It was a typical day in the Evergreen Forest. At the Sneer mansion, Cedric and Sophia were spending time with their children, four-year-old Forest, and six-month-old Evelyn. They were enjoying a bit of peace and quiet until Cedric's father, Cyril, began calling him.
"Cedric!" he shouted. "Cedric, get down here! Now!"
"Coming, Pop!" Cedric called, and he started down the stairs. Sophia and the kids followed, wondering what was going on. When the four of them reached the office, they saw Cyril with his feet propped up on the desk.
"Ahhh, Cedric," he said. "I've just made a deal that's going to make millions."
"What is it this time, Pop?" Cedric asked, knowing darn well that his father's Million Dollar Ideas were usually duds.
"I just bought the old Von Varkenstein place," Cyril said. "I plan on turning it into a hotel."
"The V-v-v-von Varkenstein place?!" Cedric shouted, suddenly growing pale. "Pop, don't you know that old house is haunted by the ghost of Count Verner Von Varkenstein?!"
"Oh Cedric!" Sophia shouted. "There's no such things as ghosts!"
"That's why I bought it, Cedric," Cyril said. "It was so cheap. No one was buying because of that silly story."
"I don't know, Pop," Cedric said. "People have been there. They say weird things go on in that old place."
"They just say that to scare people," Cyril said, getting up. "You just wait, Cedric. I'll have that old Von Varkenstein place making me money before you know it!"
Cedric wasn't sure about this. The next day, he and Sophia were over at the Raccoondominium talking about Cyril's latest money making scheme.
"He's gonna turn the Von Varkenstein place into a hotel?!" Bert shouted. "Doesn't he know that place is haunted?!"
"That's what I told him," Cedric said. "Pop doesn't believe the story."
"You guys are being ridiculous," Melissa said. "You know there aren't any such things as ghosts. Von Varkenstein Manor may be old and run down, and abandoned, but it's not haunted."
"Then how do you explain all the weird stuff that's said to go on down there?" Bert asked. "Creaking doors, spooky howls, and they've even seen Count Verner Von Varkenstein himself! Whoooooo!"
"Cut it out, Bert," Cedric said. "You're giving me the creeps!"
"Sorry," Bert said.
"Well, I think it's just plain silly," Sophia replied. "Come on, Cedric. Let's go."
"Okay," Cedric said, and he and Sophia started for the door. "We'll see you guys later."
When Cedric and Sophia returned to the Sneer mansion, they found the Pigs huddling together in a corner, shaking nervously, and whimpering.
"What's the matter, guys?" Cedric asked.
"Your dad's on the phone with the construction crew," Lloyd said. "They won't set one foot near Von Varkenstein Manor!"
"And if he can't get the construction people out there, we're the ones who have to do the renovations," Boyd said, nervously.
"What's wrong with that?" Sophia asked.
"Doesn't the boss know it's haunted?!" Floyd yelled.
"Oh for goodness sake," Sophia groaned. Just then, Cyril slammed the phone down in his office, and stormed out.
"Those construction people," he groaned. "I've called five companies, and none of them are going to handle the Von Varkenstein Manor renovations! If you want something done, you've got to do it yourself! Pigs, you're going to have to do the job."
"Oh no, sir! No, please, sir!" Floyd begged. "Anything but Von Varkenstein Manor!"
"Don't make us go there, sir!" Boyd begged. "I'm allergic to ghosts!"
"There are no such things as ghosts," Cyril said. "Cedric, don't make any plans tomorrow, and call those Raccoon friends of yours. I'm going to need a lot of hands for this job. Tomorrow, we're all going down to Von Varkenstein Manor and get it fixed up. And I'll show you there are no such things as ghosts!"
The next day, Cyril, Cedric, Sophia, and the Pigs were standing in front of Von Varkenstein Manor. Ralph, Melissa, and Bert were there, and so were Lisa and Bentley. Schafer had arrived as well. Broo, Snag, Forest, and Evelyn were along, too, and everyone was just staring at the old run down house, not quite sure what to make of it. A couple of bats flew out from the windows, and were screeching.
"Yee-ike!" Bert shouted, nearly jumping ten feet in the air.
"This place reminds me of the opening credits of Scooby Doo," Bentley commented. "Very creepy."
"A-a-a-and the g-g-g-ghost of V-v-v-verner V-v-v-von V-v-v-varkenstein is w-w-w-waiting in th-th-there f-f-f-for u-u-us!" Boyd stammered, trying to hide behind Cyril's leg.
"Ladies and gentlemen, Porky Pig," Bert commented.
"Get off my leg, you sniveling swine!" Cyril said, shaking Boyd off his leg. "Let's get started! We've got a lot of ground to cover!"
"Maybe we should stay out here," Lloyd said. "It might be safer!"
"Yeah!" Floyd agreed. "I mean, I mean . . . . this place hasn't been inspected in a long, long, long-long-long-long-long time! It's just not safe!"
"What are you bacon brains babbling about?" Cyril asked.
"Well, it may not be safe to bring the children in there!" Lloyd said.
"I can handle it," Bentley said.
"Me too!" Forest shouted.
"Well, I'm sure you boys could," Lloyd said. "But not little Evelyn! Oh no, it's just not safe to take little Evelyn in that old house where the ceiling might cave in, and the ghost of Count Verner Von Varkenstein might scare poor little Evelyn! He might scare her so much, it'll scar her for life! Imagine the size of the therapy bills!"
"You're just afraid that the ghost of Count Verner Von Varkenstein is going to scare you," Lisa said. "And scar you for life."
"Your point?" Lloyd asked.
"I've had enough of this!" Cyril shouted. "I'm going in there!"
"So am I," Lisa said. "I'm not afraid."
"Neither am I," Melissa said.
Sophia and Schafer followed them. They weren't afraid of a silly story. The others just staid right where they were, thinking it over. Then, finally, they went inside as well.
"Maybe they're right," Ralph said. "Maybe there isn't such a thing as the ghost of Count Verner Von Varkenstein."
"I hope you're right, Ralph," Bert said, slightly nervous.
