The doorbell of the Sneer Mansion rang at around eleven thirty the next morning. Sophia raced down the stairs, and answered it. Standing there were three female aardvarks. All three of them had dark blue hair, and blue eyes, but one's hair was short, cut in a pageboy style, and she wore thick, horned-rimmed glasses. She also wore a white blouse under a yellow sweater, a gray pleated skirt, white knee socks, and brown loafers. The other young aardvark had her hair held in a ponytail, with a few strands coming loose. She also wore a dark pink baseball uniform, and baseball cleats, and she was chewing bubblegum and blowing bubbles with it. The third was an older aardvark. Her hair was chin length, and she wore a dark blue shirt and black pants.
"Hi, Mom!" Sophia shouted once she saw them.
"Hello, Sophie!" Sophia's mother, Loretta, shouted, giving her a hug. Then Sophia turned to her sisters.
"Hi, Myrna, hi, Stephanie," she said.
"Salutations, younger sister," Myrna said, promptly opening the big textbook she was carrying.
"Give the book a rest, Myrna," Stephanie groaned, rolling her eyes. "And speak in English, for once! Hiya, Big Sis."
"Come on in," Sophia said, stepping back.
"Thank you, dear," Loretta said. "I can't believe it's been four years since you and Cedric got married and I still haven't been over here!"
"Gramma, Gramma!" Forest shouted, suddenly racing into the room. Loretta grabbed her grandson, and swept him up in a big hug.
"Hello, Forest!" she shouted. "Oooh, you're getting so big!"
"Hi, Mrs. Tutu," Cedric said, coming into the room. He was carrying Evelyn.
"Cedric, sweetie, don't be so formal!" Loretta shouted. "I'm your mother-in-law! There's absolutely no need to be so formal with me!"
"Sorry, Mrs . . . . I mean, Loretta," Cedric said. "It's just that Sophia's always calling my pop Mr. Sneer, so I figured . . . ."
"You still call your father-in-law Mr. Sneer?" Loretta asked, looking at her daughter.
"I've told you about him, Mom," Sophia shrugged. "I don't have the nerve to call him anything else."
"Besides, I don't think Pop would let her call him Cyril anyway," Cedric replied. "But enough about that."
"You're right," Loretta said. "I'm here to see my granddaughter in person. I know you two have sent me plenty of pictures."
Loretta took Evelyn from Cedric, and began doting over her. Forest ran over to his grandmother and watched. That gave Sophia a chance to introduce Cedric to her sisters.
"Cedric, I'd like you to meet my sisters, Myrna and Stephanie," she said.
"Hi," Cedric replied, shaking Stephanie's hand.
"Hiya, Cedric," Stephanie said.
"It's a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Cedric," Myrna said.
"Come on," Sophia said. "I'll introduce you to the kids. Forest, can you come here, please?"
"Okay, Mommy," Forest said, running over to Sophia.
"Forest, I'd like you to meet my sisters," Sophia said. "Your aunts, Myrna and Stephanie."
"Aunt Myrna has glasses that are thicker than Daddy's!" Forest shouted.
"Oh Forest!" Sophia groaned. "Sorry, Myrna."
Myrna just shrugged, and went back to her book. By that time, Cyril came into the room, looking a bit agitated.
"Can't a man get any work done here?!" he yelled.
"Sorry, Mr. Sneer," Sophia said, shrugging.
"So I take it these two are your sisters," Cyril said.
"Right," Sophia said. "Myrna, Stephanie, this is my father-in-law, Cyril Sneer. Mr. Sneer, these are Myrna and Stephanie."
"Myrna?" Cyril repeated.
"It was our great-grandmother's name," Stephanie explained. It was obvious Myrna wasn't going to answer any questions, not with her nose buried in that book.
"So this is the infamous Cyril Sneer," Loretta said, coming over. "Sophie's told me so much about you."
"I hate to think of what she said," Cyril replied, giving Sophia a Look. "But don't tell me what she said, I don't think I want to know."
"Mr. Sneer, I'd like you to meet my mother, Loretta," Sophia said.
"Charmed, Mr. Sneer," Loretta replied.
"Yeah, right, sure," Cyril said. "Cedric, make this quick. I need you in the vault."
"Sure, Pop," Cedric said. "Well, it was nice meeting you and Myrna, Stephanie. And it was nice seeing you again, Mrs . . . . I mean, Loretta."
And with that, Cedric left the room. Forest looked up at Stephanie.
"Aunt Steffie, do you play baseball?" he asked.
"Sure do!" Stephanie shouted. "Want me to show you what I can do?"
"Yeah!" Forest shouted.
"Not in the house," Cyril said. "If you two are going to play ball, do it outside."
"Okay, Gampa," Forest said, taking Stephanie's hand. "Come on, Aunt Steffie! Let's play!"
Stephanie laughed, and she and Forest went outside. Cyril sighed, and glanced over at Myrna.
"What are you reading, anyway?" he asked. Myrna didn't answer. "What is she, deaf or something?"
"No, Myrna just doesn't talk much," Loretta explained. "And don't even try to talk to her when she's reading. You'll never get anywhere."
"With that in mind, Mr. Sneer, don't talk to Myrna, period," Sophia said. "She uses big words. All the time."
"I'll keep that in mind," Cyril replied.
"Sophie tells me you're a big business man, Mr. Sneer," Loretta said, giving Evelyn to Sophia for the moment.
And with that, Cyril and Loretta left the room deep in conversation about Sneer Enterprises. Myrna looked at her sister, and shut her book.
"Haven't you told Cedric about Father?" she asked.
"I'd rather not," Sophia said.
"Well, you're going to have to tell them sooner or later, you know. You can't keep it a secret forever."
"Myrna, please! I don't want to talk about it."
"You're still angry about it, aren't you? Sophia, it's been almost fifteen years. Don't you think it's time you let it go?"
"Myrna, please, just stop. I told you I don't want to talk about it."
"I thought it'd be Stephanie holding a grudge instead of you. I really did."
"Myrna!"
"Okay, okay, I'll keep my mouth shut. Just point me in the direction of the library. I've got to check out those books Mr. Sneer has."
"Follow me."
Sophia then led her sister to the Sneer library, and let her get lost in the books in there. Then she went upstairs and went into the bedroom. She sat down on the bed, and sighed. She was keeping a secret, and she did not want Cedric, Cyril, or anyone to know about it.