AUTHOR'S NOTE: This is a follow up to "Father-Daughter Dance." I go a little in depth with Cyril's childhood, mostly from what I've seen from various episodes, mostly "The Family Secret." In any case, just a little note to say I'm taking some leeway with it, as I don't know too many of the great details, but that's the beauty of fanfic. Also putting in the Author's Note so I don't get bombarded with questions like "Is this canon?" or like that there.

It was a beautiful summer day in the Evergreen Forest. Perfect for a swim in Evergreen Lake, which was what the Raccoons and their friends were doing. Bert's pen pal from California, Reggie Drake, had come to visit for the summer, and immediately, Bert came up with the idea of a "Lake Party," which is the equivalent of a pool party when you don't have a pool.

"Hey, guys!" Bert called from the top of a tree branch. "Check this out! Bert Raccoon! Olympic diving champion! CANNONBALL!"

Bert jumped off the tree branch, curled himself into a ball, and splashed into the lake, and splashing everything within a two mile radius.

"Hey!" Lisa, who was sitting on the shoreline soaking up the sun, shouted, as she was doused. "Bert, watch it!"

"Show off," Ralph said, rolling his eyes.

"BANZAAAAAIIII!" Reggie shouted, jumping from the same tree branch. Since he was taller than Bert, he made somewhat of a bigger splash. Lisa growled at him.

"Can't a girl work on her tan without getting wet?" she asked. She picked up her chair, and moved it farther back from the lake, so she wouldn't get wet again. The others just laughed.

"Come on, Lisa, don't be such a stick in the mud!" Bentley shouted. Then he climbed up the tree, and jumped off the branch.

"Yahoo!" he shouted, as he splashed down.

"I still don't see why you couldn't have had this party at the mansion," Lloyd said to Cedric. "You know we have a pool."

"I know," Cedric said. "But the lake is bigger for one thing."

"And Cedric's dad is still sore at me for the hockey puck through his window," Reggie commented. "Even if it was ten years ago. I don't think he'd appreciate me on the premises."

"Yeah, Pop sure knows how to hold a grudge," Cedric replied.

"Besides, guys, the lake is more fun!" Bert shouted.

"Come on in, you guys!" Ralph said, splashing at the Pigs. "The water's fine!"

The others began to prod the Pigs into joining in until they finally gave in. They climbed up the tree, but they didn't stop at the branch Bert, Reggie, and Bentley jumped from. They went to the very top.

"Now for a perfect swine dive!" Lloyd shouted. Then he jumped. "Geronimo!"

"Sitting bull!" Floyd yelled as he jumped.

"Pocahontas," Boyd said, jumping himself.

"Look out!" Melissa shouted.

Everyone moved, just as the Pigs hit the water. Unfortunately, their swine dives were less than perfect. They ended up diving in the shallow end of the lake. Their heads were buried under the water while the rest of them were perfectly upright. The others just laughed.

"Now that's what I call a stick in the mud!" Lisa shouted, laughing.

The others started cracking up as well, at least until Cyril drove up to the lake. He didn't look too happy.

"Party's over," he said, then turned to Cedric and Sophia. "I need you back at the house now!"

"Aw, come on, Pop!" Cedric shouted. "Can't I go through the books later?"

"This has nothing to do with you or the books, Cedric," Cyril said. "Sofa Girl, your mother's at the mansion. She needs to talk to you pronto."

"Mom here?" Sophia asked, climbing out of the lake. "She'd never just drop by like this. She would call first."

"She said something's come up and she couldn't tell you over the phone," Cyril said. "She wouldn't tell me what it was, though. All she told me was that she needed to talk to you right away."

Sophia toweled off and followed Cyril to his car. She wasn't quite sure what was going on, but she could tell it was bad news. She just hoped it had nothing to do with her mother, or her sisters.

Cyril and Sophia reached the mansion shortly after leaving the lake. Sophia practically raced inside to the living room, where her mother, Loretta, was sitting on the couch. When she ran into the room, Loretta stood up.

"Mom, what's going on?" Sophia said. "Mr. Sneer said you needed to talk to me right away. What's wrong? Are Myrna and Stephanie all right?"

"Yes, yes, Sophie, they're fine," Loretta said. "Actually . . . . oohh, how do I put this? I know you're a bit sensitive on the subject, Sophie, especially after the last time we came to visit but . . . ."

"Just spit it out already," Cyril grumbled. Sophia and Loretta both shot him a dirty look.

"Mr. Sneer is not known for his compassion," Sophia said. "But, Mom, he does have a point here. What's going on?"

"I might as well just say it," Loretta sighed. "Let me tell you, this is not easy, Sophie. I got a call from your father's brother yesterday."

"Uncle David?" Sophia asked.

"Yes," Loretta said. "And actually, he called about your father."

"I can't wait to hear this," Cyril said, somewhat sarcastically, but the curiosity was getting the better of him.

"Your father moved in with David a couple of days ago," Loretta said. "Believe it or not, nobody from either side of the family has seen, or heard from Nathan in fifteen years. Not since the night he left."

"I believe it," Sophia said, rolling her eyes. She still hadn't forgiven her father for that one, and she probably never would.

"Well, David got a call from Nathan's doctor," Loretta went on. Then she took a deep breath. "Your father is suffering from severe liver damage."

"I'm not surprised," Sophia said. "I mean, he's an alcoholic after all."

"I know, dear, I know," Loretta said. "And . . . . I talked to him this morning on the phone, and he told me that it's terminal, and David confirmed it. Your father's asked to see you girls before it's too late. He wants to make amends."

"He wants to make amends?" Sophia repeated. She looked at her mother as if she were crazy. "Mother! Are you out of your mind?! He walked out on us fifteen years ago, and he wants to make amends now?! After what he did to us?! How can he expect us to forgive him just like that?! After what he put us through?!"

"Sophia . . . ." Loretta started.

"No!" Sophia shouted. "Never! I'll never make amends with that man! I never want to see him again! I hate him!"

And with that, Sophia ran from the room in tears. Cyril and Loretta looked at each other, but didn't say one word. Finally, Cyril cleared his throat.

"I noticed she's uneasy about the subject of her father," he said.

"Oh, you're not kidding," Loretta sighed. "This is not the first time she's said she's hated her father. She's had the most difficulty with her emotions when it concerns Nathan, that's for sure. Myrna and Stephanie . . . . well, they were upset when Nathan left, and they eventually got over it, and I thought Sophia had as well."

"Well, if I may interject, I think we should give her some time to cool off before bringing up the subject again."

Loretta agreed, and left the mansion. As she left, Cedric and the Pigs returned from the lake.

"What's going on, Pop?" Cedric asked.

"A lot," Cyril admitted. "If you want the details, you're going to have to bring it up with Sofa Girl. But I wouldn't recommend doing it now. She's a bit upset."

"That bad, huh?"

"It concerns her father."

"Oh yeah, it's that bad," Lloyd commented. "Should we reinforce your liquor cabinet, sir?"

"That won't be necessary," Cyril said. Then he changed the subject. "Come on, boys, let's hit the books."