Two hours later, Sophia came down the stairs and walked into Cyril's office. Cedric was going through the books while Cyril was going through the business section of the newspaper. Sophia could tell they were busy, so she started to leave without saying a word.

"Freeze!" Cyril shouted, not even looking up from the paper.

"How does your father do that?" Sophia asked Cedric.

"It's a parent thing," Cedric said with a shrug. Cyril put the paper down, stood up, and approached his daughter-in-law.

"I assume you want to tell Cedric whats going on," he said.

"Well . . . .yes," Sophia admitted. "But if he's busy then . . . ."

"Don't bother putting it off," Cyril said. "Believe me, if you put it off for too long, it'll be too late. I've learned that the hard way."

"All right," Sophia sighed. Then she turned to Cedric. "Cedric, my mother was here a couple of hours ago. She had some news that she didn't want to talk to me over the phone about."

"What's wrong, Sophia?" Cedric asked. Sophia didn't know how Cedric always seemed to know when something was upsetting her, but she was thankful he knew.

"My . . . . father moved in with my uncle a couple of days ago," Sophia said. "Mom talked to him on the phone the other day, and . . . . well, my father is . . . . he's . . . . I can't say it!"

"Her father has a damaged liver, and it's terminal," Cyril said, coming to the point. "Too many years of drinking will do that."

"Oh, gee, Sophia," Cedric said, suddenly at a slight loss of words.

"There's more," Sophia said. "Mom also said my father wants to make amends with us. All of us. Me, Mom, Myrna, and Stephanie."

"Oh, well, that's . . . . uhhh . . . ." Cedric said, trying to think of what to say. He could tell Sophia didn't think it was very wonderful.

"She's not going to do it," Cyril said.

"Well . . . . why should I?" Sophia asked, suddenly becoming angry. "How can I forgive a man who did nothing but drink and abuse me for ten years?! And my older sister for thirteen years?! And my younger sister for five years?! And my mother for fifteen years?! And then not even bother to have any contact with anyone for fifteen more years?! No! I can't forgive that man! I'll never forgive him! Not for what he's done to us!"

Sophia then stormed out of the office. Cyril sat back down at his desk, and picked up the newspaper.

"She'll get over it," he said.

"I hope you're right, Pop," Cedric replied.

A week went by. Sophia eventually told the Raccoons what was going on. She was talking to Melissa, Nicole, and Lisa about it one day. She figured she could use a little "Girl Talk."

"I just don't know if I can actually bring myself to go see him," she said.

"Well, after what you told us about him, I don't blame you," Melissa said. "I'm not sure I'd be ready to forgive him, either."

"Right on, sister!" Lisa shouted. "If I were in your shoes, Sophia, I'd never want to see that low down, good for nothing, rotten, dirty, son of a . . . . ."

"Lisa . . . . ." Nicole said, glaring at her daughter before she could finish that sentence.

"Sorry, Mom," Lisa said. "I got caught up in the moment."

"I'm sure zis is not an easy decision, Sophia," Nicole said. "But I can't help but sink zat maybe you might want to see him? Maybe it's time you did make amends wiz your father."

"Well . . . ." Sophia said, a little hesitantly.

"Just hear me out before you say anysing," Nicole said. "It is possible that your father really has repented. It happens. I know you said you're not sure if he was telling your mother zee truth, but it is possible."

"Who's side are you on, Mom?" Lisa asked.

"Nobody's, really," Nicole said. "I'm just trying to see both sides of zee situation."

"That's a good point," Melissa said. "Maybe we should at least try to put ourselves in your father's shoes, Sophia. I mean now. Not what happened fifteen or so years ago."

"Right," Sophia said. "Well, let's see . . . . all I know is what Mom told me. My father moved in with my uncle, and then my father talked to my mother, she said he said his liver was failing, and he wanted to make amends with me and my sisters. And Mom, to an extent. But . . . . well, I'm not sure sure about this."

"Well, it's your decision in the long run, Sophia," Melissa said. "Just let me give you some advice. Don't do it because you feel like you have to. If you're not ready to reconcile with your father, then you shouldn't."

Sophia nodded, and left. She wanted to get some more advice on this. She wasn't sure what she wanted to do about her father anymore. She went to the Raccoondominium next. Ralph, Bert, George, and Reggie were tuning up an old motorcycle that had belonged to Reggie's father. Reggie had found it in his grandfather's garage.

"Hi guys," she said.

"Hi, Sophia," Ralph said.

"Check out these wheels!" Bert shouted. "Reggie found this baby in Dr. Canard's garage and we're tuning it up! Wanna be the first passenger?"

"Ummm, no thanks, Bert," Sophia said. "Actually, I just came by to talk to you guys. I . . . . need some advice."

"Sure," Ralph said. "What's on your mind?"

"Well, remember that Father-Daughter Dance of Lady Baden-Baden's?" Sophia asked.

"Heh, how could we forget?" Bert asked.

"Why? What happened?" Reggie asked. "All I know about that one was Mom came up here for it. She said she had a great time. She didn't mention anything else about it."

"Well, it's kind of a long story," Ralph said. "And it kind of resulting in a bit of a . . . . . personal crisis for Sophia, let's say."

"Oh," Reggie said. "Well, since I have nothing to do with this, I'll go back to the bike."

"So what's going on?" Ralph asked, as Reggie went back to work on the bike.

"It's like this," Sophia said, and she explained everything to the boys.

"I just don't know what to do," she said once she finished. "Nicole thinks I should go see him, Lisa thinks I shouldn't, Melissa said it was my decision . . . . . and I don't know if I can actually go through with it . . . . I'm just so mixed up!"

"There's a newsflash," Bert muttered under his breath. Both Ralph and George elbowed him in the ribs as hard as they could.

"If I may say something," Reggie said, standing up from behind the bike. "I agree with Melissa. You're the one who has to make the decision, you know."

"I know," Sophia said. "But I need some advice."

"Well, if it were me," Bert said, I'd do it. I'd go up to your father, and punch him in the nose!"

"Bert . . . ." Ralph warned.

"Yeah, if my father did to me what your father did to you," Bert said, pumping his fists in a mock fight. "I'd give him a right! And a left! And another right! And another left, and . . . ."

Bert swung, and ended up hitting Reggie right in the face. Reggie was knocked off balance and fell to the ground on his rear end.

"Oops," Bert said, sheepishly. "Uhhh . . . . sorry about that, Reg. You okay?"

"Medic!" Reggie shouted.

"Listen, Sophia," George said. "Don't pay any attention to Bert. I think what you should do is think about this a little more."

"Yeah, you can't rush into a decision like this," Ralph said.

"I guess maybe you guys are right," Sophia sighed. "Thanks."

And with that, Sophia started back towards Sneer mansion. Once she left, Reggie stood up and brushed himself off.

"Bert, seriously, those hands of yours should be considered as registered weapons!" he shouted.

Bert just shrugged.