4-

Several evenings later, as some of the others watched a Dusty Springfield documentary on PBS, Tiger and Stella danced to the music off to the side.

"You dance divinely, my dear."

"Oooh, you so good for a girl's ego," Stella mused.

Verne wandered up from the shadows to join the others. Ozzie glanced over.

"Vernon! Have a cold one, courtesy of RJ," He threw the turtle a pilfered Snapple. "He and Richard are quite the marauders."

"Yep," Verne said, with a sarcastic edge. "Must be that 'raccoon magic'."

There was a pause as Ozzie and Heather stared at Verne for a moment.

"What?" Verne finally asked.

"You miss RJ, don't you?" Heather suggested.

"Naaaawwww!" Verne declared too loudly, then scampered away.

"Take note my dear," Ozzie declared to his daughter. "When someone says 'no' in that way, it usually means yes."

"Sometimes, I kinda thought Uncle Verne didn't like Uncle RJ very much," said Spike.

"Oh, dearie," explained Penny, "I know Uncle Verne seems upset by some of Uncle RJ's doings, and he may frown violently at the very mention of his name a time or two, but, deep down, where even Uncle Verne doesn't know it, he likes Uncle RJ very much. He just has trouble showing it now and then." Everyone else was listening about this time.

"Uncle RJ is spending a lot of time with Cousin Richard, tho'" observed Quillo.

"Maybe Uncle Verne could spend time with both of them," said Bucky.

"Little one, what a marvelous idea!" exclaimed Tiger. "I would be happy to suggest it to him."

"Are you sure, Mr. Tiger?" asked Lou. "Verne's...well...kinda crummy to you."

"Bah, he is merely insecure" replied Tiger. "It would be a pleasure." Tiger rather rhythmically paced off in the direction the turtle had taken.

Stella looked after the cat admirably. "It's so hard to believe no one just scooped him up before me."

A little later, RJ and Richard were at a new type of vending machine, just outside the local grocery, loaded with first rate treats in shiny packages. They had Hammie in tow, who stared dumbfounded at the variety of cakes, pies, chips, and of course...

"COOKIES!" cried Hammie.

RJ grabbed the squirrel and clamped a hand over his mouth. "Yes, Hammie, thousands of cookies. And if no one catches us, you can have all you want. And if you're REAL quiet, no one catches us. See?"

Hammie slowly nodded, as RJ gently released him.

"O.K., Rich, you're on!"

Richard craned his neck to the Oreo row, and worked on it's plastic door, twisting his snout with concentration.

"I'll never get tired of watching him," whispered RJ to Hammie. "It's a master artist, I tell ya!"

"Particularly considering who taught him his art," said Verne, who marched up with Tiger just behind.

RJ whirled around. "Guys! Glad you could join us! I thought you weren't really up for heists, Verno!"

"Don't ask me how, but Mr. Personality here talked me into it."

"Ah! Mr. Personality! I like that," declared Tiger.

"I'm glad," grunted Verne.

Just then, the small door popped open, revealing the way to various packages of chocolate creams and chocolate chips. "Bingo," said the moose.

"Awesome, big guy! Now that there's more of us, there's more we can carry!"

"Wonderful," stated Verne. "Let's get this over with!"

They loaded up with goods, Hammie packing most of the cookies. As they prepared to go, Richard spied one silvery, shiny Aquapod remaining in the top row. Despite his antlers being filled with goods, he still worked the top door with great dexterity.

"Come on, Rich!" said RJ. "We got more than enough for two months in one night!" The others continued away as he spoke. "Let's not push it!"

"No worries, RJ; just somethin' to wash it all down," said Richard, with concentration in his voice. RJ just shrugged, and scooped up his full-to-bursting golf bag to join the others.

Not long after that, the door finally popped open, allowing the moose to claim his prize. "Nothin' to it," chortled Richard to himself, as he artfully scooped up the crystalline bottle, and turned right around to face Dwayne, who just glared in surprise at the sight of a moose with antlers filled with candy, soda, and an Aquapod.

"Oh, no! RJ, look!" said Verne, and everyone looked at the scene from the shadows, where Dwayne could not see, with shock and dismay.

"Hmmm..." observed RJ. "I was sure we were rid of that guy..."

"What shall we do?" asked Tiger. "Our comrade is in danger!"

"Stay calm," answered RJ. "Maybe baldy's changed his ways."

An evil grin slowly spread over the former Verminator's face as the surprised young moose sheepishly offered him the precious Aquapod. "Well. I AM gonna get to ace a critter tonight."

The others looked at RJ, who grinned with a shrug. "Ha--Then again, maybe not."