NOTE: The following characters are mentioned in this story but don't appear in it:
Georgina - Female version of George
Nicholas - Male version of Nicole
Bentilla - Female version of Bentley
Larry - Male version of Lisa
Trish Malone - Female version of Troy Malone
Andy Ringtail - Male version of Annie Ringtail
Bertha walked up the steps of Sneer Mansion and knocked on the door. Out stepped a very disgruntled looking Cyndi Sneer with her trademark cigarette holder hanging from her mouth, "Well? What does a ringtail hooligan like you want?"
"Celia and I made some plans to go on a picnic today." Bertha explained, "Since you're her mother-"
"Don't want to hear another word!" Cyndi interrupted, "You're a very bad influence on my daughter, raccoon! The second you take her outside, her dress will get ruined beyond repair! Do you have any idea just how much that dress of hers costs?"
Bertha blinked, "A lot of money?"
"A FORTUNE! That dress of hers costs more than your silly little tree-dome house AND the Evergreen Standard combined!" Cyndi explained, "I can't afford for her to rip it!"
"So, why doesn't she wear something else to the picnic?" Bertha asked.
"Because today is Mother's Day and I, as a mother want her to wear that particular dress on this particular Mother's Day. Got a problem, raccoon?" Cyndi hissed venomously, breathing smoke in Bertha's face.
The tomboyish raccoon coughed a bit, "M-m-mother's day? Did I forget again?"
Cyndi just scowled at Bertha while Celia appeared in the doorway and waved at Bertha, "Hi, Bertha. Mom, is it okay if-"
"NO! You would dare defy your own mother on Mother's Day?!" Cyndi hissed at her daughter.
Celia shook her head, "No, it's just that Bertha and I haven't really been on a picnic for a while..."
"You'll ruin your dress!" Cyndi shouted, "NO MEANS NO! Now scram, you ringtailed menace! I've got better things to do, like roll around in my diamond vault. Go home!"
Cyndi slammed the door in Bertha's face while the tomboy began hatching a scheme in her head.
Meanwhile, Rachel and Matthew were enjoying a picnic together in a meadow. Matthew smiled as he bit into a sandwich, "You always make the best sandwiches, Rachel."
Rachel giggled and blushed, "They're nothing compared to my big sister Georgina's cooking but then again, she IS a chef."
"I wonder how she and her husband Nicholas are doing. And Bentilla and Larry, too. It's been a while since we've seen them." Matthew mused.
"Yeah..." Rachel replied as she took a bite out of her PB&J.
Matthew inched closer to his wife and put his arm around her, "Doesn't it just feel so great to get out of that stuffy office and enjoy the great outdoors every once in a while?"
"I guess so. It's just that I still have an unfinished column..." Rachel sighed.
Matthew just chuckled a bit, "Oh Rachel, for your, your typical schedule is work, eat, work, eat, work, eat, work."
Rachel scowled and folded her arms, "Hey, I take bathroom breaks and sleep just like everyone else."
Matthew chuckled again as he gave Rachel a quick smooch on her cheek, "You know I'm only joking, honey."
Rachel blushed and nuzzled Matthew right back, "You can be such a tease, Matthew..."
Matthew smiled right back, "I'm sure glad I got married to a girl like you and not that Trish Malone girl."
Rachel shuddered, "Please don't bring up that two-bit supermodel. She's just way too arrogant for her own good."
"Sorry." Matthew sighed, "I didn't mean to open up any old wounds. I'm just making a point that you're far more beautiful than any other girl I've met."
The homely journalist frowned, "I certainly don't think so...after all you were in the modelling industry for a short while so you've probably met girls much prettier than I..."
There was a long pause and Rachel felt a salty tear run down her muzzle and onto the tip of her black nose as she sadly hung her head. Matthew leaned forward and softly kissed Rachel's tear from her nose with his tongue, causing her to giggle and blush. Poor Rachel has serious self-esteem issues with her weight problems and stocky build. Matthew just smiled at her and hugged her close, "Don't be so hard on yourself, honey. I married you for a REASON. You're the smartest, nicest, cuddliest girl I could ever have a relationship with. It doesn't matter what you look like on the outside, Rachel, you're absolutely beautiful on the inside."
Rachel sniffled and rested her head on her husband's shoulder, drying her eyes with her scarf, "And you're beautiful both inside and out. There's so much more to you than those beautiful blue eyes and boyish looks of yours, you know."
Matthew chuckled a bit as he rubbed Rachel's back, "I know. So, are we about finished? I'm ready to go on that hike. Maybe I can take some photos along the way."
Rachel chuckled a bit, "I feel pretty full myself. I think that's a great idea, Matthew."
And so, the married couple packed up their lunch and headed for a trail in the woods.
About half an hour later, a reluctant Celia had managed to escape from Cyndi Sneer's mansion with the help of Bertha and the two of them were having a picnic of their own. Bertha threw a frisbee through the air and Bree caught it while Celia dug into the picnic basket, "Beef jerky and peanut butter? I guess it's a good thing I brought my chocolate pudding and my spoon with me."
Bertha smiled with the frisbee under her arm and sat down with Celia, "Say Celia, how's everything going with Stephen Tutu?"
Celia hung her head, "Mom doesn't really seem to like him that much. She says he's kind of a meathead but he's a pretty nice guy once you get to know him."
"All brawn and heart but no brain." Bertha chuckled, "I've known a few guys like that, they went on and got football scholarships while flunking everything else."
Celia folded her arms, "I remember one time your report card had straight F's, Bertha. You probably shouldn't laugh at Stephen."
Bertha sighed, "I know, Celia. Sorry I brought that up."
Celia smiled, "It's okay. So, how is everything going with Larry. Has he noticed you yet?"
Bertha frowned, "Not yet. I don't get it, Celia. I try so hard to get him to notice me but he's always more interested in basketball and coaching. Even Bentilla's in a relationship with that Andy Ringtail boy already and she's only six."
Celia sighed, "Maybe you could tell him how you feel."
Bertha blinked, "And risk getting friendzoned? No way! But I really wish I could get him to notice me."
Bertha sighed sadly and pulled a piece of beef jerky out of the basket, spreading a huge glob of peanut butter on it before eating it slowly. Celia frowned but tried to lighten the mood a little, "Beef jerky and peanut butter, huh? Trying to go for some extra protein?"
"I guess so..." Bertha said sadly, staring off into space while thinking about Larry. Larry and his tall, athletic physique and striking blue eyes, much like Matthew's eyes.
Celia then had an idea, "Cheer up, Bertha. Maybe we can go on a rafting trip after this picnic."
Bertha's ears perked up, "Did you just say...rafting trip?" Instantly, their moods switched. Bertha was smiling while Celia frowned. What did the aardvark just talk herself into?
The pigs were behind some nearby bushes, eavesdropping on the two. Lilly turned to her sisters, "Did you hear that? They're going on a rafting trip."
"Oh no, Celia's dress will get ruined and the boss will tan our hides!" Filly whimpered.
"We need to tell the boss right away!" Billie wailed, waving her arms.
And so, the three pigs ran off to the Sneer Mansion. Cyndi Sneer would not be pleased AT ALL by this news.
