AUTHOR'S NOTE: This story was formerly "The Three Little Raccoons," before I decided to expand a little on it. I guess you could say this is my "tribute" to Jay Ward's "Fractured Fairy Tails," Raccoons style! Anyway, I hope you enjoy the new version!
Bert Raccoon walked over to the Sneer mansion one night and knocked on the door. Sophia answered it, and Bert noticed she was wearing a long dress, and trying to put on a pair of hoop earrings.
"Kinda dressed up to go to a movie theater, aren't you?" he asked.
"We're not going to the movies, Bert," Sophia said. "Cedric managed to get tickets for a play. That's what we meant when we said we were going to the theater tonight."
"Okay, I get it. So where is Cedric, anyway?"
"Giving Forest his dinner. They're in the kitchen."
Bert nodded, and walked into the kitchen. Cedric was doing his best trying to get his eight-month-old son, Forest, to eat his creamed spinach, but Forest wasn't cooperating. He hated creamed spinach with a passion, although he hated strained peas even more.
"Come on, Forest," Cedric said. "Spinach is good for you."
Forest made a face. He babbled something in baby talk, and pushed the bowl of creamed spinach off the tray of his highchair. It landed right on Cedric's best white shirt.
"Forest!" he shouted.
"Having a little trouble there, Cedric?" Bert asked. Then he patted Forest on the head. "Hey there, little buddy."
"Oh, hi, Bert," Cedric said. "Well, serves me right for trying to feed Forest creamed spinach while wearing my good shirt."
"What's going on?" Sophia asked as she walked into the kitchen. She saw what had happened and groaned.
"Oh Forest," she sighed.
"Well, I'd better go change," Cedric said. "After I finish feeding Forest, that is. He's got to have his dinner."
"No, there's no time," Bert said. "You guys are gonna be late for that play you're going to if you do that. I'll tell you what. Since I'm baby-sitting tonight, I'll feed him, and then get him to bed."
"Thanks, Bert," Cedric said, as he went upstairs.
"You're a life saver," Sophia said, following Cedric. "With Cedric's father at a business meeting tonight, and the Pigs visiting their mother, we were worried about going to the play tonight."
"No problem," Bert said. "Forest and I are buds! He likes hanging out with his Uncle Bert, dontcha, Forest ol' buddy?"
Bert tickled Forest under his chin, which caused the baby aardvark to burst out laughing. Bert picked up the jar of creamed spinach, sniffed it, and grimaced.
"Eeeesh!" he shouted, jamming the lid on the jar. "I don't blame ya for throwing this stuff at your dad, Forest! I'd probably do the same thing!"
Bert then walked over to the refrigerator, and pulled out the applesauce, which was Forest's favorite, and spooned some into a dish. Forest gladly accepted this. He was finished with his dinner by the time Cedric and Sophia came downstairs. Sophia was giving Bert instructions for the night.
"Forest's bedtime is right after he eats his dinner," she said. "So you'll be in charge of that, and his bath. And he usually takes a bottle to bed with him. I've posted the emergency numbers in the kitchen, and the number of the theater we're going to. Now Forest will probably start crying when we leave, but he'll calm down after awhile."
"I hope," Bert said, remembering the time Cyril had kicked Cedric and Sophia out of the Sneer mansion shortly after Forest was born. They had gone to the Raccoondominium, and Forest would not stop crying. It turned out he was crying because he had missed Cyril, and thought he'd never see his grandpa again, and it just upset him terribly.
"Now, if he starts crying after you put him to bed, just rock him in the rocking chair for awhile," Sophia continued. "He also likes stories. Am I forgetting something? I'm sure I'm forgetting something."
"You're not forgetting anything," Cedric assured her. Then he turned towards Bert. "She's a little nervous about leaving Forest with a baby-sitter. Pop usually watches him, but who knows how long this meeting of his is going to last."
"Don't worry, Sophia," Bert said. "I've got everything under control. Forest is in good hands."
"Okay," Sophia said. She bent down and kissed Forest. "Bye-bye, sweetie. Mommy and Daddy will be back soon."
"Bye, Forest," Cedric said, tussling Forest's bluish-purple hair. "You be good for Uncle Bert."
"Bye-bye, Mommy! Bye-bye, Daddy! Have fun!" Bert said in a squeaky voice. He made Forest wave goodbye to his parents.
Cedric and Sophia laughed, and they walked out to their car. Then they drove out of sight. Forest watched them go down the road, and Sophia's hunch was right. He started crying. Bert rested him over his shoulder, and began rubbing his back.
"Aw, come on, little buddy," he said. "Your mom and dad will be home soon! They just want some time to themselves for awhile! But the best part about that is you and I get to spend some time together! Come on, let's get you into your bath, and then it's bed time."
Bert gave Forest a bath in the kitchen sink. The baby was too small for the regular bathtub for the time being. After Forest had his bath, Bert got him ready for bed. He put Forest in the crib, and turned on his mobile. Then he gave Forest his bottle, turned out the light, and started to walk out of the room.
"Night-night, Forest," he said.
Bert walked down to the kitchen, and began going through the cabinets and cupboards.
"I wonder where Cedric keeps the peanut butter?" he asked.
Before Bert could find the peanut butter, he heard Forest crying upstairs. He sighed, and went to check on him.
"Hey, what's the matter, little buddy?" he asked, taking Forest out of the crib. "You miss your mom and dad? They'll be back soon. When you wake up, they'll be here. The sooner you go to sleep, the sooner you'll get to see them!"
That didn't convince Forest. He still cried. Bert thought about it for a little while, and finally came up with an idea.
"Hey, I know," he said. "How about I tell you a story? Would you like that?"
Forest whimpered a little. Bert walked over to the rocking chair, sat down in it, and began rocking the baby back and forth as he began to tell his story.
"Once upon a time," he said. "There were three little raccoons. And they're names were Ralph, Melissa, and Bert. Ralph was very smart, and he liked to read. Melissa was pretty, but she never was afraid to speak her mind. And Bert was very, very handsome, heroic, and daring."