AUTHOR'S NOTE: Just to avoid confusion, this story features some OC's: The Gang of Six, Reggie Drake, and Adelaide Canard. Both Reggie and Adelaide are anthro ducks. Adelaide is Dr. Canard's wife, and Reggie is their grandson (fans of the series will remember Dr. Canard, I'm sure). Also, I made up Dr. Canard's first name, because I think he was in only two episodes (Last Legs and Stress Test), so I'm using some leeway here.

Another typical winter day in the Evergreen Forest. The Raccoons were enjoying the day, inside. Snow was falling, and none of them felt like going out. Ralph was sitting at the kitchen table reading the newspaper. Melissa was making hot chocolate, and Bert was staring out the window. It appeared he was waiting for something.

"Where is he?" he asked. "He should've been here by now!"

"Take it easy, Bert," Ralph said. "He'll get here. It's probably taking him longer because of the snow."

"Well, I wish he'd hurry up!" Bert shouted. "The anticipation is killing me!"

"Waiting for Cedric, Bert?" Melissa asked, pouring the hot chocolate into three mugs.

"No, the mailman," Bert said. "I'm expecting something."

"A shipment of rare, exotic, Amazonian peanut butter?" Ralph teased.

Bert was about to say something, when there was a knock on the door, and a bunch of envelopes came through the mail slot. Ralph got up, gathered them up, and took them to the table.

"Bill, bill, bill," he said. "Postcard from Aunt Gertie, you may have already won a million dollars, Journalist Quarterly magazine, a letter for Bert, and . . . ."

Ralph cleared his throat, rolled up a second magazine that was in the mail and hid it under his arm. Melissa hadn't noticed. Ralph then handed Bert his letter which he promptly ripped open and began to read. Once he finished, he broke into a big smile.

"Yahoo!" he shouted, jumping into the air.

"This is the best news ever!"

"What is it, Bert?" Melissa asked, bringing the hot chocolate over to the table. "Win first prize some kind of contest?"

"Better than that!" Bert shouted.

"Inherit a peanut plantation?" Ralph teased. "Or a peanut butter factory?"

"Better than that!" Bert shouted again, practically hugging his letter.

"Really?" Melissa asked. Bert thought that one over.

"Well . . . . maybe not as good as inheriting a peanut butter factory," he admitted. "But it's still great news! I've been waiting all week for this letter!"

"Who's it from, anyway?" Melissa asked.

"Reggie," Bert said. "He's my pen pal in California. Remember, I told you guys about him when I first started writing to him. Here, I'll read you the letter. Dear Bert, how are things going? Thanks for the photos of the forest. They were really great. Your friend Melissa is an awesome photographer. It's good to see the forest again, even though it's only pictures, but soon, I'll get to see it in person again. I'm coming up to the Evergreen Forest for vacation, and I can't wait to meet you and all your friends. I'll be arriving on the nineteenth on the noon train. See you then. Your pal, Reggie. Isn't that great?"

"Yeah, that's terrific, Bert," Ralph said. "I can't wait to meet him. From what you told us about him, he sounds like a really great guy."

"What does he mean by seeing the forest again?" Melissa asked. "I thought you said he's from California."

"Oh he is," Bert said. "But he was born here in the Evergreen Forest. His family moved to Los Angeles after his father got a job down there. But he won't tell me what his dad does for a living. Anyway, all I know is that Reggie has lived in LA most of his life, but often spent winter and summer school vacations with his grandparents here in the forest."

"Well, how old is he?" Ralph asked.

"Around my age. Maybe older, maybe younger, I'm not sure. One letter mentioned something about UCLA. But anyway, he rides a motorcycle, plays hockey and saxophone, and he loves peanut butter! Boy oh boy, I can't wait until he gets here! What's today?"

"The sixteenth," Ralph said.

"Aaahhhh!" Bert screamed. "I gotta wait three whole days?! Oooohhhh, the agony!"

Ralph and Melissa rolled their eyes, and went back to drinking their hot chocolate.