Chapter 102: All is "FAIR" in Love (International Raccoon Appreciation Day)


Today is October 1st and it is once again International Raccoon Appreciation Day! Let us see how Jake and his family are celebrating.


The afternoon's breeze was crisp, but not too cold, as one would expect on such a beautiful fall day in the City of Zootopia. The couple was walking through the recently renovated park and all around them were the sounds of music mingled with that of joyful shouting and laughter. Jake felt his wife's paw slip into his while they made their way through the large crowd which had gathered for a celebration on what was once the old Happy Town fairgrounds. The previously overgrown, trash-strewn field had been cleaned up and replanted by a group of concerned citizens who took things into their own paws to do what was needed while the city government dithered and debated.

A small touring carnival had set up their rides and game booths, there were also plenty of local vendors who had tent-covered booths where they sold their wares to the crowd. A band on a makeshift stage played Coyote Western music or what they had now dubbed as being 'Outlaw Country'. The scents of mouthwatering food roasting on grills or deep-fried in oil lingered the air, for there was nothing better than old-fashioned fair food. What predator could turn down roasted cicadas, fried turkey, or a funnel cake?

"Do you think we will ever find the boys again?" Jake chuckled as he glanced at the crowd. Most of the animals celebrating around them had black, dark gray, and lighter gray fur, with the similar distinctive dark so-called 'bandit's masks' around their eyes. "Maybe Nick was right when he teased me that all of us raccoons look alike?"

"Sugar, do I look anything like you?" Marie giggled as she reached up and cupped his cheeks with her paws. His eyes met hers, the soft brown feminine eyes that were looking up into his strangely light yellow eyes.

"Oh definitely not!" he replied with a wink before he slipped his sunglasses back on. "You are far better looking."

"My silly old coon," she softly laughed as she bumped him with her hip. "Come on and let's get find something to eat."

"Not yet," he huskily protested as he gripped her paw again before he gently yanked her back around so that he could pull her into his embrace. "First I want a kiss."

"Now why do you think you deserve a kiss?" she coyly replied as she put her paws on his chest.

"Well it is International Raccoon Appreciation Day and of all the raccoons gathered here, you are the one I most appreciate," he answered.

"Appreciate?" she giggled as she halfheartedly tried to push away from his arms. "Is that all?"

His grip tightened as he drew her closer. "Okay, I both appreciate and love you," he softly said.

"That's better, Sugar!"

They kissed for a few moments before they heard someone exclaim, "Ewww!" Turning towards the young raccoon, who was standing there with his paws covering his eyes, they saw it was their son Nicky and standing next to him was a thin coyote, their son's best friend Billy. "Do you two have to do that in public?" the young raccoon asked.

"Yes, we do!" Jake replied with a grin. "Now, do you two need something or are you just being annoying?"

"Mostly being annoying," Nicky snickered. "But the yote next to me used most of the money you gave me to buy food. He's a walking talking eating machine."

"Hey, I was hungry!" Billy exclaimed. "I'm a growing boy."

"I know your mother feeds you well," Marie scoffed. "I swear you must have a tapeworm or something?"

"Have you seen your brother?" Jake asked the younger raccoon.

"He is hanging around the musicians," Nicky quickly answered.

"Where else you would think he would be?" Billy interjected. "He's safe with Cheri, nobody messes with that coyfox."

"So pop, can I have another twenty for the rides and games?" Nicky asked. Jake dug around in his pocket and passed another twenty buck note to the young raccoon, who quickly wheeled around and, with the coyote in pursuit, ran off into the crowd.

"You have been hustled, Sugar!" Marie drawled out with a grin.

"How?" he asked as he looked around in confusion.

"I take it from what he said that you have already given Nicky twenty bucks earlier today?" She asked and the other raccoon just nodded. "Well, I didn't know that and I also gave him a twenty."

"He hangs around his Uncle Nick too much," the male raccoon sighed as he gave her a small smile. "I do believe that my best friend is turning my oldest son into a con artist. Now, what about we get something to eat while I still have some money left?"

"Not yet!" Marie answered as she gripped his shirt's collar and pulled him towards her so that they were nose to nose. "First I want seconds on that kiss."

The two lovers embraced for another passionate kiss.