Indecent Proposal

AUTHOR'S NOTE: I swear there are times when I think I'm the only one in the world who actually remembers the 1980's cartoon, "The Raccoons." In any case, this was just something that had been kicking around in my brain for awhile, so I figure what the heck? I'll take the plunge and go for it!

Practically everyone in the Evergreen Forest was gathered at the train station. Especially the media. Every newspaper that even bordered the Evergreen Forest was there. Ralph and Melissa Raccoon were having a hard time squeezing through the other members of the media to get into the front.

"Boy, this place is packed!" Ralph said. "I didn't expect this big a turnout!"

"Especially since the Evergreen Standard is the only newspaper here in the Evergreen Forest," Melissa said. "But ever since Sophia went on to the Olympics and won a gold medal in figure skating, you've got to expect a lot of other neighboring newspapers to cover the story."

"Good point, Melissa."

Sophia Tutu was a friend of Ralph and Melissa. She had left the Evergreen Forest to pursue a career as an Olympic figure skater. She had even won a gold medal, and was now returning home to see her friends.

The train pulled into the station, and Sophia walked out of the car she was in. Immediately, photographers began snapping pictures right and left, and reporters came rushing up, nearly trampling Ralph and Melissa. Well, actually, Ralph did end up getting trampled. Sophia saw them immediately and ran to them.

"Are you all right, Ralph?" she asked.

"That depends," Ralph groaned. "If you can consider being flattened like a pancake all right."

Melissa and Sophia helped Ralph to his feet, and they walked over to a nearby bench. Even though he was trampled by the news media, Ralph was glad to see Sophia, as was Melissa. It looked like it was going to be a good reunion among the friends.

Of course, some people were more happy about it than others.

Cyril Sneer, the Evergreen Forest's biggest (and greediest) tycoon, was sitting outside the train station while his son, Cedric (who was Sophia's boyfriend) was working up the nerve to actually go up to the train and see Sophia. Cyril was getting pretty impatient with Cedric at this point.

"Will you just go in there and say hello so we can leave?!" he shouted. "I don't know why you had to come and see that Sofa Girl, anyway."

"I haven't seen her in months, Pop," Cedric said.

"Well, then keep it that way!"

Cedric sighed. He didn't have the slightest idea why his father disliked Sophia. He couldn't really figure it out. Then again, Cyril didn't like anybody, so why was Cedric so surprised he didn't like his girlfriend?

In any case, Sophia caught sight of Cedric, and immediately ran over to him.

"Cedric!" she shouted, wrapping her arms around his neck. "Oh Cedric, I missed you so much!"

"I missed you, too, Sophia," Cedric said.

Cyril chewed on the end of his cigar, and snorted in disgust. Cedric and Sophia paid him no attention.

"Congratulations on your gold medal," Cedric said. "That must have been some experience, skating in the Olympics."

"It was," Sophia said. "But it's good to be back home."

Cedric nodded, and he and Sophia walked off. Ralph and Melissa ran to catch up with them, leaving Cyril somewhat in the dust. Cyril groaned, shook his head, and chewed on his cigar.

"All this mushy stuff is starting to give me a stomach ache," he grumbled, as he walked off into the forest.

As Cyril was going back to his mansion, Cedric, Sophia, Ralph, and Melissa went to the Raccoondominium. Sophia wanted to see her other friends, Bert Raccoon, Schafer the dog, and Broo the puppy. The minute she walked into the Raccoondominium, she saw a large banner hanging in the middle of the room. It said,

WELCOME BACK, SOPHIA!

"Surprise!" Bert shouted, running out into the open. He blew a noisemaker directly into Ralph's ear.

"Thanks, Bert," Ralph said. "I didn't need that."

"Sorry," Bert said, sheepishly.

Broo barked and jumped all over Sophia, trying to get up to her and lick her face. Schafer picked up the little puppy and held him back.

"Hi, Sophia," he said. "Congratulations on winning the gold medal."

"Thanks," Sophia said. "The Olympics were fun, but I'm glad to be home."

"We've had this party planned for weeks!" Bert shouted. "We just knew you'd come back to the Evergreen Forest to show off your medal! And of course, give an exclusive interview to the Evergreen Standard!"

Sophia laughed over that one. She sat down to relax a little. Broo jumped onto her lap and wagged his tail. He yawned, stretched, and settled down for a little nap.

"I think Broo has the same idea I do," Sophia said.

The others agreed, and scattered. Ralph and Melissa knew Sophia would give them an exclusive interview for the Evergreen Standard, but they didn't want to press her right now.

The next day, Bert was searching around the kitchen of the Raccoondominium, looking for something.

"Now let's see . . . . ." he muttered to himself. "Where's Melissa hiding the peanut butter this week?"

Bert then grabbed a step stool, dragged it over to the corner of the kitchen, and climbed up on it. He opened the cabinet and found the peanut butter. Melissa had to hide it since Bert was addicted to the stuff, and usually ate the whole jar in one sitting, and rarely left any for anyone else. He was about to take it down from the shelf when Cedric walked in.

"Hey Bert!" he called.

"YIPE!" Bert shouted, startled. He was so startled, he fell off the step stool and threw the peanut butter jar into the air. It landed on his head, and peanut butter spilled all over him.

"Sorry about that, Bert," Cedric said.

"No problem, Cedric," Bert said, licking the peanut butter off his face. "It tastes better this way."

"Is Sophia around?"

"Nah, she and Melissa went out. Why?"

"Well, I want to tell you something. But I don't want Sophia to know about it until later. And you have to promise not to tell her, either."

"So what's the big secret?"

"Well . . . . . see, Sophia and I have known each other and went out and stuff like that for a long time, and we really like each other and all that . . . . ."

"What are you getting at Cedric?"

"Well, do you think that Sophia would . . . . . . I mean, we've known each other for a long time, so I think . . . . . . well . . . . . ummmm . . . . ."

Cedric gulped held up a small, black box he had been holding. He opened it to reveal a diamond ring.

"Nice rock, Cedric," Bert said. "You get that out of a Crackerjacks box?"

"No, I got it at a jewelry store," Cedric said. "I, uh, I'm going to give it to Sophia. I, uhh, I sort of . . . . . want to get married."

Bert just stood there, staring at Cedric, and the ring he had.

"Well don't just stand there!" Cedric shouted. "Say something!"

"What's your dad gonna say?" Bert asked finally.

"I haven't told Pop yet. I don't know how he's going to take it."

"Well, I don't plan into be in the near vicinity when you do tell him, because if I know Cyril Sneer, he won't take it well!"

"Yeah, I know, but it's time I did things on my own. It's time I started standing up to Pop."

Bert nodded, and pulled the peanut butter jar off his head, and began cleaning it off.

"Good luck, Cedric," he said.

Cedric nodded, and left. Bert licked a handful of peanut butter off his hand.

"You'll need it!" he said to himself.