Aunt Davina was coming downstairs when she saw Aunt Regina balancing books. "I can't believe the nerve of you," Davina growled, "balancing books on the day before our wedding anniversary."

"Running a school is a very important job, Davina," Regina countered. "My father left me this school before he retired. The school's writing department is having a little trouble with its budget right now."

"What do you mean by 'a little trouble with its budget'?" Davina asked. "We just did our fundraiser with the junior Halloween party."

"Don't take the weight off me," growled Regina.

"Now you're just being offensive," snapped Davina. "You know weight slang insults me."

Upstairs, Candy and Ronnie heard the whole thing, much to their horror. Bennie didn't hear the argument because he was practicing "Don't Go Breaking My Heart."

"What's wrong with Aunt Regina and Aunt Davina?" asked Bennie.

"They got into a little fit," Ronnie answered. "Regina thinks that balancing books is more important than celebrating her 25th wedding anniversary with Aunt Davina."

"That's harsh," replied Bennie.

"Are Aunt Regina and Aunt Davina going to divorce?" asked Candy.

"So don't misunderstand us," Ronnie replied. "They are the light in our lives. They would never separate."

"I should get to bed," Candy yawned. "I have that music history test tomorrow."

"Maybe in the morning," Bennie asked, "one of us should straighten out one of our moms."

"Toss a coin on it?" Ronnie asked her brother.

"Good idea," Bennie answered as he got out a quarter. "Heads, you take Aunt Regina; tails, I'll take Aunt Regina."

It landed on tails, meaning Bennie got to handle Aunt Regina. Knowing this, Bennie was going to have a hard time calming down Aunt Regina.

XxoxX

In the morning, Candy, Ronnie, and Bennie were together. "These were just like those self-defense lessons Aunt Regina gave us," Bennie groaned. "How exhausting."

"Looks like my tap classes are going to be out of control thanks to this" Ronnie said.

XxoxX

In Mrs. Gauer's classroom, she saw Candy coming in, "Sorry I'm late" Candy said to her teacher, "Aunt Regina and Aunt Davina made us walk to school. They were too angry to drive us."

"Oh, my," Mrs. Gauer replied. "Sometimes couples bicker and say things they don't mean. Maybe a little food at lunchtime will cheer them up. Now sit down - you need to finish your pottery project.

XxoxX

After lunch, they spotted Alice with a wealthy couple who was paralyzed with fear. "What do you mean my weekly allowance is held until tomorrow?" Alice growled. "I want it now."

"But, sweetie," said the man, "Mom and I had to do some paperwork today here. You know how looney landlords are."

"You must be Alice's parents," Candy said. "No wonder you were a little scared during Career Day."

"That's us," said Mrs. Levy. "We've been invited to the RDA here to fill out a few real estate forms."

Alice held her breath hard. "You're not going to get what you want if you keep holding your breath, sweetie," Mr. Levy replied.

Candy, Kiki, and Daniel went to another hallway to avoid an argument. Alice stopped holding her breath and decided to go back to eating her lunch.

XxoxX

In the hallways, Candy looked at her friends. "We should imagine on this one," she suggested.

"Good idea," Daniel replied. "Anything good that will help with your parents' financial troubles."

"Let's imagine being in a gold city," Candy answered, "where golden instruments are in the deep blue sea."

"Look at us," Kiki said. "We're mermaids again."

They looked around the place to find answers to get Principal and Vice-Principal Cherry to stop arguing. Kiki found a merman giving his girlfriend a charm bracelet. "This reminds me of how my dad proposed to my mom," she replied. "It's there I learned that you don't need a ring to propose to your sweetie."

"So, Candy," asked Daniel, "how did your aunts get engaged?"

"Aunt Regina and Aunt Davina eloped," Candy answered. "They never liked to give into details of their elopement."

At one part, a painter mermaid saw them talking about their principals' argument. "You want to make your aunts stop fighting?" the mermaid asked Candy. "I can help you on one condition. You play 'Don't Go Breaking My Heart'; that's my favorite song."

"I think we can make it," Candy said.

"You're right," Daniel replied as he got an aquatic violin.

Candy swam to an aquatic piano and started playing "Don't Go Breaking My Heart."

After they finished, the mermaid artist applauded. "I give you my key," she said. "The key to my heart. Just look in the throne room of a school principal."

All three kids knew what she was talking about: the principal's office.

XxoxX

Back in the real world, Candy, Kiki, and Daniel were inside Principal Cherry's office. Kiki spotted a beautiful painting. "That's a wedding picture painted by Susie D'Orazio."

The painting was of Aunt Regina and Aunt Davina on their wedding day. Aunt Regina wore a white and pink tux, and Aunt Davina wore a white wedding gown with pink roses. On their left ring fingers, Regina's wedding ring had a pink tourmaline and Davina's wedding ring had a ruby. Candy suddenly remembered what Aunt Davina meant about ringing it to Oscar.

At the door, Principal Cherry and Bennie were by the door. "Cadet Candy, Cadet Gauer, and Cadet Kinji" Principal Cherry replied. "I didn't call you three to my office."

"Sorry, Principal Cherry" Kiki replied. "We didn't know when you'd knock on our door."

Also by the door were Vice Principal Cherry and Ronnie. "We saw you guys wandering the halls," Ronnie explained. "We didn't want you guys to be late for class. Plus, Mr. Lott is here to collect the October mortgage."

"What? asked Principal Cherry.

In the halls, Mr. Lott was holding some important papers for the Cherrys to sign. Alice was going to class when she spotted Oscar, the mean real estate tycoon. "G'day there," he said. "I was just finishing up the mortgage payments for the Levys."

"Shouldn't you do that in your office?" asked Alice. "You're a real estate tycoon."

"The doctor said that I needed some fresh air," Oscar explained. "And shouldn't you be in class? You're a tardy twit."

"You'll hear from my family's lawyers," growled Alice as she walked off.

Little did Oscar know was that Principal and Vice Principal Cherry saw the whole thing. Aunt Regina and Aunt Davina looked at each other and winked. "Hello, Mr. Lott," Principal Cherry greeted. "We have the money for the October mortgage."

"Here it is, sugar-" added Vice Principal Cherry, "-10,000 in Ben Franklins."

As Mr. Lott opened the bag, he saw some money with an old man, cherries, and it said Cherry Buck on them. "What kind of money is this?" Oscar asked.

"Cherry Bucks," Principal Cherry explained. "The school wanted to teach the kids that greed can consume one's heart, so we made these."

"And don't worry," Vice Principal Cherry replied. "I already sent out the check before I headed off to work. You'll get it in three days' timing."

"But I can't wait that long," Mr. Lott replied. "I need a drink of tea."

"What a drongo," said Bennie. "That means he's a fool."

"Where did you learn that Australian slang, Little Spice?" asked Vice Principal Cherry.

"It just came to me," Bennie answered.

Both Principal and Vice Principal Cherry looked at each other in horror, then Candy asked, "How can I get this Cherry Money?"

"Students always get them if they go through a whole week without getting at least ONE detention," Principal Cherry as she gave her seven pretend money. "Since yours is two months overdue, here are seven 10-dollar Cherry Bucks."

"This is a good way to save financial troubles for the RDA," Vice Principal Cherry explained. "With Cherry Bucks, you can buy stuff at our school store, get seconds on dessert, or get a chance to see a free show."

"You know something?" Candy replied. "I think I should give Kiki and Daniel free cookies tomorrow."

"Now that's going Dutch," Ronnie smiled.

XxoxX

After school, Aunt Regina and Aunt Davina took their kids and Kiki and Daniel to some free ice cream at The Blue Skillet. "Hey, guys," Bennie said, "remember when D-, Mr. Lott tried to invest $500 bucks from Aunt Regina and Aunt Davina? Maybe they wanted to invest in something more than that."

"They did," Kiki said. "I remember that Principal Cherry's favorite color is red and Vice Principal Cherry's is pink. Looks like they did it for their own wedding rings."

"Is that why you didn't invest $500 with Mr. Lott?" asked Candy. "You spent that money on each other's wedding rings."

"We did it for love, Cadet Candy," Aunt Regina answered. "Love is worth more than money."

"Honey, if I get restless," Aunt Davina said as she took her wife's hand. "Baby, you're not that kind."

"Awww," Candy, Ronnie, Bennie, Kiki, and Daniel said.

"Do you remember our wedding vows?" asked Aunt Davina.

"When I was down, you became my clown," Regina recalled. "I gave you my heart."

"Right from the start, you will not depart," Davina recalled. "I gave you my heart."

Suddenly, Candy imagined a could've-been wedding reception between Regina and Davina because they never had a honeymoon. Bennie was playing the guitar, Daniel was playing the violin, and Candy was playing the piano.

The End.