Distant Relations
Bert and Lisa reflect on their relationship so far.
Disclaimer I don't own The Raccoons.
Mrs. Jones, Jean-Pierre and Marcel are my characters.
Set between the episodes Spring Fever and Moving In.
Enjoy
Chapter 1
Heart to heart talk
With the rain still pouring, the train had just arrived at the station. Lisa and Bentley got their bags and stepped off. Lisa had been quiet and thinking about what happened on her first date with Bert. Luckily for her, Bentley had been too busy reading the comic books Bert had given him to notice, or even care. They waited at the bus stop and were home about 10 minutes later. The rain had stopped by then. They stepped into the house.
"Mom we're home," Bentley called.
"I kidz," said Nicole, as she entered the room. She hugged and kissed them. "Ow waz the trip?"
"Bert gave me a bunch of his old comic books," Bentley said cheerfully.
"Oh dat waz nize of him," said Nicole, who smiled. "Did you catch lotz of fish?"
"No. We didn't fish very much this time and I only went with Cedric," Bentley added in a slightly annoyed tone.
"Oh, waz Bert zick or zomething?" Nicole asked confused.
"Ask Lisa," Bentley answered in a teasing manner and ran upstairs laughing when she gave him a death glare.
"Huh?" said Nicole, looking at Lisa even more confused. She finally noticed Lisa's depressed state. Lisa sighed.
"What'z wrong oney?"
They sat at the table and Lisa took a deep breath before explaining.
"Well it's like this Mom. I asked Bert on a date." She paused.
"Did zometing go wrong?" Nicole asked worriedly.
"Yeah. When we went to the Blue Spruce Café, we had a candle light dinner and Bert told me that he likes me."
Nicole stared at her daughter, still confused. "Oh, you mean e'z in love wit you?"
Lisa sighed embarrassed. "Yes," she answered even more embarrassed.
"And what did you zay?"
"I told him I'm flattered, but we don't know each other well enough. I then told him I like him, but as a friend."
"Oh I zee."
"Yeah, he was upset and ran out of the café. I think he was crying when he left. He didn't show up at the train station to say goodbye. I feel Terrible."
Nicole held her daughter's hand. "Oh Liza, don't worry, I'm zure e'll be okay."
Lisa sighed again. "I hope you're right. I told Ralph and Mellissa I'd write him."
Nicole smiled. "Dat'z a good idea. You know I aven't zeen Bert for a long time. I don't recall Ralph and Mellizza ever zaying e'z ever been in love."
"You've met him?" Lisa asked surprised.
"But of courze, e waz at our wedding. I met im on Thanks giving weekend, the zame year I met your father. E and the otherz weren't even in kindergarten at the time. E waz alzo at Ralph and Mellizza'z wedding. Nize guy. I understand e along with Ralph, Mellizza and Cedric all grew up together. Although Mellizza moved away from de forezt when dey were teenagerz. She did eventually move back and married Ralph." She suddenly noticed the confused look on Lisa's face. "What?"
"How come Bentley and I didn't meet him sooner than?"
"Don't you remember, you and Bentley didn't get to come, becauze you ad de flu. We left you 2 with Mrz. Jonez."
Lisa scratched her chin thinking for a moment. "Oh that's right, I forgot all about that. We've lived in so many different places, it's hard to keep track."
Nicole giggled. "Yez, but at leazt we've been ere in the city for a while now. Remember we moved in ere, not long after Bentley met Bert."
"Yes, it's nice that dad got promoted and doesn't get transferred anymore, I was so sick of moving," Lisa answered annoyed.
"We all were, but remember, we didn't ave a choize," Nicole said a bit defensively.
"Sorry Mom."
"You know, back before I moved over here from France, I went trough a zimilar experience, during my igh zchool yearz."
"You did?" Lisa asked surprised.
"Oh yez. I went to zchool wit a boy named Jean-Pierre. E waz nize and we were good friendz, but e wazn't my type."
"Did he ask you out?" Lisa asked intrigued.
"Yez but I turned im down, becauze I waz already dating anoder guy named Marcel. Aldough, I broke up wit im after graduation. Tingz juzt didn't work out between uz. We did ztay friendz dough. And I wrote letterz to both of dem after I moved ere and met your fader."
"Do you still keep in touch with them?"
Nicole sighed. "No. After I met and later married your fader, we ad to move all the time zo I couldn't keep tabz anymore."
"Oh I'm sorry," Lisa said squeezing her mother's hand.
"Tankz. I did get a letter from each of dem where dey zaid dey'd married and ztarted deir own familiez."
"Oh well that's good to know," Lisa said feeling better.
"Well eider way, I'm zure if you write Bert, e'll understand," Nicole added.
Lisa smiled "I'll do that." She stood up. "Thanks mom." She kissed her mother on the cheek.
"Anytime oney," said Nicole, as she stood up. "Would you zet the table pleaze, I'm going to ztart zupper."
"Sure mom," Lisa said, as she followed her mother into the kitchen. She decided she'd write a letter to Bert after supper.