. “Time of miracles, time of cheer, time of well-wishes to our fellow man.” Peanut glanced over to Grape. “Time of forgiveness."

“If Bino ever deserves a toast in his name, it’s right now. In the hopes that there can be a better tomorrow, a better life for both him... and us.” Peanut said before holding his bottle up again. “So… To Bino!”

Taranishqa nodded solemnly. “To Bino.”

Max smiled at the brown mutt. “To Bino.”

Three sets of eyes landed on a very unhappy purple cat.

“Oh, alright, fine!” Grape said, half-heartedly raising her bottle. “To Bino. May he have a Merry Friggin’ Christmas, despite himself.”

For the first time since Bino entered this… vision? He saw Max laugh.

“Merry Christmas… Brother…”
---
Bino stood in the void, his hand absently grasping the Ghost’s tassel.

“I… I had no idea he had felt that way.” Bino mused.

“How could you?” The Ghost challenged. “So away in your own reveries. So unable to see beyond your own snout, even in one’s own home.”

“I never… I never thought I’d given him any reason to…” Bino trailed off.

“To care?” The Ghost offered. “What reason need there be? Especially on this, of all days.”
Bino let out a humorless laugh. “Just goes to show, doesn’t it? A guy I hardly know ends up being a better brother than my actual brother.”

The Ghost sighed. “Even now, you refuse to see what is right in front of you. Ignorance and Want blind you to the waking world, and your senses of reality leave you wandering an empty dream.”

Bino turned to look at the spirit, and for the first time since he met him, he managed to really get a good look at the spirit.

Before, Bino thought he had been imagining things with the first Ghost. A trick of the light or the stress of these… episodes taking their toll on him and his senses.

There was no blaming his poor perceptions this time. It was clear as day. The Ghost was getting older the longer he remained. Lines and wrinkles appeared on the bulldog’s face that Bino knew weren’t there before. His muzzle, previously the same shade of steel-gray as the rest of his coat, was now a patch of snow-white fuzz. The gleam in his emerald eyes seemed to be growing dimmer by the second.

“What’s happening to you?” Bino asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

Despite everything, the Ghost maintained a soft smile for Bino. “Tis the night before the day, thus every year, my kind are born. But the night wanes, and with it, our time together.”

The Ghost hoisted up his lantern, and Bino could tell that the light from the lantern seemed to grow brighter than before. “There is one last stop we must make on our journey before I depart. Follow me, and keep true to the path. Do not fall to the wayside now.”

Bino wasn’t sure how, but he had an inkling of an idea as to where their last stop was.
So it didn’t surprise Bino in the slightest to see the home of Babylon Garden’s favorite prodigal son coming into existence at the far end of the void. The home of the stellar example of everything a Good Ol’ Dog should be.

The home of someone Bino couldn’t stand the sight of.

This time, no forceful coercion was needed as Bino followed the Ghost through the door to his older brother’s home.

Like the Sandwich residence, Fido’s human, Ryan, had the place decked in the halls for their own little party, plenty of Christmas food on the table just waiting to be eaten. But the mood was much more… somber than Bino was expecting.

Like Joey had said yesterday, both of his brothers were in attendance with their bizarre choices in plus-ones. A tiny, gray mouse sat on Joey’s shoulder as he reclined back on the couch, looking more than a little uncomfortable as he not-so-subtly glanced at the food on the table. The food Bino was just now noticing nobody was touching.

What was odd is that Joey clearly wasn’t the only one eyeing the food. But it seemed as though they were somehow forbidden from indulging.

Ryan was sitting on a reclining chair, eggnog in one hand and a TV remote in the other as he absent-mindedly watched some banal Christmas special on the boob-tube. Every once in awhile, he would tear his eyes away from the TV to look at his watch.

Fido stood by the punch bowl with his cat. Sabrina, if Bino remembered the name right. Not like he ever cared enough to learn it.

The punch seemed to be the only thing that was free to grab as Fido filled up two red, plastic cups for himself and his girlfriend. Sabrina gave a strained smile, accepting the cup with a kiss to Fido’s cheek.

“Geez, who freakin’ died?” Bino remarked, looking over this sorry excuse for a celebration. “Seriously, is this a Christmas party or a wake?” He asked the Ghost, turning to look at him. Bino had to fight off the urge to double-take when he saw that the Ghost looked even older now. He appeared downright elderly. In the twilight years of his life, despite only being hours old at best.

“In some ways, they are indeed mourning one of their own. Not dead of flesh, but absent of heart. A distinction without a difference, as the hollow void left behind stings all the same.”

Finally, Ryan sighed as he got up from his chair, passing an apologetic glance at Fido.

“Look, Fido, we’re gonna give it another ten minutes. If he’s not here by then, we’re just gonna start without him.”

“Just… Just give him a little more time. He’ll be here.” Fido urged. “We can’t just… have Christmas without him! It’s not fair!”

“It’s not fair of him to make us wait for something that’s not even going to happen.” A tiny voice said from the couch. Bino had to remind himself that Squeak was indeed still there.

“Fido… I know you were hoping for it to be different this time, but… I don’t think he’s coming.” Joey said, ears flat against his head. “When I told him about it, he… well… I don’t think he’s coming.”

“He’ll be here.” Fido stated, adamantly. “And none of us are going to eat a bite until he gets here, so we can all eat as a family.”

Ryan rolled his eyes. “Fido, I’m sorry. I really am. But I am not going to wait to eat my food that I cooked, bought with my money. If you don’t want to eat, that’s your choice, but I’m not having my Christmas dinner freezing cold.”

“Dad, please, just a little more time.” Fido pleaded to no avail, as Ryan walked right past him to start carving the turkey.

“Anyone else want some?” Ryan offered.

Immediately, Squeak bounced off of Joey’s shoulder and started running, full-sprint, to the table.

Joey took a few more seconds before getting up to join her, passing by Fido to give him a comforting hand to his shoulder. “I’m sorry, Fido. It just… wasn’t going to happen.”

With that, Joey walked to the table and started digging in.

Fido stared gob-smacked at his family, partaking in their meal as though nothing was wrong. As though nothing was missing.

Fido barely noticed when Sabrina tapped him on the shoulder behind him.

“Hey, cheer up, hun. It’s not a total loss. You still have the rest of us!” Sabrina said, trying to help Fido see the silver-lining. “You… You can always try again next year!”

Fido was silent as he continued to watch his family eat their meal. All but one of his family.

Sabrina bit her lip, wracking her brain to find some solution, some magic fix to all of this.

“Wait right here. I have a bit of a Christmas surprise for you to cheer you up.” Sabrina said, walking away from Fido to stride over to her overnight bag in the corner of the living room.

Reaching inside, Sabrina pulled out a shoot of mistletoe. Working fast, she grabbed a chair and brought it to an overhang next to the door, sticking the mistletoe above her with a safety pin already attached.

Getting down from the chair, Sabrina smoothed down her fur and checked her breath before flashing her best ‘come here, handsome’ smile.

“Oh, Fido…” Sabrina purred, turning towards her boyfriend… before noticing that he was no longer there. She only just managed to see a brown tail escape into the bathroom in the hallway past the dining room.

“Fido…”

Bino, unbeknownst to everyone present, watched this whole debacle unfold…

And he was absolutely livid.

“Are… you… kidding me!?” Bino growled. “That pathetic, up-tight, holier-than-thou BLOWHARD!!”

Bino started pacing the room, seething to himself. “How freaking self-righteous can you get!? How…How freaking dare he!”

Bino stopped, taking a breath that helped exactly zilch. “Oh, we are NOT done here, buster! Fido! Fido, get your sorry tail back out here, right now!” Bino yelled out, uncaring of how much he couldn’t be seen or heard as he marched over to the bathroom.

“You have no right… You have no right to use me as an excuse to parade around how noble you are, you arrogant tool!”

“You have no right to use me as an excuse to feel sorry about yourself!” Bino ranted as he marched straight through the bathroom door. “You-!... You… Fido?”

Whatever Bino was expecting… It wasn’t this.

Fido, knuckles white as he gripped the edge of the bathroom’s sink, heaving heavy breaths as tears started to flow from his eyes.

“Fido…?” Bino repeated, unsure if what he was seeing was real or not. “C-Come on, man. This… This isn’t you.”

Fido paid him no mind as he continued to cry, doing his level best to stifle his choking sobs to prevent anyone outside from hearing. His face fell into his hands as his back started to bounce up and down with each huff of air.

“That’s… That’s enough!” Bino said, his own vision starting to get blurry. “I said, that’s enough! You don’t get to…”

“You’re the freaking Golden-Boy!” Bino snapped. “Everything is supposed to turn out roses for you! You’re not supposed to… You can’t be doing this for me! I refuse to believe that!”

Fido said nothing, collapsing onto the floor as his quiet sobs filled the empty bathroom.

“Everything is supposed to go your way because that’s why my life has to suck! Because if your life sucks too, then… Then what the heck are we even doing, Fido!?”

Bino wasn’t sure when he started crying to.

“Why do either of our lives have to suck!? Why can’t… Why can’t things just work them friggin’ selves out!?”

Fido offered no comfort to his little brother. He just continued to cry.

So did Bino.

“I… I miss mom.” Bino said, knowing Fido couldn’t hear him. “I miss New York, I miss Jake, I miss Allegra.”

“I miss when things were just so… simple. When I didn’t wake up every single morning and think to myself ‘Who am I going to disappoint today?’”

“I… I miss being a family. When was the last time we were a family?”

“I don’t remember…”
---
This time, as the vision faded, Bino did not see himself engulfed in unending darkness. Instead, his tears froze against his face as the cold, winter air hit him full force. He opened his eyes and saw, through his blurry vision, that he was outside his home on some abandoned street in town.

Matter of fact, the whole town seemed abandoned. Not a single living soul shared the streets with Bino that night.

Emphasis on ‘living’.

“The hour draws to a close, my time has come.” Bino heard the Ghost speak behind him. He sounded… weak.

Craning his head to look, Bino saw that the Ghost was a frail, withered husk of what he was. No more was the jolly, larger-than-life spirit who guided Bino through this night.

“You’re...You’re dying.” Bino said. It wasn’t a question.

“As I said, I am the Ghost of Christmas Present. I exist, only in the here and now. And when this comes to pass so, too, do I. Just like my two thousand phantom siblings before me, I only live but for one day.”

The Ghost tried to hobble forward, and nearly lost his footing had Bino not sprung up to catch him.

The Ghost started to breathe heavily, as though each exhale cost him a great deal of energy, as Bino supported him from under his arm, leading him to sidewalk bench.

“Is there… Is there anything I can do?” Bino asked.

“Live… Learn… Laugh… Love…” The Ghost said, pausing to breathe between each word. “Beware… You’re Ignorance… And Want…”

“And… Above all else… Have a Merry Christmas…”

And with one final sigh, the Ghost of Christmas Present was no more, fading away to nothingness on that very park bench, leaving Bino utterly alone.

But not for long, Bino knew.

As fate would have it, wherever in town Bino ended up in just happened to be right outside an old antique shop. And what should be nestled amongst all the trinkets and baubles, displayed right in front of the window, than an old, wooden clock.

That read 2:59.

Bino held his breath as the second hand cranked by, much slower than a second had any right to be.

Tick-Tick-Tick

3:00.

There were no bells. If anything, the world became deathly silent.

Bino felt a cold chill down his spine. He felt… something behind him.

Breathing.

[trekkie]

What was a very well-written, emotional chapter. I just want to hug Max, Fido and Bino.

[Amazee Dayzee]

This chapter has come out really awesome! Keep on keeping it up!

[Nathan Kerbonaut]

Very moving chapter, this is a top-notch deconstruction of Bino's character. The way Max talked about him hit me hard, and Fido broke my heart.

[JageshemashFTW]

Bino gulped, knowing that the… presence behind him wasn’t going to go away.

He glanced up, just a bit, to the window of the antique shop. He tried to get a good look at the figure in the reflection, but between the darkness of night and the lack of polish on the glass, all he could see was a big, black shadow, looming over him.

Finally, Bino decided to not put off the inevitable any more. He stood up, turned around, and faced the third and final spirit of the night.

Bino had to fight back a gasp as fear took hold of him. This new ghost was completely unlike any who came before. He was draped head to toe in a heavy black cloak that covered every inch of him, the only things uncovered were his white hands, so pale that Bino could swear he could see the Ghost’s bones through the skin and fur.

More than his appearance, what truly unnerved Bino was how the Ghost just… stood there. Silent and still, regarding Bino with an unseen face.

“Are… Are you the third ghost?” Bino stammered, suddenly feeling weak in the knees.

The Ghost said nothing, merely nodded once, slowly and deliberately.

“Th-The first ghost showed me the past.” Bino began, speaking for the ominous specter. “The second ghost showed me the present. So… That would make you the Ghost of Christmas Future. R-Right?”

The Ghost nodded.

“I’m going to be honest with you, spirit. You frighten me more than any of the others.” Bino said, gulping. “But… But I know you’re here to help me, just like the others. Just like Mom. So… Go ahead. Show me what I need to see.”

As always, the Ghost said nothing, and Bino got the sense that he would continue to say nothing. Instead, he merely raised one of his pale white fingers, and pointed to behind Bino.

Bino turned to face where the Ghost was directing him, and had to wipe his eyes in confusion.

He saw… the entrance to Allegra’s restaurant, moth-eaten banner and everything.

Bino knew that was impossible. He recognized the square they were on from the neighborhood, and there were no alleys like this anywhere near it.

Bino pushed the thought aside. Given everything else he’s seen tonight, it didn’t seem that much of a stretch that the Ghost would just fold space to bring the alley from there, wherever there was, to here.

Bino looked back at the Ghost, hoping for some kind of clarification on confirmation, but the Ghost merely kept pointing.

With no other recourse, Bino walked, cautiously, into the alley, not knowing what to expect.

Unlike last time, the place was positively dead. Where before, the restaurant was filled with the vibrancy of life, it now felt utterly abandoned.

The chairs were stacked up on top of the tables, and Bino could tell that there was a fine layer of dust on everything. Nobody had partaken in this establishment in a good, long while.

Desperate to see any form of life, Bino made his way into the kitchen in the back. Sure enough, there were Heath and Allegra, looking much less jolly than last time.

Heath sighed as he looked over his empty hovel of a restaurant, none of him appliances were turned on, leaving the kitchen with a penetrating coldness. “It’s over, Allegra. There’s just… nothing to keep them coming back.”

Allegra looked to be on the verge of tears. “No… No! There has to be something we can do!”

“Look at it, Ally. Every year, we have less and less food to give. No food means no customers, no customers means no pay, no pay means no food. It’s a drain and we’re circling down it. We could only get by on charity for so long.” Heath said, trying not to look Allegra in the eye.

“I’m sorry, Ally, but I’m letting you go. Heathcliff’s is finished.”

Heath made to leave, walking right past Bino, as Allegra chased after him. “You-You can’t do that, Heath! I need this job! I… I need this place! I have nowhere else!”

Allegra grabbed hold of Heath’s arm, holding it tight. “You can’t just kick me to the streets like a… like a…”

“Like an alleycat?” Heath finished. “Join the club, Ally. Make with the cute eyes, find a human, and stay out of the pound. I got nothing more to give ya.”

Heath wrenched his arm out of Allegra’s grip, continuing his solemn march out of his former establishment.

“Nonono! Heath, come back! Please!” Allegra begged, crying. “We can still fix this! We can… I can… This is my home! I can’t…!”

Heath was already gone, out of earshot and out of sight. Allegra collapsed to her knees, quietly sobbing to herself.

“I don’t want to be alone again…”

Bino stood there, absorbing all of this. He saw Allegra, his first true friend in Babylon, have her entire world crumble before her.

Bino cursed his incorporeal form. If he were actually there, like a friend should have been from the beginning…

But he wasn’t there. Through no one’s fault but his own, he refused to stay by his friend’s side.

And for what? Image? Public opinion? Was that really worth it? Would Bino be able to sleep well at night, secure and comfy in the knowledge that no one in the G.O.D. would ever think him for a filthy cat-lover… While Allegra wandered the cold streets of the town, barely surviving each day while avoiding the pound like the hell that it was?

“I’m…” Bino began. “I’m sorry.”

Bino didn’t know how much longer he could keep watching Allegra cry, and be utterly powerless to do anything to stop it, but the choice was made for him by a pale, bony hand roughly grabbing his shoulder, wrenching him back.

Bino yelped as he felt himself get pulled backwards, the restaurant dissolving like running paint around him. Allegra melting into a puddle of periwinkle.

Bino fell to his haunches, right back at the square from before. The Ghost looming over him.

Bino took a second to collect himself, trying to compartmentalize. “Why wasn’t I there?” Bino asked. “If I had known… Where am I in this future? Why wasn’t I there?”

The Ghost bent down and gripped Bino’s collar, yanking him up to his feet before pointing behind him again. This time, Bino saw that the Ghost was pointing at a door.

Upon closer inspection, Bino found that he recognized this door. It was the same red, wooden doors that adorned the front of the Babylon Garden’s Rec Center. The same doors that led to the Good Ol’ Dogs club.

Just attached to a completely different building on a completely different part of town.

Shaking off the metaphysics for now, Bino walked past the Ghost towards the door, eager to find answers.

On the other side of the door, the G.O.D. looked about the same as it always did. Dogs of all sizes were milling about, discussing this and that and upcoming events. If it wasn’t Christmas, it was getting close to it if the decorations were any indicator. Though Bino did notice a somewhat more somber mood than was usual for the club during the holidays.

The dogs were all speaking to each other in hushed tones, as if worried about being overheard. Bino did, however, manage to catch a few snippets of conversation.

“What do you think happened to him-?
“Good riddance-”
“So who’s taking over-?”
“Maybe it’s better this way-”

Bino wandered through the main hall, more confused than ever before he saw the Ghost appear in the corner, as if bleeding from the very shadows of the room.

“So, what’s going on?” Bino asked. “Where am I? I mean… Where am I now? Here, in the future.”

As always, the Ghost merely lifted a finger, pointing at the G.O.D.’s bulletin board. Bino narrowed his eyes at the Ghost, frustrated at the absolute refusal to give him a straight answer, but he dutifully walked over just the same.

Adorned on the bulletin board were all the usual fare of notices to upcoming events, including the annual Christmas party, advertisements (have to make revenue somehow), and…

Bino’s eyes widened once his gaze fell on the offending scrap paper.

A missing pet’s report, filed and printed by the BGPD, that had his mugshot plastered over it.

MISSING
Bino Byron - Brown mutt with large, dark-brown ears, green eyes
Last seen leaving the borders of town, believed to be running away
If found, please contact Jeff Byron at-

Bino pulled away, blinking the image out of his eyes. Ran away? Why? What possible reason could he have to-?

“Do you think they’ll find him?” A familiar voice said behind him.

Turning around, Bino was surprised to see Sasha standing right behind him, not that she would notice. Flanking her on both sides was Fox and Rex, each staring at the missing pet’s report with varying degrees of concern.

“I don’t want to think he’s…” Sasha trailed off.

“I’m… I’m sure he’s fine, wherever he is.” Fox offered, patting Sasha on the back.

“But why did he even leave?” Sasha asked.

A question Bino himself very much wanted the answer to.

“I think…” Rex began, trying to find the right words. “I think he just ran out of things keeping him here. He more or less disowned his family, all of his friends were distancing themselves from him, and after what happened with Duchess…”

“What?” Bino said, eyeing Rex. “What happened with Duchess?” Bino was starting to get worried now. If something happened to his girlfriend…

Rex sighed, unable to hear Bino’s distraught. “I think he just… got fed up with this town. Figured he didn’t want to stay where he wasn’t wanted.”

“But that’s so stupid!” Sasha exclaimed. “I mean… We’re his friends, right?”

Rex and Fox were uncharacteristically silent at that. “Right?” Sasha reinforced.

“It’s just… When was the last time any of us really hung out with him?” Fox asked, rubbing the back of his neck. “I’ve barely said more than two sentences at any given time to the guy after I joined the K9. I always figured… that I had more important things to do than indulge his ego or listen to his rants.”

“Fox!” Sasha admonished.

“I’m sorry, but it’s the truth!” Fox said, holding his hands up in defense. “And, fairness where it counts, when was the last time you spent any time with him?”

“Well-! I mean… Okay, things got a little distant after we stopped dating but…” Sasha tried to argue. “But that doesn’t…!” She sighed in defeat. “No, you’re right. I didn’t do much better myself on that front.”

“I mean, we can’t exactly beat ourselves up here. We can argue the why’s and how’s until the cows come home, it’s not like it was our place to do anything.” Rex offered. “It’s like you said a couple years back, Fox: Bino chose to alienate everyone around him. Friends, family, loved ones. We couldn’t help him even if we did try because... he would never give us the chance.”

Fox sighed. “You’re right, I just wish things could have turned out different. I guess all we can do is hope that, wherever Bino is, he’s happier than he was here.”

“I don’t think…” Sasha said. “I don’t think Bino really wanted to be happy.”

“What?” Bino said, no longer able to just stay the silent observer. “Of course I want to be happy! Who in their right mind wouldn’t!?”

“Cause, I mean… If Bino really wanted to have a happy life here, there are plenty of people who would have happily given him one.”

That… struck a chord with Bino. He wanted to argue still, to stomp his feet and scream out how wrong Sasha was, how everyone was out to get him!

But everything the Ghosts had shown him throughout the night was proof otherwise. He saw a younger Allegra, admiration in her eyes at Bino giving her a place to stay… before Bino tossed her out of his life for no other reason than his image. He saw Max, friendly-faced and inviting Bino to make merry with him as brothers… before Bino told Max how much he despised living with him because… Because he was a cat.

He saw Fido, his older brother, smiling his perfect smile at his little brother’s antics. Always supportive, always kind, always loving… before that perfect smile turned to tears when that some love and devotion was repaid with rejection and revulsion.

Out of jealousy.

The three of his… former friends turned their attention to the podium when a sound of a microphone hiss rang out through the main hall. A black and brown lass up at the podium.

Duchess! Bino thought. Oh, thank every god out there that she was okay! After what Rex said, Bino was worried she might have…

But Bino was taken out of his relief when he saw another dog, a scrawny twig of a mutt Bino barely recognized from the crowd of club members, standing next to Duchess, preparing her mic stand while sporting a very familiar love-struck look as he stared at Duchess.

“There you go, Duchey!” The mutt said, Bino barely hearing him over the murmuring crowd. “It’s a set.”

Duchey? Bino thought in disgust. But… I’m the one who calls her…

Duchess barely gave the mutt a glance before she shoved him out of her way, palm to his face. “Fantastic, now go stand over there until I need you again.”

“You got it, beautiful!” The mutt said, dutifully waiting in the corner.

Bino was incensed, glaring daggers on the mutt that was schmoozing onto his territory. Going by the dates on the missing pet’s report, Bino hadn’t been gone for more than a month, and this creep was already making moves on his girl!?

Unfortunately, things only got worse once Duchess started to talk.

“Alright, so Bino apparently couldn’t cut it anymore with being the most despised dog in Babylon.” Duchess said into the mic, regarding the crowd. “Lord knows, I had enough of the little weirdo when I finally kicked him to the curb. So let’s all stop with the crocodile tears and get straight to business. With Bino gone, the position of head of the G.O.D. has opened up.”

Duchess leaned against her arm on the podium. “To that end, I feel like we can all agree that Bino was more or less an empty figurehead by the time he left and that I was the one calling the shots, right? Like, that’s pretty obvious to everyone except that idiot.”

Bino couldn’t believe what he was hearing. His girlfriend, his Duchess, the love of his life, belittling him and all of his work towards the G.O.D.! Undermining everything he did as just a smoke-screen for her own ambitions! Mocking his intelligence and…!

Suddenly, a lot of previous interactions with Duchess made a lot more sense to Bino.

“So, in the interest of keeping things running smoothly, I suggest we all just stop pretending I wasn’t already head of the G.O.D. and just make it official. Okay? Okay.”

“Hey! You can’t do that, there has to be a vote!” Fox yelled out over the crowd.

“I’m sorry, are you even still a member?” Duchess asked. “Do you really have any say here?”

“I mean, he’s still right, Duch!” Sasha called out. “The rules are rules!”

Duchess groaned as she rolled her eyes. “Ugh, fine! All in favor of not changing a single thing and just letting me continue to be the only actual competent head this club has ever had?”

About more than half of the assembled dogs raised their hands.

“I will literally pay you to vote for me.”

Every dog present except Sasha, Rex and Fox raised their hands, some even shooting an apologetic glance at the trio before raising their hand all the same.

“Good, now that we’ve established what an absolute farce democracy is, let’s get down to business. First off, no more free memberships. If you want in on this, from now on you pay a monthly membership fee. Oh, don’t worry, the money will go to a good place.”

Maybe something about being incorporeal gave Bino better hearing than normal, maybe whatever spiritual powers that be that were letting him witness these events in time wanted to be sure he caught it, but Bino couldn’t help but hear Duchess whisper under her breath “Me.”

Once again, Bino felt the ice-cold grip of the Ghost of Christmas Future clutch his shoulder, sending a jolt of chill down his spine, before pulling him back through the melting painting backdrop of the vision.

Once again, Bino found himself back on the ground, looking up at the looming specter what was to come.

“This can’t be good for my spine…” Bino groaned, getting up to his feet before the Ghost could yank him up again.

“Okay, I’m starting to get the picture here.” Bino said. “I just straight up walk away from my life here, and nobody could give less of a care.”

“That, and I apparently need to have a long overdue couple’s talk with Duchess when I get back.” He grumbled.

Bino looked up at the Ghost’s face, or lack thereof, considering the empty void inside the hood of his cloak. “I have to know, though. Is there… Is there anyone out there who actually misses me? Who’s actually sad to see me leave this town?”

As per routine, Bino was now noticing, The Ghost pointed his hand at yet another door across the square. Bino was certain he saw a flash of bone through the skin as the hand passed through the moonlight.

Knowing he wasn’t going to get any more information out of the taciturn spirit, Bino turned to face this new door, trying to see if he recognized it from somewhere, but it looked like a very average door, all considered.

With not much point standing around, Bino walked up to the door, opened it, and stepped through.

For the second time that night, Bino found himself in the living room of Ryan Byron’s house. However, the room had a few different guests than before. Two K9 officers Bino didn’t recognize were talking to a distraught looking Fido, sitting on the couch.

Just looking at his tired, bloodshot eyes, Bino could tell Fido had been crying.

“No updates yet, but we have B.O.L.O.s on every department within fifty square miles.” One of the K9’s said. “If any of them see Bino, they’re report back to us ASAP. We’ll find him, Fido.”

Fido nodded his head. “Thank you, boys.” Fido got up from his seat and led the two out the door. “Give my thanks to the Sergeant.”

“It’s not the same without you back at the station, Fido.” The other K9 said, stopping at the door. “You could be a lot of help to us if you joined the investigation yourself.”

Fido sighed. “It’s not my call. Good night, boys. Have a Merry Christmas.”

Before the two officers could reciprocate, Fido shut the door on them, leaving him seemingly alone in the house.

At least, so Bino thought before Sabrina poked her head out of the door to Fido’s room down the hall.

“Are they gone?” Sabrina asked.

“Yeah, you can come out now.” Fido said. “Sorry.”

“Hey, I already got you in enough trouble with the K9. You don’t need anymore of it.” Sabrina grimaced. “Especially now.”

“Don’t do that.” Fido said, walking up to her, wrapping his arms around her waist. “You can’t control how others react to us. We can’t… We can’t blame ourselves…”

“I know you miss him.” Sabrina said, returning Fido’s embrace. “We will find him.”

“I just… I just wish I could have seen it coming. How close to the edge he was. What was the final straw? What could I have done differently?”

Fido looked up to meet Sabrina’s eyes. “When did I lose my brother, Sabrina?”

“Don’t go down that road.” Sabrina warned. “You’ll go crazy thinking about the what-ifs and should-haves. Just look at what happened to Max…” She said, glancing forlornly to the ground.

Fido winced. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to bring that back.”

Bring what back? Bino thought, starting to panic. The more he learned, the more he didn’t want to learn more. What happened to Max?

“It’s just… one tragedy after the other with us. If we ever do find Bino, how will we tell him that Max…?”

“‘That Max’ what? Spit it out already!?” Bino demanded.

Once more, Bino was pulled out far too soon. He tried to fight against the Ghost’s cold hand, tried to struggle out of his ice grip. He had to stay in the vision, just a little bit longer.

“What happened to Max!? Tell me!?”

The walls started to melt, Sabrina and Fido started to fade into nothingness, and Bino could swear the Ghost’s fingers were starting to pierce flesh for how tight they gripped him.

Finally, Bino could fight back no more as he was pulled again to the empty square, silent as the grave.

The Ghost loomed over him again, as if expecting something from him.

“No… No!” Bino barked, scrambling to his feet. “You gotta send me back! I… I have to know what happened to Max!”

The Ghost’s only reply was silence. Bino thought he saw a flash of… something in the shadows of his hood, but he couldn’t tell what.

“Dang it, you’re supposed to help me, so help me!” Bino demanded, pushing against the Ghost who didn’t budge an inch. “I need to know what happened to Max. Show me.”

The Ghost was still as a rock for an uncomfortably long time. Bino was unsure if his words even registered to the spirit.

Finally, the Ghost raised his finger one last time.

Following the trail of his finger, Bino felt his breath escape him.

“No…” Bino said, shaking his head, denying what was right in front of him. “No no no, please…”

Down the road was not a door, nor the entrance to an alley, but a gate. A wrought-iron gate shrouded in mist.

“No!” Bino yelled. “You’re lying! Max isn’t… He isn’t…”

Above the gate was a sign in the same black iron that read:

Babylon Gardens Cemetery

“Why…” Bino asked. “Why are you showing me this? Max isn’t…”

He turned to look back at the Ghost. “Is he?”

The Ghost said nothing. His finger stayed exactly where it was.

Bino shivered as another chill ran across his body. He had to know for sure, he had to see it for himself.

Without stopping to think, Bino ran headlong into the cemetery, rushing into the choking mist.

Bino wasn’t sure what he was looking for. There were hundreds, near on a thousand different grave markers or all shapes and sizes throughout the plot.

Unfortunately, the universe deigned to make it very, painfully obvious to Bino.

As Bino aimlessly wandered the foreboding graveyard, he saw a glimpse of purple out of the corner of his eye. Acting on instinct, Bino turned back to that glimpse of purple and saw three figures off in the distance, standing before a small, unimportant-looking gravestone.

As Bino ran closer, his suspicions were confirmed. Grape, Peanut and Tikki were the ones standing over this unassuming grave.

As Bino neared, he kept some distance, forgetting for a second that they couldn’t see him.

As Bino watched, no words were being said among the three. No words had to be said.

Peanut and Trini held each other tight, crying silently, as Peanut held a hand on Grape’s shoulder.

Grape’s legs buckled as she dropped to her knees, tears flowing freely as she absently caressed the cold stone in front of her.

Finally, after much, much too long, with Bino unable to do more than watch their misery unfold, Peanut bent down and whispered something to Grape’s ear.

Whatever Peanut said, it was not Bino’s place to know. She got up to her feet, immediately pulled into Peanut and Tamimi’s embrace.

With little more than silent tears, the three each gave their own respects to the stone, then walked off.

Bino wasn’t sure how long he watched them walk away. Nonetheless, the three were specks on the horizon by the time Bino decided to see the truth for himself.

He approached the grave stone, slowly. Each step seemed shorter than the last as his body seemed to reject his decision to get closer.

But he had to see. He had to know for sure.

Finally, he reached the tombstone, rounding around it to face the front…

And saw the exact words he was begging to every god above wouldn’t be there.

R.I.P.
Maxwell Byron
Friend, Son, Brother, Lover
Taken too soon, by a heart too kind…

Just as Grape did, Bino collapsed to his knees.

He felt numb. He didn’t know how this could be a reality. How this could possibly come to pass.

“How did this happen?” Bino demanded, his eyes watering. He knew the Ghost was behind him, watching him, judging him. Waiting to see what he would do next.

“How did this happen!?” Bino repeated, turning on his knees to face the Ghost. “Why would my leaving… How did I do this?”

“I never wanted… I never meant to…” Bino trailed off. He read the words on Max’s grave stone again. Friend. Son.

Brother.

“We were raised as brothers for years…”
“You don’t go through something like that with someone and not… feel something for them…”

Taken too soon, by a heart too kind…

“It was me.” Bino said, realization finally dawning. “He went looking for me… and this happened.”

Bino turned back towards the Ghost. “That’s it, isn’t it!? He left town and died searching for me! Died trying to bring me back home!”

Bino turned back to the grave stone, almost pleading with it as he started to cry once more. “But I never asked… I never wanted you to go so far for me. Why did you do it? What did you see in me that was worth saving?”

“Why can’t I see it too?”

Lightning struck and thunder roared. A storm was brewing in the heaven’s above them.

Bino paid it no mind.

“And where was I during all of this?” Bino demanded of the Ghost. “What was so important that I just couldn’t be here? That I couldn’t be here to… to stop this.”

Bino tried to meet the Ghost’s eyes, but the pitch blackness only seemed to mock him. Rain started to fall.

“No…” Bino said. “No, your right. In the end, it doesn’t matter, does it? It doesn’t matter what became of me or why I left. Because, at the end of the day, this was never about me, was it?”

Bino stood up on his feet. “This was about them, all of them. Max, Fido, Joey, Allegra, Grape, Peanut, Fox, Sasha, Rex, even Duchess. This whole thing was all about how I treated them. How I made them hate me, no one else is to blame. Every word left unsaid, every mistake left unfixed…”

Bino turned to face the Ghost again… only to see that the hooded spectre had moved directly behind Bino, looming over him as though he were his own shadow.

“Gah!” Bino yelped in surprise, barely catching himself on Max’s grave stone.

“Look! Just… Just answer me this.” Bino said, raising his hand in defense. “The past is the past. It’s already happened, immutable.”

The storm started to pick up speed, the graveyard seemed even more dead than usual. There was a crushing pressure in the air that choked the very air form Bino’s lungs.

“And the present? That’s happening right now, whether we want it to or not. But the future?” Bino began. “You showed me all of these… horrible things. I… I have to believe you had good reason to. That my mother had good reason to send you. That I’m not… That I’m not beyond redemption.”

Suddenly, Bino heard a rumbling from below him, the Ghost regarded Bino with the same cold silence as always.

“I have to know! Everything you’ve shown me… Is this what will happen, or what may happen? I can’t change the past, but can I change the future?”

Bino grasped the Ghost’s pitch, black robe in desperation. “Tell me! Tell me it’s not too late! Tell me I can change all of this! Tell me I can keep Allegra from becoming homeless! Tell me I can keep the G.O.D. and everyone in it happy! Tell me I can salvage my family with Fido, and Joey, and yes, even Sabrina and Squeak! Tell me-!”

Whatever further pleas for salvation Bino had were interrupted by a horrible sound. Rock and dirt grinding against each other as the rumbling from below became even louder. Bino looked down and saw the tilled soil beneath him start to give way.

Max’s grave was collapsing into itself, with Bino standing right on top of it!

Bino tried to move, tried to run away from the gaping maw opening in the earth beneath him. He ran, full sprint off the tilled earth but even more and more of the ground collapsed at the heels of his feet.

He would have ran farther had he not bumped straight into the Ghost of Christmas Future. The Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come. The Ghost of Christmas That May Never Come.

The Ghost shot his hand forward, grasping Bino by the collar and holding him in place.

Bino screamed in terror, the sound of his yells blanketed by the now roaring storm around them. The earth continued to crumble until Bino could only find purchase with the tips of his toes, his only lifeline keeping him from falling was the Ghost’s deathly grip on his collar.

“No! No, please, I’m begging you-!” Bino pleaded, feeling his life in the hands of this insane spirit.

In a fit of desperation, Bino looked down, trying to see the fate that waited for him should the Ghost relinquish his grip.

Far below, into the earth, deeper than any grave need ever be, was a small pet-sized casket, open, empty…

And waiting.

“Please, just…” Bino cried, trying to think of something, anything, that would save him from the spirit’s judgement.

But there was nothing he could say. Not in defense of himself, at any rate. The events throughout the night have proven that to Bino, ten times ten-fold.

Bino looked once more into the Ghost’s hood, and this time, he could actually see the slightest glint of ice-blue eyes that seemed to freeze his very soul. Eyes that looked enraged beyond belief. Enraged that such a selfish, petty, paranoid creature could walk this earth and do nothing but make everybody around him miserable.

“Just… Just tell me I can save Max…”

Bino saw a flash of silver in the hood. Fur? Bone? Metal? Bino couldn’t tell.

And then, the Ghost let go of Bino’s collar…

And Bino fell, screaming towards the casket.
---
Bino felt himself hit hard wood. Funny, he was expecting the impact to be a lot harder, given how high the drop was.

What wasn’t funny was how dark everything was. The casket must of closed! Bino couldn’t see anything!

“No! No, let me out!” Bino begged thrashing around in his… admittedly very soft coffin. “Let me out, Ghost! I’ll change! I swear, I’ll-!”

Bino paused in his ramblings when he saw a light poking through. A tiny beam of light shining in his eyes through… his… comforter?

Bino slowly sat up, unwrapping himself from his comforter. He was sitting on his floor, the hard-wood floor of his room. A trail of the comforter spilled out from his impromptu cocoon on the floor and led to the foot of his bed.

Sunlight shone through the window.

Bino looked around, confirming that, yes, everything in his room was in place.

He looked over to the digital clock by his bedside.

7:46.

Bino sat there for a long, long time.

Finally, he smiled. Then, he giggled. Then, he laughed.

He laughed harder than he could ever remember laughing in his life.

“I- Haha!- I’m back… I’m back!” Bino exclaimed, touching all over his body to confirm that it was indeed solid. He got up and ran, full sprint, at his door, laughing as he crashed against the very much solid wood.

“I’m back…” Bino whispered, just to hear it again. “Thank you… Mom…”

“Max!”

With sudden realization hitting him, Bino flung his door open and ran down the hall, eager to see his brother alive and well.

His heart lurched a bit when he saw that the bedroom down the hall was completely empty. Max’s bed very messily made.

Of course, Bino reminded himself. The Christmas party at the Sandwich house, the party Max said he would be going to.

The party Bino blew off when Max invited him.

Bino shook those thoughts away. He would have plenty of time to start feeling sorry for himself later. Right now, he had work to do!

And so much work at that! There were so many people that Bino needed to help. Needed to make amends with. Needed to ensure that they had the best Christmas possible.

And only one day to do it, too. Only one day to fix so many problems.

Oh well, Bino thought. That’s no excuse! If the Ghosts could do it all in one night, he could certainly do it all in one day!

Bino was literally skipping on his feet back to his room as he pulled out everything he would need. He felt like a puppy again!

By fire or by thunder, Bino was determined to make this a very Merry Christmas, indeed!

[trekkie]

That was an excellent chapter. All of it was powerful and Fido’s and Maxwell’s fates in this future are heartbreaking. Bino’s as well. Bino certainly wants to change now and hopefully he’ll stand up to the cruel Duchess. Really enjoyed this story. You did a great job of adapting A Christmas Carol to the Housepets universe.

[Nathan Kerbonaut]

Bino's been through a lot but he's finally seen the light. It's so satisfying to see Bino embrace Max and the others in his life. Looking very forward to the next chapter!

[Amazee Dayzee]

I really am impressed with how this all came out! I can’t wait to read the conclusion!

[JageshemashFTW]

Wrapping his favorite green scarf around his neck, putting on his green cap, Bino strode out into the snow-kissed streets of Babylon, stepping with renewed vigor and purpose.

Bino couldn’t stop smiling if he tried to. Literally, he tried to stop smiling in the mirror but his mouth just refused to stay down. All of the things he had planned for the day! He couldn’t wait.

Bino passed by a couple of kids having a snowball fight with their pets. Bino narrowly ducked a stray ball hitting his face before he got up, laughed, and wished the kids playing a Merry Christmas.

“Okay…” Bino said to himself as the kids cheering started to die down. “First things first, need to find myself some lackeys.”

Bino mused that what he had planned, at its core, was not all that different from his usual hare-brained scheme. The only difference being he wasn’t doing it for himself this time.

As luck would have it, Bino saw three pets passing by the street corner across from him. The Arbelt brothers, Tiger, Marvin, and Zach, talking animatedly amongst each other, clearly enjoying their own holiday, dressed in similar winter accoutrements to Bino.

“Hey! Tiger!” Bino called out, waving his hand to grab the goldenrod dog’s attention. “Wait up! I need to talk to you!”

Tiger, to no one’s surprise, least of all Bino’s, reacted to this by grimacing, holding his hand up to his face, and ushering his brothers away. “Just keep walking, don’t make eye-contact.”

Not one to back down, to a fault, Bino sprinted forward to catch up to the trio. “Hey, wait! I really need your help with something!”

That made Tiger pause as he raised an ear, turning around to face Bino with morbid curiosity. “Help? You want my help?”

Bino nodded. “I just need a little bit of extra man-power for a last-minute Christmas chore.” Bino explained, huffing from his 2-second sprint.

Tiger, despite himself, gave a sharp laugh of disbelief. “You really are something else, y’know that Bino? You openly mock and belittle me at every single turn you can find, and now you have the gall to ask me for my help?”

“Tiger…” Bino said, grimacing at the reminder of the kind of dog he was not even twenty-four hours ago.

“Did you know I have to go to therapy?” Tiger snapped. “I mean… It’s for a multitude of reasons, admittedly, but your bullying certainly didn’t help matters!”

“I’m sorry.” Bino said.

“And another thing… What did you just say?” Tiger said, shock clear on his face.

“I’m sorry.” Bino said, loudly and clearly. “I was a huge jerk to you and you never deserved it. I made your life miserable and I can’t even pretend to have had a good reason for it. I can’t change the past, I can’t take away all those times I bullied you. But I can say I’m sorry, and I can try to make it up to you in the future.”

All three of the Arbelts were silent for more than a minute, each one staring at Bino with wide, unbelieving eyes.

“Who are you, and what have you done with Bino?” Marvin asked.

Despite himself, Bino couldn’t help but laugh at the question. “Honestly? I don’t really know right now. But I’m trying to figure that out, and I need your help to do it.”

“Okay, no.” Tiger said. “Just because you say your ‘sorry’ doesn’t magically make everything better. You’re still Bino. How do I know this all isn’t some elaborate prank on me?”

Bino had to admit, he didn’t have an answer for that. “You’re right. I really have no leg to stand on right now. You have every justification not to believe a word I’m saying. All I really can say… Is that I want to do better by you. To do better by everyone. I just need one chance to show that.”

Tiger was still glaring, before feeling a nudge against his arm. Looking to his side, he saw Zach staring up at him, a tiny smile playing across his lips.

“I mean… It is Christmas.” Zach said. “Maybe… We can take a leap of faith, for once?”

Tiger turned his gaze towards Marvin, to hear his take.

“Look, man, he’s your bully. I’ll follow your lead.” Marvin said.

Tiger rolled his eyes to the skies, groaning loudly. “Stupid 12-step program. All right, fine! But you better be on the up-and-up!”

Bino pumped his fist. “Yes! Thank you, Tiger! I swear, you won’t regret this!”

“Yeah, yeah, just get to the point. What do you need us to do?” Tiger asked, rolling his fingers to hurry Bino along.

“Right, sorry. Just really excited!” Bino said, childlike glee on his face. “First, take this money…” Bino said, quickly plucking a wad of dollar bills out of the pocket in his collar and shoving it into Tiger’s hands.

“Woah, hold on-” Tiger said.

“And this list.” Bino said, thrusting a rather lengthy checklist into Marvin’s hands.

After getting his bearings from the piece of paper being suddenly pushed into his grasp, Marvin gave the list a quick perusal. “Holy moly, Bino! There’s enough food on this list to feed a small army!”

“Food?” Tiger asked, suddenly very interested.

“I need the three of you to go to the store and buy everything you can on that list with the money I gave you. Work from the top-down.” Bino instructed.

“Uh, how much money are you giving us, again?” Zach asked, eyeing the sizeable wad in Tiger’s hands.

“Oh, just about a hundred-fifty. It’s mostly singles, sorry about that. It’s from my emergency savings from my allowance.” Bino explained.

“From how many years?” Marvin asked, incredulously.

“Don’t worry about that!” Bino said, only giving a single errant thought to how much lighter his wallet felt. “Listen, when you’ve finished shopping, I need you to take it to a cat-run restaurant called Heathcliff’s. Marvin, you’re a cat, you ever been?”

Marvin’s eyes widened in surprise. “Uh… Yeah, I know about Heathcliff’s. But how do you…?”

“Awesome!” Bino exclaimed, clasping his hands together. “Once you’re there, ask for a server by the name of Allegra. Tell her the food is to replace the Christmas Banquet. Oh, and leave my name out of it! I want to be completely anonymous in all of this, got it?”

“Hold up! Hold everything!” Tiger said, waving his arms. “You’re trying to donate food to a cat-run restaurant, and you don’t even want credit?”

“That is the summation of everything I just said, yes.” Bino said.

“...........How hard did you hit your head?” Tiger asked, narrowing his eyes.

“Not too hard, but thank you for asking.” Bino said, chuckling a little at his joke. “Alright, I’ll leave you three to it. I got other errands I need to run, but get on that ASAP!”

With that, Bino ran past the three, full sprint towards the G.O.D.

Leaving the three brothers completely stunned at what they had just witnessed.

“Okay, I’m betting replaced by an alien invader.” Tiger said, turning to his brothers. “You two?”

“Oh, easily possessed by some kind of weird ‘happiness’ demon.” Marvin offered.

“Or, and hear me out here…” Zach said, raising a hand. “Maybe he finally found his Christmas Spirit?”

“Pff, yeah right!” Tiger said, rolling his eyes. “Nothing that weird ever happens around here.”
---
Ah, the Good Ol’ Dogs club, Bino thought. Bino thought back to the ideals he and Fido put forth when they first founded the club. A place to foster community and a sense of belonging to all dogs throughout the town of Babylon Gardens.

And Bino was only just now beginning to realize how much he hasn’t been upholding those ideals.

Well, that was all going to change.

Walking through the doors and entering the Rec Center’s main hall, he was flagged down before he got very far in.

“Hey, Bino! You’re a little early, man.” Fox said, flanked once again by Rex and Sasha. “The party isn’t for another hour or so.”

“Ah, yeah, about that…” Bino said, rubbing the back of his head. “I’m afraid I’m only here for official club business, I actually have other plans for the holidays. But you guys cut loose and have fun tonight, don’t stop the party on my account!”

That, needless to say, surprised the three. “Are… Are you sure? You haven’t missed a club Christmas party in, like, years.” Sasha said, tilting her head. “Are you okay?”

Bino nodded. “Yes, yes, I’m fine. I just… have other plans tonight. Do you guys know where Duchess is?”

Rex cleared his throat. “Like she said yesterday, she’s in the back counting donations.”

“Right, yesterday.” Bino said. “God, that feels so long ago. Thanks, big guy. I just need to go talk to her.”

Bino turned on his heel to make his way towards the back-room… when he suddenly stopped and turned back.

“Hey… In case I don’t get the chance to say it later tonight…” Bino said, trailing off. “Thank you. All of you.”

Fox raised an eyebrow. “For what?”

Bino paused for a second. What was he thanking them for, exactly? It seemed so important a second ago that he did.

“I guess… For being my friends. I know I don’t always make it easy, but I really do appreciate everything the three of you do for me.” Bino said. “I can’t really go into details, but something happened last night that… made me realize how much I really rely on you guys. And I hope I can show you just how grateful I am in the future.”

The three, much like the Arbelt brothers, were certainly confused by this. It was not at all like Bino to suddenly become sentimental.

“What brought this on?” Fox said, crossing his arms.

Bino shrugged. “I can’t really answer that. I just… wanted to let you guys know how much I appreciate you.”

Sasha glanced over to the two boys at her side before giving Bino a warm smile. There was something about her smile that seemed… familiar to Bino. “Bino, for better or worse, you’ve given us good memories and bad memories. But I wouldn’t trade any of them away, because those memories brought us here.”

Rex nodded, a jubilant smile on his face. “And, honestly, I can be happy with the here and now if this is how you'll be behaving from here on.”

Fox shook his head, before placing a hand on Bino’s shoulder. “I’m not gonna pretend to know what this is all about, but… I’m proud of you, Bino. Whatever self-help books you’ve been reading, I hope you get even better in the future.”

“The future?” Bino asked as Fox trailed off.

“I don’t know, man.” Fox said, smiling. “Something about this. Something about you. It feels like something’s changing, for the better.”

Bino looked down as a slight smile traced his lips. “I hope you’re right. But! That starts with me and Duchess having a very serious discussion.”

With that, Bino made his way to the back-room. Time for a business meeting.
---
True to her word, Duchess was nose-deep in the piles of cash both members of the club and well-wishers from families and the K-9 unit generously donated to the club for the holidays.

Bino didn’t say anything as he noticed Duchess sneak a few bills into a lower drawer under her desk.

“Knock-knock, Duchie!” Bino said, giving Duchess as wide a grin as he could.

Duchess barely looked up from the stacks. “I thought I told you not to bother me.”

“I'm so sorry, Duchie-Poo, but I’m afraid this was too important to wait.” Bino said, striding into Duchess’ impromptu office and taking a seat across from her.

Duchess sighed as she finally looked up, boring a hole through Bino’s head with her eyes. “The building better be on fire, Bino. I’m really in no mood for your antics.”

“Then I’ll be quick.” Bino said, trying very hard to keep a grin off his face. “Duchess, we’ve been dating for quite a while now, haven’t we?”

Duchess attention was already back to counting the money. “I count the days like an inmate going on parole.”

“Love that sharp wit, Duchie!” Bino said. “And we’ve definitely had some good times, haven’t we?”

“Is there a point to this drivel?”

“Fair enough, you are a busy woman, so I’ll cut straight to the chase.” Bino said. “I think we should see other people.”

“There, now was that so hard for you to just spit ou…” Duchess dropped one of the wads of bills she was counting before staring straight at Bino. “Come again?”

“I know, it’s hard to hear. But I've given this a great deal of thought, and I truly think it's for the best. It's not you, really, it's me.” Bino said, the corners of his mouth threatening to turn upwards.

“I… I never…” Duchess stammered. “What is going on?”

“But, I just don’t think we have that same spark anymore. We’re both so busy with the club, I just don’t have the time to indulge in romance, and I’m sure you don’t either.” Bino said.

“But… That isn’t… You’re not supposed to… I’m the one who-!”

“I’m glad you agree, Duchess. I hope we can still be friends.”

“Now wait just a darn minute, here!” Duchess yelled, slamming her hands on the table as she got to her feet. “I don’t know what kind of game you think you’re playing, Byron, but this is not how this works! You do NOT reject me! I reject you!”

Bino calmly patted Duchess hand. “Whatever you need to tell yourself.”

Duchess’ fur visibly bristled in rage. “You little-!”

“Oh, silly me. There was one bit of club business I wanted to discuss with you.” Bino said, getting up from his chair to poke his head out back to the main hall. “Sasha! Can you come in here real quick?”

“Oh, no you don’t! We are NOT done here!” Duchess said, rounding across her desk to march towards Bino. “What exactly are you doing?”

“Why, I’m giving you a promotion!” Bino said, happily, giving Duchess a friendly slap on the shoulder. “Merry Christmas!”

“P-Promotion?” Duchess said.

At that moment, Sasha poked her head through the door. “What’s up, Bino?”

“Sasha, I got some good news I wanted to share with you.” Bino said, wrapping an arm around a fuming Duchess’ shoulders. “I’ve decided to make Duchess my official co-head of the G.O.D.!”

“What!” Duchess exclaimed.

“Oh, wow! Congratulations, Duchess!” Sasha said, smiling for her friend. “...What’s that mean?”

“I’m beginning to wonder that myself…” Duchess muttered, looking, for the first time since Bino had ever known her, worried.

“Well, Duchess already does so much for the G.O.D., she was practically head in everything but name! It was almost as if I was becoming an empty figure-head in my own club!” Bino said before laughing. Sasha and Duchess joined the laughter, but Duchess seemed to force it a little bit more than the other two.

“So, I decided that, from now on, Duchess and I are going to be working very closely together. We’ll be able to go through each other on every single club matter to ensure the club caters to its members in the best way possible.” Bino explained, tightening his grip on Duchess’ shoulders. “That way, I’ll be the first to know about every single wonderful idea Duchess has for the club and have the pleasure of implementing those ideas to the best of my ability.”

Bino turned his gaze over to the now thoroughly uncomfortable Duchess. “And I know she’s thrilled about the idea. She loves this club so much, and is ready to help it grow in any way she can. Isn’t that right, Duchie?”

Duchess’ looked as though she was fully prepared to eviscerate Bino had a witness not have been there at that moment. “Anything to help the club...” Duchess growled through the clenched teeth in her smile.

“Well, don’t get me wrong, that all sounds like a great idea.” Sasha said, tilting her head. “But what’s that got to do with me?”

“Weeeeell, since Duchess is going to be sooo busy being co-head of the club, the position of club treasurer has just opened up!” Bino said.

“WHAT!!” Duchess screamed. “I-I mean… What? Bino, surely I can still handle my duties as treasurer?”

“Oh, no no no.” Bino said, wagging his finger. “Believe me, Duchess, you’re going to be much too busy being co-head to waste your time with literally anything else. But, since Sasha is such a dear and personal friend of yours, I’m sure you can vouch for her to take your place as treasurer!”

Duchess opened her mouth for what was surely a very strongly worded rejection, but one look at Sasha’s beaming pink orbs made the words die in her mouth.

“Of… Of course.” Duchess said, defeated. “Sasha will make a… great… treasurer.” She said, looking to be on the verge of puking.

“Wow, this is such a great honor!” Sasha exclaimed, tail wagging a mile a minute. “So… What’s my first job?”

“So glad you asked!” Bino said. “Duchess has already been kind enough to count the donations for you, so why don’t you just go ahead and take the left-over money we didn’t spend on the party and donate it. You probably have a better hand on the pulse for good charities, so I’ll leave that discretion up to you as treasurer.”

“C-C-Charities!?” Duchess sputtered.

“Oh, and make sure you grab the stacks in the lower drawer on the left. Duchess must have been working so hard, she accidentally misplaced them there.”

“I… I think I’m gonna faint…” Duchess whispered below her breath.

“Oooh, I know just the place! There’s this nice farmland upstate that takes in homeless puppies! Fido used to volunteer all the time to teach the kids how to read.” Sasha said, already going over to the desk to gather the money.

“Sounds fantastic.” Bino said, now completely giving up on keeping his triumphant grin off his face. “Hey, I just had a great idea! Since Duchess went through so much trouble putting that money together, why don’t you donate it under her name!”

Sasha gasped in delight. “That’s a wonderful idea! Maybe they’ll ask Duchess to come up and play with the puppies! Jealous!”

“I’m in the Bad Place.” Duchess muttered. “That’s it, isn’t it? I died and went to the Bad Place. Just like my fortune cookie said…”

“Oh, I’m so proud of you, Duchess!” Sasha said, wrapping her arms around the completely unresponsive saluki in a tight hug. “You’ve really come a long way.”

With that, Sasha happily marched right out the door, money in tow, leaving Duchess to weakly reach for the retreating green paper, whimpering slightly.

“Well, our relationship may have ended, but I think this is the beginning of a beautiful partnership!” Bino said. “I’m glad we could work through our personal issues and come together as a real team!”

Duchess stood there in stunned silence.

“I’m looking forward to working with you, co-head…”

Duchess stood there in stunned silence, and there she continued to stand even after Bino walked out and closed the door to the back-room.

Bino decided Duchess needed some time to herself. All the same, he wasn’t nearly done with his own errands yet.
---
This next stop was going to be… painful.

Bino knew he had nobody to blame but himself. The three Ghosts did a bang-up job drilling that into his brain, if nothing else.

Still, that wasn’t going to make this any easier.

Taking a breath, and steeling his resolve, Bino rang the doorbell to the Sandwich residence.

It didn’t take long before Peanut and Grape’s mother answered the door, clearly surprised at the unexpected third guest of the night.

“Oh, hello.” Mrs Sandwich said, offering a polite smile. “Can we help you?”

Bino respectfully took off his cap. “Hello, Mrs Sandwich. I’m Max’s brother. He invited me to the party he and his friends were having here.”
---
“Oh, alright, fine!” Grape said, half-heartedly raising her bottle. “To Bino. May he have a Merry Friggin’ Christmas, despite himself.”

Bino overheard Grape say this as he trepidatiously stepped down the hall into the playroom. Just like last night, he heard Max give a sad chuckle.

“Merry Christmas… Brother…”

Bino chose right then and there to make himself known, stepping into the playroom. Everyone but Max had their backs turned to him, sitting on their assembled bean-bags, as Max looked up in surprise.

“Wow.” Bino said, immediately grabbing everyone’s attention. “That was actually really sweet.”

Grape almost dropped the soda bottle she had just used to, albeit begrudgingly, toast the very dog she was glaring daggers at. “You’ve got a lot of nerve…”

“I know.” Bino said, holding up his hands in defense. “I know I’m the last person any of you want to see right now. I just… needed to talk to Max real quick.”

“I think you’ve said enough to Max last night.” Grape said, getting up from her seat. “So you’ve got five seconds to turn your tail around and-”

“Grape.” Max interrupted. “It’s fine. What is it?”

Bino sighed in relief. Max certainly did not look happy to see him, but he seemed willing to give him the benefit of the doubt.

That’s fine, Bino thought. He just needed one chance

“Can we talk in private?” Bino asked, jutting his thumb behind him, towards the door.

“I think, whatever you have to say, you can say in front of them,” Max said, crossing his arms.

“Fair enough.” Bino conceded. “I just wanted to tell you… How sorry I am.”

At this, Max’s gaze softened and his arms relaxed a bit. “Sorry?”

“About yesterday.” Bino said, before groaning and rubbing the back of his neck. “And, y’know, literally everything else. I… I’ve been a horrible housemate to you.”

Bino looked down at the floor, ashamed. “I’ve been a horrible brother to you.”

Max, needless to say, was absolutely floored to hear the word brother come out of Bino’s mouth. The other three pets present gave their own looks of shock and surprise. Though the yellow pomeranian seemed to be staring at Bino in particular with… curiosity, Bino guessed.

“And you are!” Bino said, before Max could say anything. “My brother, that is. We don’t always get along… Okay, we never get along. But… When I try to picture my life, my home, without you…” Bino trailed off, memories of Max’s grave still fresh in his mind.

Max absorbed all of this, before taking a step towards Bino.

Bino didn’t notice, too absorbed in getting everything he was saying out. “I said yesterday that I never asked to live with you, but you never asked for it either and, unlike me, you’ve actually tried to make the best of it. You actually tried to make it into something resembling an actual family.” Bino tried to keep his eyes from watering. “What I’m trying to say is: I’m ready to try too, if you’ll let me-”

Bino was cut off when he suddenly felt Max wrap his arms around Bino’s neck, holding him tight as he hugged him close.

Neither of the two said anything as Bino returned the hug, burying his face into Max’s shoulder.

“I’m… I’m sorry.” Bino said, tearing up. “I promise, I’ll try to be a better brother.”

Max pulled back, and Bino could see he had tears of his own as he smiled at his brother. “That’s all I ever wanted. Merry Christmas, Bino.”

“Merry Christmas, Max.”

The two gave each other another hug. Grape stared at the two, gobsmacked in disbelief, while Peanut and Tarot held each other’s hands, smiling warmly at the display.

After a good minute or so, the two finally released each other, wiping away their tears. “Oh, before I forget…” Bino said, reaching into his collar and pulling out a scrap of construction paper before handing it to Grape. “Here. Merry Christmas, Grape.”

Grape, still stunned at what she had just witnessed, gingerly took the paper from Bino, carefully reading it.

“What… What is this?” Grape asked, not sure what she was seeing.

“That is an Honorary Good Ol’ Dogs Club membership card.” Bino said. “Specially made this morning. Now you can come visit the club and eat our treats whenever you want, and you’ll be welcomed with open arms like any club member.”

“Congratulations, Grape.” Bino continued, giving a pat to Grape’s shoulder. “You’re the first official cat-member of the G.O.D.”

Despite this, Bino did grimace. “Er, that said, you might want to wait a week or two before coming down. Give me time to make the rest of the club open to the idea. Shouldn’t be too hard, though. I’m pretty much the only dog who really cared.”

“Bino… This is…” Grape said, staring at her membership card in disbelief before looking up to glare at Bino. “Who are you and what have you done with the real Bino?”

Bino laughed, about to reply, before Peanut suddenly launched himself on top of Bino, wrapping his arms around his neck in an excitable back-hug. “No way! No take-backs! I’m liking this new nice Bino!”

Bino smirked. “Let’s not get crazy. I’m not about to go campaigning for Pope, here. I’m just… gonna try to not be such a massive grade-A jerk.” He said, casting a pointed glance at Grape.

Yanking Peanut off of him, Bino gave one last look at Max. “Well, that’s that. Sorry I can’t stick around, I just… really needed to tell you all of that.”

Max looked crest-fallen. “Really? After all of that, you’re not even gonna stay?

Bino shrugged. “Wish I could, but… I have other family I need to see. Maybe next year?”

Bino turned to walk back into the living room, before feeling a hand grip his arm.

“Wait…” He heard Grape say behind him. Looking back, he saw that Grape was visibly uncomfortable with whatever she was trying to say.

“Look, I’m not gonna pretend to understand… whatever the heck all of this is, but…” Grape trailed off. “We we’re just about to do some karaoke before you barged in. Do you want to stick around for a song or two before you go?”

“Oh, please!” Peanut said, tail wagging. “I don’t think I ever heard you sing before!”

Bino felt a small smile peek through. “Well, what do you say, brother?”

Max smiled. “You are supposed to spend Christmas with family.”

Bino weighed his options, looking at the clock on the wall. “Well… I guess I can stay for a bit.”
---
How in the heck had two hours passed!?

Once Bino realized how much time went by, he very hurriedly excused himself and ran right for the door, screaming about a schedule he had to keep.

But not before he gave Max another hug goodbye. It was honestly weirding Bino out how natural it felt.

Still, Bino had fun. Way more fun than he ever had at the G.O.D. parties. Karaoke, video-games, food.

Laughs, good-will.

Family.

Bino could get used to the feeling.

Still, he wasn’t about to completely give up on the G.O.D.. He still believed in the ideal for community he and Fido had when they first founded the club. They just needed a reminder.

Just like Bino needed one.

And what better reminder than an example of that community-building done right.

It honestly didn’t take Bino very long to find Heathcliff’s. It’s not like Babylon Garden’s was some dilapidated city, there honestly wasn’t a whole lot alleys in the more street-heavy parts of the town. Least of all, large enough to house that many cats in one place.

A quick look at a map of the town on his phone gave Bino a pretty good idea of where the club might be.

Whether by luck or some divine providence, Bino managed to guess right, elated at seeing that wonderful scrap of a moth-eaten banner hanging proud.

Bino halted himself, trying to decide the best way to go about this. He decided to just take a quick peek inside, just to make sure Tiger and his brothers managed to deliver the food without complication.

He didn’t need more than that.

Sneaking as best as he could, Bino poked his head around the corner, leading into the alley.

Sure enough, the Arbelts must have come through, as each table was positively overflowing with food, something that the assembled cats clearly appreciated if their face-stuffing was any indication. Bino saw Heathcliff, looking as jolly as Saint Nick himself, practically dance out of the kitchen with a plate of food in each hand, with no shortage in sight.

Bino could even see the Arbelt brothers at their own table, talking and laughing amongst themselves as they dug right in. Seemed Heathcliff’s was already more inclusive than the G.O.D. since nobody in the restaurant seemed to bat an eye at the dog and rabbit sitting right across from them.

Nodding in contentment, Bino turned to leave, happy that Heathcliff’s would survive at least one more Christmas, and many more as long a Bino had anything to say.

Of course, the universe decided it wasn’t quite done punishing Bino yet. Since he was so focused on the restaurant itself, he hadn’t noticed Allegra rounding the corner straight into him.

In a repeat performance, the two careened directly into each other before falling to the ground. Allegra, to her credit, managed to keep enough sense to hold the bag she was carrying up to keep it off the ground as she fell rear-end first.

“Off! Yes!” She exclaimed, triumphantly holding up what Bino could now see was a bag of ice. “Not this time, gravity!”

As Allegra celebrated her little victory, she finally noticed Bino sprawled on the ground across from her.

“Oops…” Allegra said, sheepishly, before getting up and offering a hand towards the brown mutt.

“We gotta stop bumping into each other like this.” Allegra said, smiling down at Bino.

Bino couldn’t believe how much he had missed that smile. Gratefully taking Allegra’s hand, she helped Bino to his feet.

“What are you doing here?” Allegra asked, hoisting the bag of ice under her arm.

“Ah…” Bino was a bit stuck now. What could he say without giving away the whole charade? “Well… That is to say…”

“Oh, thank you, by the way, for the food.” Allegra said, suddenly interrupting him.

“Yes, well… What?” Bino said, surprised. “How do you…?”

Allegra rolled her eyes. “Well, I mean, c’mon Bino. It was kind of obvious? You bump into me yesterday, make me spill all that food for the banquet.” She cast an accusatory glare at Bino, giving him a smirk. “And now, suddenly, some mysterious benefactor replaces everything I lost? You were the only one who would have known about it so soon, and know exactly what to replace.”

Allegra laughed before nudging Bino with her elbow. “Although, I gotta say, I love your choice in delivery boys. We may have to hire that Tiger fellow full-time if we can find a way to pay him in free food. You may have just opened up a whole new avenue for the restaurant!”

Bino rubbed his arm. “Well… It was my fault to begin with. It’s only right I try to fix it.”

Allegra nodded, looking over the happy faces of her feasting customers. “I say you’ve done that, and more! I can’t remember seeing so many new faces here at once.”

“You, uh…” Bino trailed off. “You make a habit of learning their faces?”

Allegra nodded. “Nothing saying I can’t be friends with my customers. Helps give the place that cozy, personal touch.

Bino couldn’t keep his smile off his face. “Seems like you do a lot for this place.”

Allegra shrugged. “Not really. I just… try to make people happy, y’know? This place is the closest thing I have to a home.”

Bino’s ears drooped at hearing this. “A… A lot of things were my fault, in retrospect. And I haven’t been doing a great job fixing them.”

Allegra looked confused at this. “Bino?”

“Allegra… I’m sorry, for how I treated you when we were younger. I was so caught up in my own, messed-up ideas of what I needed to be… I couldn’t see what I already had.” Bino looked up, forcing himself to meet Allegra’s eyes. “And what I had was... an amazing friend who I treated like crap for… literally, no reason at all. There’s nothing I can say or do to make it better except… I’m sorry.”

Allegra simply stood there, staring at Bino, as he turned to leave. “Anyway, I just came to make sure the food got delivered. I’ll… I’ll leave you alone now.”

“Bino…” Allegra said, but no other words came forth.

Bino did stop, a flicker of a memory dancing around in his head. His hand seemed to move by itself as it reached into his collar, pulling out a single, ripe grape.

He vaguely remembered the Ghost of Christmas Present giving him the grape, saying it was his contribution to the ‘Feast of Mankind’ when he let Allegra stay with him.

If kindness be repaid, be it matched with kindness.

“Hey…” Bino said, turning back to face Allegra. “It’s not much, but Merry Christmas.”

With that, Bino took Allegra’s hand in his own and gently placed the grape in her palm.

“A… A grape?” Allegra asked, looking up at Bino in confusion.

Bino gave a tired laugh. “Yeah, I… I don’t really get it myself. I guess… I guess this is me trying to thank you for, well, everything.”

Bino and Allegra held their gaze for some time. How long, Bino couldn’t tell. Finally, Bino finally wrenched himself away from her, walking solemnly away.

Allegra watched as Bino disappeared around the street corner, standing stock-still as she regarded everything that was said.

Perhaps it’s for the best, Allegra thought to herself. There was a lot of lingering pain from the last time they really spoke to each other. Allegra could still remember the sting in her eyes as Bino told her, under no uncertain terms, that he never cared for her.

Even now, what reason did she have to disbelieve that?

Without thinking about it, Allegra flicked the grape into the air before catching it with her mouth, biting down on it and making it’s sweet juices burst across her tongue.

The tart flavor seemed oddly refreshing as Allegra swallowed the juice and pulp. This was hands down the best grape she had ever tasted!

And, just as quickly as it came, it was gone. Allegra shrugged, not really knowing what she was expecting to get out of a single, solitary grape.

And besides, it still didn’t mean anything. The tart flavor resting in her mouth turned bittersweet as Bino’s biting words came rushing back. Calling her filthy and mangy, for no other crime than simply being a cat.

But, try as she might to keep her focus on Bino’s empty words, said in a frenzy of doubt and self-loathing that Allegra could tell, even back then, she started to remember other things as well.

She remembered Bino coming across her in the alleyway, comforting her in his usual blunt and brusque way. She remembered Bino inviting her to live in his treehouse, for absolutely zero benefit to himself. She remembered Bino smuggling her food and blankets under his father’s watch, making sure she was as comfortable as possible.

It was the first time in Allegra’s life she ever felt like she had a home.

She remembered begging Bino to stay with her long into the night, discussing this and that and just enjoying each other’s company. She remembered the perverse thrill in keeping it all a secret, though she never truly understood why. It seemed like a game to her, at first. Until Bino decided to stop playing.

Allegra groaned as she rubbed her head, trying to decide what to do. Bino was her friend, but he tossed her aside when it was inconvenient for him. Bino provided so much food for her restaurant, but only after he had almost ruined the banquet.

Bino claimed to never care about her, yet he gave her a home and a companion to share it with, despite how shortly that lasted.

The sweet taste of that grape came back as a little errant thought suddenly crossed her mind.
Could they ever have that back?

Allegra looked around at her customers, indulging in good food and good company, making merry on the night of peace, goodwill, and miracles.

“Heath?” Allegra said, flagging down her boss. “I need to go on break.”
---
Only one stop left for the night. And, indeed, it was becoming night as the sun started to set. Bino had to work quickly if he had any hope of salvaging the mess he had spent his life making.

A quick walk to the residence of one Ryan Byron later, and Bino stood outside the door, mentally preparing himself.

Still, nothing said Bino couldn’t have a little fun first.

Doing his best to keep his grumpy, surly mask on his face, Bino rang the doorbell. He made sure his positively comical grimace stayed right where it was even after Sabrina opened the door, clearly surprised to see Bino actually show up.

“Bino? Oh my god, you actually came!” Sabrina said, looking surprisingly cheerful at this before yanking Bino inside by his arm. “Fido, look! Bino’s here!”

Ah, that explained it. Going by Ryan, Joey and Squeak at the table, Bino must have come by mere moments before Fido would have… escaped into the bathroom.

Instead, Fido stood there, a surprised yet no less ecstatic smile on his face. “Bino! You came-!”

“Zip it, boy-scout.” Bino said, marching up to Fido, keeping his scowl on.

“Oh no…” Joey muttered, already leaving his plate to try and stand between his brothers. “Listen, Bino, we don’t have to get into all of this. You’re here, can we please just try and get along for-”

“Butt out, Joseph.” Bino snapped. “This is between me and Mister Golden-Boy here. I have a lot of things to say to you that have been a long time coming.” Bino said, poking Fido in the chest.

“Bino, stop, this isn’t the time or place!” Sabrina urged, trying to bring some order into this.

“No.” Fido said, holding up a hand. “Let him speak.”

“Fido?” Sabrina said, worried. But Fido kept his attention on his brother.

“Bino, I know you have issues with me. I don’t pretend to know what those issues are, but it’s clear to me that I must have done something or said something to hurt you, and I’ll do whatever I can to make things right by you. So, whatever you have to say to me, little brother, then go ahead. I’m listening.”

Bino scoffed. “Even now, you just have to be so perfect. Did you ever think that was the problem, Fido?”

Fido looked confused at this. “I… I don’t-”

“No, you don’t. You never did.” Bino said. “You just continued to carry on, getting everybody to shower you with praise while I was left, forgotten and alone, in your shadow.”

“Bino, I never meant to-”

“I’m not done!” Bino snapped. “You have no idea how much it hurt, Fido, constantly being used as your measuring stick. People just couldn’t seem to say one nice thing about you without immediately turning around and saying something hurtful to me in kind.”

Bino took a step up to his brother, bringing his face close to his. “Well, I just have one thing to say to you, big brother…”

Bino waited to see what Fido would do, but he kept true to his word and let Bino make the first move.

So Bino did.

He shot his arms out, wrapped them around Fido’s chest, and hugged him tighter than he ever had in either of their lives.

“I’m sorry…” Bino said quietly. “I understand now that you never meant any of it. You only ever just tried to do what was best. I wasted so much time hating you, when you've only shown me love.

Bino tightened his hug. “I’m sorry. I love you, Fido.”

Fido had no idea what was happening. But as Bino settled into the hug, and his words began to sink in for possibly the first time ever, Fido bent down and returned the hug in full force, tears streaming down his face.

“I love you, too. I’m so, so sorry I ever hurt you.”

The two brothers held each other, drenching each other’s shoulders with tears as the rest of their family looked on.

“Why are you crying?” Squeak whispered, nudging Ryan’s arm with her elbow from atop the table.

“It’s just… It’s so beautiful…” Ryan whimpered, wiping his eyes underneath his glasses.

Finally, the two brothers withdrew from each other, wiping their eyes before Bino reached over to grab the wide-smiling Joey next to them.

“Get in here, too, you big nerd.” Bino said, pulling them both into a group hug.

“You guys!” Joey said, readily wrapping his arms around his brothers.

After a while, Bino finally spoke up from within the huddle. “I wish Mom could see us now.”

Fido sniffed, holding back a sob. “I think she’d be proud of you.”
---
After some time, and allowing the over-abundance of heavy emotions to die down, the family finally settled themselves enough to prepare their plates for a proper Christmas dinner. Ryan and Joey were already in the process of arguing which Christmas special to put on the television while they all ate.

Bino had just put the finishing touches on his plate when he heard a throat clearing behind him.

“Bino?”

Turning around, Bino saw Fido standing there, an awkward smile on his face as he kept an arm wrapped around Sabrina.

“So… um… Part of the reason I wanted to invite you over is so that I could officially introduce you to… my girlfriend.” Fido said, carefully. “I… I know how you usually feel about… relationships like ours, but-”

“Nice to meet you, Sabrina.” Bino said, offering his free hand. “I’ve seen you around the neighborhood (And on the news with my brother), but I’m pretty sure this is the first time we’ve actually met?”

Both Fido and Sabrina were surprised at this, but Sabrina managed to recover quickly, happily shaking Bino’s hand. “You saw that news-vid, did ya? Yeah, not my most glamorous moment.”

Bino chuckled. “I don’t know. I kinda got a kick out of Fido getting drenched when you hacked up all that water.”

Sabrina gave a giggle at that. “Can you believe Mister Perfect here actually complained about how it ‘wasn’t very romantic’? I almost drown and he can only think about how good he looks on camera!”

“Really?” Bino said, side-eyeing Fido. “Sabrina, I think the two of us are going to have a lot of interesting things to talk about. Fido, why didn’t you introduce us sooner?”

“You mean, aside from the obvious?” Fido grumbled. “I’m beginning to figure it out.”

Before any more could be said, the doorbell rang once more that night.

Ryan looked up from wrestling the remote from Joey’s hands. “That’s weird. Are we expecting any other heartfelt revelations tonight?” He said, looking at Fido.

“No, Bino was the only one we had scheduled.” Fido joked.

Rolling his eyes, Bino placed his plate on the table. “I’ll go tell them to buzz off. Probably just some carolers.”

Opening the door, Bino poked his head out to regard the unwanted guests. “We don’t want any…”

He trailed off as he saw Allegra, standing out in the cold and rubbing her hands together.

“H-Hey, Bino.” She said, her teeth chattering.

Bino looked back into the house before ducking outside, closing the door behind him.

“Allegra? What are you doing out here?” Bino said. “Shouldn’t you be back at the restaurant?”

“Heath gave me the night off. Apparently, those three brothers you sent our way decided to do some volunteer work.” Allegra leaned in closer, whispering to Bino. “Between you and me, I think that Tiger fella just wanted to sneak some more vittles from the kitchen.”

“That still doesn’t explain what your doing here?” Bino said, crossing his arms.

“Look, I…” Allegra trailed off. “I don’t really know what I’m doing right now. I don’t really know what I’m trying to accomplish so… I’m just gonna keep talking until something makes sense, okay?”

“Okay…?” Bino said, raising an eyebrow.

“Look, it’s just… You hurt me, Bino.” Allegra said, trying not to notice the look of shame flashing across Bino’s face. “When you basically told me to get out of your life, you really screwed me over. I didn’t really have anything else, Bino. I got lucky when Heath found me pretty much wander into his alley by accident.”

“But I never really forgot you, or how much it hurt that you would just throw away everything we had because you were so bent up on what other people thought of you.”

“I… I can’t change the past, Allegra.” Bino said, refusing to meet her eye. “None of us can. All I can do is try to do better in the future.”

Allegra was silent for a long time, staring at Bino’s face, trying to find any crack in his armor, any sign that he was putting up a front. “And would you?” Allegra asked.

Bino looked up at her, confused. “What?”

“Would you do better?” Allegra asked. “If I saw you passing me in the street, and said hi to you, would you say hi back? If I invited you to have dinner with me at Heath’s, would you come over and have a nice evening with me? If I wanted to just… hang out with you and talk like we did when we were younger, would you do it?”

“If I…” Allegra said. “If I wanted us to be friends again, would you hurt me all over again?”

Bino looked her in the eyes. “Never. Allegra, I would never, ever try to hurt you again like I did.”

“If I wanted you back in my life…” Allegra said. “Would you let me be a part of yours?”

“In a heartbeat.”

Allegra stood there, freezing in the cold night air, before she finally flung herself forward and latched her arms around him. “There… There’s still a lot we need to discuss. A lot of pain that won’t just go away overnight. But… But I missed you, Bino. I want to be friends again.”

“Nothing would make me happier.” Bino said, wrapping his arms around Allegra. “I missed you, too.”

It was only then that Bino could feel how cold Allegra felt.

“Why don’t you come inside?” Bino said. “We were just about to have dinner.”

“Oh, no, I couldn’t impose.” Allegra said, already pulling back from the hug.

“You’re not imposing.” Bino said. “You’re my friend, and I would be honored if I could spend my Christmas with you.”

Allegra offered a weak smile, wiping a tear from her eye. “Okay…”
---
The rest of the family waited as Bino came back inside, somewhat surprised at seeing a periwinkle cat following close behind him.

“Ah…” Bino said, noticing the question on everybody’s faces. “Guys, this is Allegra. She’s a friend of mine. I was wondering if she might join us for tonight?”

Sabrina crossed her arms, a mischievous smirk on her face. “A friend, you say?”

Bino rolled his eyes. “Yes, this cat is my friend. Lo and behold, Bino has a cat for a friend. That’s right, ladies and gentlemen, he can be taught.”

Allegra bumped her elbow into his ribs. “Alright, now your milking it.” She said, snickering.

Ryan merely shrugged. “Hey, this place is already a menagerie. What’s one more animal? Hope you like terrible Christmas specials, cause we were all about to riff on the Star Wars special.”

“Ooh, Awkward Art Carney!” Allegra said.

“Hah, a woman of culture! I like her, Bino.” Ryan said, nudging against Joey.

“I still say the He-Man Christmas Special would have been better.” Joey grumbled, but happily took his seat anyway, Squeak resting cozily on his shoulder.

“Oh, yeah, don’t eat the mouse.” Bino warned. “She’s Joey’s girlfriend.”

“Okay, I will in no way question that.” Allegra said.

“Probably for the best.” Bino said. “You might not like the answer.”

“Ahem!”

The two looked up at the sound of a clearing throat and saw Sabrina staring right at them, a knowing smile plastered on her face. “So, Bino, I never thought you had it in you.” She said, teasingly. “Clever little plan you thought up, though.”

“What on earth are you babbling about?” Bino asked, Allegra just as confused as him.

Instead of saying anything, Sabrina merely pointed up, causing the two to look above them…

And see the bright green shoot of mistletoe hanging directly overhead.

Bino’s mind grinded mid-clutch as he took in a sharp breath, only just now remembering Sabrina setting up the mistletoe during the Ghost of Christmas Present’s vision last night.

“Ah! No, Allegra! I swear, I had nothing to do with-!”

Bino was cut off by Allegra planting a quick peck on his lips, drawing back as soon as it happened with a coy smile on her face.

“Merry Christmas, Bino.” Allegra said, planting another peck on his cheek before going over to the table, eager to get some food of her own after spending all day serving it.

Bino stood, paralyzed from the kiss, as Sabrina doubled over, laughing.

Finally, Bino shook off the feeling of Allegra’s warm lips on his own, and joined his family in front of the television. Only mildly annoyed at the teasing over his new ‘girlfriend’.

Girlfriend, yeah right, Bino thought. As if that was ever going to happen. He was happy enough just being friends with Allegra. Besides, no matter how much soul-searching or personal growth Bino went through last night, he still wasn’t a cat-lover.

No matter how much his tail wagged after Allegra kissed him.

[CunningFox]

Great ending to a great story.

[trekkie]

That was adorable. Bino makes up with the ones who care about him and Duchess gets her comeuppance. This was a great story from beginning to end. Great job!

[Nathan Kerbonaut]

What a wonderful ending, I couldn't stop myself from smiling like Bino. This story is outstanding. Bravo, Jageshemash!

[Amazee Dayzee]

I really did enjoy how this story played out! At first I was reluctant because I figured it would be way too easy to have Bino be a Scrooge but I was pleasantly surprised. This was a nice read!

[JageshemashFTW]

The Good Ol’ Dogs Club Public Message Forum

Bino
9:24
Merry Crimish! Er... Merry McChrisisisis...
—-
Fido
9:26
Sorry everyone. Bino got into my dad’s ‘special’ eggnog and I guess he’s still got some more Christmas Cheer to spread...
—-
Fox
9:27
Wait, THAT’S what Bino meant when he said he had ‘plans’? He’s actually spending the holidays with you?
—-
Fido
9:28
Believe me, I’m just as surprised as you are. Pleasantly surprised! But surprised all the same...
—-
Bino
9:30
Awww, I lov yu sooo much bro. Friggin Ghosts make me so happy. THABK YUO GHOSTS!
—-
Fox
9:31
Boy, that must be some real good eggnog.
—-
Grape
9:32
I don’t think it’s the eggnog. He stopped by earlier today, and he was a lot nicer then too. I daresay he was... creepily pleasant.
—-
Bino
9:34
Graaaape! Tell Maxh I lobe him to!
—-
Grape
9:35
Max says he loves you too.
—-
Fox
9:36
Am I the only one kinda concerned that Bino changed so completely literally overnight? Like, at what point does this stop becoming self-realization and when does it start becoming a mental breakdown?
—-
Rex
9:37
Tiger seemed to think he was replaced by an alien.
—-
Fox
9:38
Yeah, but that’s Tiger.
—-
Bino
9:38
Ghoooooosts
—-
Grape
9:39
Well, there you go Fox. Ghosts.
—-
Duchess
9:39
Does anyone want to tell the supposedly new co-head why a cat is on our public forum?
—-
Grape
9:40
Evidently, I’m now an Honorary member of the club, according to Bino. The first official Good Ol’ Cat.
—-
Duchess
9:41
WHAT!?
—-
Bino
9:42
Graaap! Thas was ssupisd to be a surprese...
—-
Duchess
9:43
WHAT IS GOING ON!? WHEN DID I ENTER THE TWILIGHT ZONE!?
—-
Fox
9:44
I don’t know how I feel about this...
—-
Grape
9:45
You and me, both.
—-
Sasha
9:46
Welcome to the club, Grape!
—-
Grape
9:47
Thanks, Sasha.
—-
Fido
9:48
Uh oh. Got to go, guys. Allegra decided to join in Bino’s ‘celebrating’ and now me and Sabrina have to babysit them.
—-
Fox
9:49
Who’s Allegra?
—-
Fido
9:50
Bino’s new cat-friend.
—-
Duchess
9:51
ExCUSE me?
—-
Grape
9:52
Wait, hol-up?
—-
Sasha
9:53
Aww, a new friend!
—-
Fido
10:00
Woah, uh... More than friends it seems if their snogging fest is any indication.
—-
Fox
10:05
I’m sorry, I blanked out there for a second. What did you just say?
—-
Grape
10:06
I reiterate: Wait, hol-up?
—-
Grape
10:07
Bino, Max just called you a giant hypocrite. He says he still loves you though.
—-
Sasha
10:08
Aww, a new GIRLfriend! Tell Bino I want to meet her!
—-
Duchess
10:12
........... I’m going to go bash my head against a wall until I wake up from this nightmare.
—-
Fido
10:14
I’m gonna need a crowbar for these two. Hope they remember this tomorrow...
—-
Bino
10:20
Im stell NOT a cat louber!
—-
Fido
10:22
Sure, little brother. Sure.
—-
Joey
10:23
God bless us, everyone.

[trekkie]

That was hilarious, great job!

[Amazee Dayzee]

Those forum messages that you posted were really wonderful and got all of the character's personalities well! Nice job!

[Nathan Kerbonaut]

It's gonna take some time for the neighborhood to adjust to the new Bino. Funny stuff

[Amazee Dayzee]

I'm sure that they will adjust sooner to it rather than later.

[FireworkFox]

This is great!
Gotta love the new 'n' improved Bino.

[Amazee Dayzee]

I think anybody will like any changes in Bino since his old personality tends to grate on everybody.

[JageshemashFTW]

Decided to review my old story for the holidays. Might touch it up and fix some grammar issues.

Despite that, I think this may just be my favorite fic I’ve ever written.