For Better or For Worse
Part 2

Saturday Morning
On the Other Side of the Cape Suzette Cliffs
Dawn

Everything was peaceful above the placid Pacific Ocean. In the east, pale pinks and yellows were gradually inching their way into the cloudless, pale grey sky. There wasn't a living thing in sight except for a few seagulls hunting for their breakfast and the occasional dolphin leaping from the water in a graceful arc.

Things were livelier beneath the ocean's surface. A giant squid floated leisurely in a murky sea teeming with fish and crustaceans of all sizes and colors. A pod of porpoises scattered when a small, copper-colored submarine broke through their ranks, speeding along on its erratic course towards Cape Suzette. Crowded into the cramped quarters of the submarine were Dumptruck and Mad Dog. Streams of sweat poured down Dumptruck's face as he peddled the stationary bicycle that moved the rear propellor.

Mad Dog, uncaring as to his colleague's sweaty plight, peered through the periscope. "There's the cliffs."

"How much farther?" Dumptruck panted, feeling as though his legs would drop off.

"Closer...closer..."

The submarine rammed into the cliffs with a jarring jolt, causing Dumptruck to vault over the bicycle's handlebars. He landed with a 'thump' on top of Mad Dog.

"We're here," said Mad Dog's weak, muffled voice.

The submarined surfaced. The hatch opened. The pirates climbed out and tied the submarine to the cliffs.

"We've gotta go all the way up there?" Mad Dog asked, a slight tremor in his voice. He gazed up the side of the rugged cliff, which seemed to stretch on forever.

"Der captain said there vas an elevator somevere that goes to the top," Dumptruck reminded him. He started scaling the cliffs.

Mad Dog followed suit. A pebble rolled from under his foot and bounced onto the sharp rocks protruding out at the base of the cliffs. A soft whimper escaped from his throat. "The things we do for money."

"A load of money," Dumptruck added from just above.

"You'd think there would be an easier...ow!" Mad Dog yelped. "You're standing on my hand, you ninny!"

"Well, beg my pardon." Dumptruck moved his foot and looked down at Mad Dog, who was shaking his sore, flattened hand. Then he poked his head over a ledge and spied a run-down shack nestled against the cliffs. Crouching in front of the shack was an elderly pig, who whistled cheerfully while he flipped pancakes over an open fire.

"Why are you stopping?" Mad Dog asked, hiking himself up with difficulty. He also peeked over the ledge. "Are we at the elevators?"

"There's a man there, and he's a pig," Dumptruck whispered loudly.

"You're a slob, too, " Mad Dog snapped, annoyed. Seeing the porcine, he said, "Oh, you're right. He is a pig." The skinny brown ferret hoisted himself onto the ledge, charged over to the stubbly-faced man and stuck the barrel of his gun at his nose. Dumptruck quickly did likewise.

"Hi, folks," said the porcine in a friendly manner, squinting up at the pirates. He continued to turn the pancakes in the skillet. "Name's Barney. Are ya passin' through?"

"You could say that," said Dumptruck evasively. He also aimed his gun at Barney.

"We're looking for the elevator that goes to the top of the cliffs where they keep the cannons. Tell us, or you're toast!" Mad Dog demanded.

As if being held up by pirates was an everyday occurrence, Barney said nonchalantly, "It's right back there, around the corner from my place. I've used it a million times. Used to work the cannons. Polished 'em every day, you know. Yessiree, Bob. I polished those guns every day for fifty years. Never missed a day, except for that one day when..."

While Barney rambled on about his past exploits, Mad Dog and Dumptruck pushed past him, but not before Dumptruck snagged a couple of pancakes.

Barney, watching them go, stroked his bristly chin and shook his head. He flipped the remaining flapjacks onto a chipped plate and poured maple syrup over them. "Some people are always in an all-fire hurry. It's like I've said a million times, people just need to relax more. Stop and smell the roses or the pancakes or whatever."

Meanwhile
Atop the Cape Suzette Cliffs

The sun was barely peeking over the verdant hills on the eastern edge of Cape Suzette when a large, beige sheepdog dressed in a grey uniform stepped from the elevator embedded in the cliffs. He punched his time card in the time clock, saying, "Morning, Ralph." A lanky brown wolf attired in a similar grey uniform had appeared beside him and had picked up his own time card from the holder.

"Morning, Sam," replied the wolf through a yawn. He punched his card and put it back into the holder. "That was a short night."

"Looks like another normal workday," Sam commented. He began going over the checklist for the cannon nicknamed 'Big Bertha'.

"Yeah," said Ralph through another yawn. He walked over to the coffee maker that sat on a small table and poured himself a cup of coffee. "Another normal day of defending Cape Suzette from intruders."

"Feel up to a game of checkers?" The sheepdog signed and dated the checklist and hung the clipboard back on the cannon.

"Why not." Ralph sat down across the table from Sam and watched the steady stream of aircraft pour through the cliff opening. "Sure are a lot of planes coming into Cape Suzette today."

"Civic Awards day." Sam set the checker pieces in their places.

"Oh, that's right." Ralph slid one of his black pieces forward one space. "Don Karnage is getting an award, isn't he?"

"Yep," Sam said laconically, moving one of his red pieces.

"Who would have thought Don Karnage would get the Hero of the Year award after all of the times he's tried to sneak into Cape Suzette to plunder?"

"Yep," said Sam again, jumping three of his opponent's pieces.

Pondering his next move, Ralph frowned at the checkerboard. "Makes you wonder what other topsy-turvy things are going to happen."

"Don't it though!" said Mad Dog as Dumptruck grabbed both by their throats, prompting a garbled 'urp' from the guards.

Sam and Ralph were swiftly tied up and pieces of duct tape were slapped across their mouths.

"How do we get to the other cliffs so we can tie up the other guards?" Mad Dog asked, pointing his weapon at the captives.

"Mmmm-mmm-mmm!" Ralph mumbled.

"Say what?" Mad Dog whined. He tore the piece of duct tape from Ralph's mouth, ripping out hunks of fur with it.

"Ouch! We won't tell you, you pirates!"

"I think you vill," Dumptruck chuckled evilly. He pulled a few sticks of TNT from his pocket and propped them between the guards. He struck a match against the cliffs and held the lit match close to the fuse.

Cold sweat beaded on the guards' foreheads as they watched the flame. Ralph choked out, "Bridge. Take the footbridge across the cliff opening. It's three floors down. Then, take the elevator up to the top."

Mad Dog slapped another piece of duct tape across Ralph's mouth, saying sarcastically, "Thanks for your kind cooperation." Out of the corner of his eye, he happened to catch sight of a familiar-looking airplane as it flew through the cliff opening. "There goes Bandersnatch."

Dumptruck turned to watch the steady stream of pirate-manned airplanes pass through the cliffs. A big grin crossed his heavy features. "Der captain's plan is working. Ouch!" The match had burned down to his fingers, scorching them.

"Getting into Cape Suzette has never been easier," Mad Dog chuckled. "Let's take care of the other cliff guards."

"Okay." Dumptruck put the dynamite back in his pocket.

"Don't go anywhere," Mad Dog told the cliff guards with a snide chuckle. He and Dumptruck headed back to the elevator.

Sam and Ralph sat, bound and gagged, with their backs to the cliffs. They exchanged glances that clearly said, What do we do now?

Higher for Hire

Kit awoke. Sleepily pulling off his pink earmuffs, the thirteen-year-old vaguely knew that today was special, but his fuzzy mind couldn't quite remember why. Then, like a lightning flash, it struck him. This was the day that Baloo and Miz Cunningham were getting married. The day that he had been waiting for, had been wishing for, for a year and a half. Brimming with excitement, the boy bounced out of bed and pushed the green shade up to peek out the window.

Even by Cape Suzette standards, it was a spectacular day. A clear cerulean sky dotted with a few puffy, perfect-for-cloud-surfing clouds. Bright, warm sunshine that shone down on the elm tree, the leaves of which rustled slightly when the summer breeze brushed them. Over Baloo's snores, he could hear the birds' cheerful chittering and the louder caws of seagulls intermingled with an occasional airplane engine.

Still grinning, he turned his attention to the big grey bear curled up under the green blanket in the next bed, and a cloud of sadness threw a shadow over Kit's happiness. This would be the last time that he would share this bedroom with Baloo. He would miss their little talks after the lights were out. He would also miss having Baloo's comforting presence so close by, especially after awakening from a nightmare featuring Karnage and company.

When Baloo turned over onto his back, his snores increased in volume.

That was one thing Kit definitely wouldn't miss - the snoring. And he was looking forward to having his own room. He'd never had an entire room to himself before.

Kit spied a note taped to Baloo's nose. It fluttered in and out with the pilot's strong, rhythmic breaths, in danger of being swallowed. Kit carefully peeled it off to read in Rebecca's neat, flowery script -

Good morning, sleepyheads. Molly and I have gone to the hairdresser. Meet you at the wedding - Highland Park, 11:00 sharp.
XOXO
Love,
Rebecca
P.S. Don't be late!

Kit glanced at the alarm clock. They had plenty of time until eleven. It was only 6:05. He crawled back into bed and snuggled under the warm blanket, reveling in the softness of his mattress. Just as soon as he had closed his eyes, he instinctively felt that something was wrong. It had been too bright outside to be only six o'clock in the morning. Kit's eyes flew open, and he looked at the clock again. It was ominously silent.

He picked up his watch from the night stand. It was 10:27! He was out of bed like a shot.

"Baloo!" Kit cried urgently, shaking the pilot's shoulder. "Baloo, wake up!"

"Gimmee five more min...fifteen hours," Baloo mumbled.

"Get up now!" Kit's adolescent voice cracked in desperation. "We have to be at the wedding in a half an hour!"

"Weddin'?" Baloo murmured, still half-asleep. "Who's gettin' married?"

Kit pulled his rented tuxedo from the closet and threw it across his unmade bed. "You are, remember? You and Miz Cunningham."

Mid-snore, Baloo's eyes popped open. "Oh, man! If I'm late, Becky'll kill me!" He sprinted to the bathroom. "Whoa-oa-oa!" he yelled as he skidded across the bathroom floor on a fluffy baby blue rug. He dove head first into the bathtub/shower, accidentally hitting the water tap with his arm. Cold water spewed right into his face. Struggling to reach the tap with his eyes screwed shut, he sputtered, "I'm awake! I'm awake!"

A short while later, Baloo returned to the bedroom, dripping wet with a towel wrapped around his waist. He began toweling himself off. Drying his ears, he grinned down at Kit, who was already dressed. "Lookin' good, kid."

Kit handed Baloo his white button-down shirt and glanced at his watch. He thought to himself, Why do we always have to cut these things so darn close? Then, he let out a laugh.

In his haste, Baloo was pulling his tuxedo jacket on upside-down and inside out. "This thing shrunk."

"Your appetite hasn't shrunk," Kit said, giggling aloud on his way to the bathroom. "Try putting it on the right way, Papa Bear."

Baloo held the jacket up before him. He smiled sheepishly when he saw his mistake. He slipped on the jacket, right side out this time, buttoned it up, and turned to the mirror over the dresser.

He began fiddling with his black bow tie. His expression grew blacker every time his large, clumsy fingers got tangled up in the knot. After the fifth attempt, he exclaimed, "Dang thing! Whoever invented ties oughtta be drug inta the street an' shot! Stupid little strip of fabric. Who needs it anyway?" Glowering at his reflection, he carefully looped one end over the other into a sloppy knot and breathed a sigh of relief. "Good enough. How do I look, kiddo?" he asked as Kit re-entered the room.

"Very nice. Miz...Rebecca will never recognize you."

Grinning from ear to ear, Baloo tousled Kit's hair. "Aw, she's seen me in one of these penguin costumes before. What time is it now?"

"Twenty minutes 'til eleven."

"Holy shimolies, Kit! Why didn't ya get me up earlier?" Baloo headed for the stairs with Kit at his heels.

"Why didn't you wind the alarm clock last night?"

"Forgot! Whoa-oh-oh-oh!" Rushing downstairs, the pilot tripped over a few boxes that were piled along the sides of the stairs. He tumbled head over heels down to the bottom.

"You okay, Papa Bear?" Kit asked, helping a dizzy Baloo to his feet.

"Yeah, fine. I think I got everythin'." Baloo patted his pockets, then frantically rifled through them. Panicked, he cried, "Rings! Where's the rings? Rings? Rings?"

Kit pulled two gold bands from his pocket - one small and one large. "You mean these rings? The ones you gave me last night for safekeeping?"

"Yeah." Baloo willed his heart to stop racing. "Safekeepin'," he murmured distractedly, "'cause you're keepin' 'em safe. The best man's job is to keep the rings safe, an' that's you - the best man."

"Sit down, Papa Bear," Kit suggested, perching on the edge of the sofa. "We told Louie that we were going to wait for him here, and the wedding can't start without you."

"Yeah, I guess." Too anxious to sit still, the big bear took to pacing the office. He went to grab his hat from his head, forgetting that it was upstairs. Instead, he snatched up a ruffled pillow and nervously wrung it in his large hands.

A knock came at the door, and Kit opened it.

Louie, dressed in a navy suit with a loud red-and-white checked tie, his thinning hair neatly parted in the middle, stepped into the office with a hearty, "Hey, guys." He held a large, brightly wrapped package in his hands. He gave a long, low whistle. "Lookin' sharp as tacks, you two. Ready ta take the plunge inta the matrimonial pool, cuz?" He laughed heartily as he slapped Baloo on the back.

Baloo swallowed around a big lump in his throat. He felt as if there were a million butterflies in his stomach that were all trying to escape at the same time. "As ready as I'll ever be, I guess."

"It ain't every day I get ta see ya squirm like a worm," Louie chuckled.

Tossing the pillow aside, Baloo scowled. "Wait 'til it's your turn. Let's get Wildcat an' pull chocks."

Highland Park

A secluded little park located in the hills north of Cape Suzette was where the wedding ceremony and reception were going to take place. This park, which commanded a picturesque view of the harbor and the city, had been reserved for their use for the entire day.

A white gazebo, decorated with pink and yellow flowers and fluttering pastel-colored ribbons, sat in the middle of the park. To the east of the gazebo was the playground equipment - swings, slides, a merry-go-round, etc. To the south of the gazebo were white wrought iron tables and chairs for the picnic reception afterwards. A long table draped with a lacy tablecloth was laden with food, including a large bowl of red punch, bowls of mints and nuts, and plate upon plate of croissant sandwiches.

Exactly one minute before eleven, a cab pulled up beside a white van that was parked in front of the park. Printed on the side of the van in gold curlicue lettering was 'Eat, Drink, and Be Married Bridal Services'. A giraffe wearing a chef's hat, an emerald green jacket, white shirt, and black bow tie was carefully unloading a two-tiered wedding cake from the back of the van.

"Look, guys! You can see my house from here," Wildcat said excitedly as he got out of the front passenger side of the taxi. Higher for Hire's ace mechanic yanked at the hem of his too-tight navy jacket that he wore over his usual light blue overalls. From his overalls' pocket, the wiry lion extracted a sloppily wrapped package.

As Baloo, Kit, and Louie piled out of the cab, a jazzy tune met their ears.

Baloo's nerves subsided a little at the sound of his favorite song - 'I Got Them Flat-Broke, Sticky-Shoes, No Banana, Boogie-Woogie Blues'. "Is it? It is!"

Miz...Rebecca must be in a really good mood to listen to that! Kit thought, smiling as he watched Baloo do a little jig across the grassy lawn. He, Louie, and Wildcat followed the big bear. All gawked around at the decorations.

"Hey, this is nice. Not too big. Not too rinky-dinky. How'd ya talk Rebecca outta the fancy, fuss an' feathers weddin', cuz?" Louie asked.

"I put my foot down an' told her we weren't gonna do it, an' that was that," Baloo answered, looking over the food while he bopped to the boogie-woogie tune. He popped a pink, rose-shaped mint in his mouth, prompting a frown of disapproval from the female fox caterer wearing an emerald green uniform behind the table.

"Yeah," Kit added, grinning; "Miz...uh, Rebecca gave up on it after she found out how much a big wedding was going to cost."

Louie guffawed. "That's really tellin' her, Baloo. I can see who wears the pants in that relationship."

"Miz Cunningham does, but Baloo just wears a shirt," Wildcat rejoined, prompting a small laugh from Kit.

"Baloo!" shouted Molly as she sprinted towards the big bear.

Baloo scooped her up and started dancing with her. "Hiya, Pigtails. You sure look spiffy today."

"This lace is kinda scratchy." Grimacing, she tugged at the lacy collar of her frilly white dress adorned with a pink sash. Around her ears were blue ribbons flecked with pink flowers. Pinned to her dress was a small corsage of pink and yellow roses and baby's breath. "Mommy let me wear some of her lipstick. See?" She puckered up her lips, showing him the trace of pale pink lipstick on them.

Pretending to be impressed, Baloo said, "Wow! You're practically a lady."

She laughed, then a deadly serious expression appeared on the little girl's face. "Baloo, can I ask you something very, very important?"

"Sure, Button-nose." He wondered what was going on in the bright little girl's head to make her look so somber on such a joyous occasion.

"Mommy said I had to ask you first so you wouldn't be uncomfor'ble." Molly took a big breath. "Can I call you daddy now? You and Mommy are almost married. Pleeeease?"

Baloo's heart leapt and a big smile spread across his face. He was so pleasantly surprised that all of his doubts and fears about the wedding completely dissipated. Tickling her gently in the ribs, he teased, "I'm real tickled that ya wanna call me daddy, Cupcake."

"Yahoo!" Molly exclaimed between giggles. She threw her little arms around his neck and kissed him on the cheek, leaving a faint imprint of lipstick. "I love you, Daddy."

His eyes softly shining, Baloo whispered, "Love you, too, sweetie-heart." He kissed her on the cheek and he set her down.

She ran off, shouting at the top of her lungs, "Mommy! Mommy! Guess what?"

With faint echoes of 'daddy' in his mind, Baloo followed her past the refreshment table, gazing with appreciation at the spread. He discreetly scraped off some frosting from around the base of the cake with his finger and promptly stuck it in his mouth. Only one thing could tear his attention away from the food - Rebecca. When he saw her in her finery, he mumbled, "Oh, baby."

The bearess was a dainty vision of loveliness - elegance personified in her strapless, flowing ivory gown with embroidered pink trim. Her silky, wavy tresses were swept off her neck in a loose knot with a few wispy curls framing her small face. She seemed a different person altogether. For the first time in his life, Baloo felt shy of her, remembering that he was only a cargo pilot whereas she had an MBA, something that he with his sixth-grade education could barely spell. What right did he have to marry that beautiful, brilliant woman?

After Rebecca had returned Molly's ecstatic hug, she turned her attention to the giraffe in a chef's hat and continued her conversation. "We really would appreciate it if you could add it to the ceremony."

"I don't know," the giraffe said dubiously, frowning at the slip of paper.

Rebecca flashed him her most persuasive smile, similar to the one that Molly used whenever she wanted something. "Please? It would mean so much to Baloo and me."

"It's highly unusual," the giraffe said.

"We're a highly unusual couple."

"Well," the giraffe hesitated for a moment before relenting; "okay."

"Thank you," she said primly. Feeling someone's eyes on her, Rebecca turned. Seeing Baloo, his finger still in his mouth as he stared, awestruck, at her, a radiant smile lit up her face. That was exactly the reaction she was hoping that she would get from him. "What do you think, darling?" she asked, twirling slowly before him.

"Wowzers," was all he could say as she took a boutonniere consisting of full-blown pink and yellow roses and baby's breath from a box and pinned it on his lapel.

Rebecca's smile widened. "I'll take wowzers." She then mock-scolded, "We're not married yet, and you're already cheating on me with another woman." With the palm of her hand, she rubbed at the lipstick on his cheek.

"That other woman is only seven years old, Becky."

"That's old enough." She smiled. "You made her day, Baloo." Rebecca untied his bow tie and retied it for him, straightened his collar, patted his chest, and stood back, tilting her head to one side. "There. Now you're perfect. You should wear a tuxedo every day. It makes you look so suave and debonair."

"Nah, the guys at Louie's would laugh at me - say I was stuck-uppity."

Laughing, she impulsively threw her arms around him as best as she could and hugged him.

"Becky, honey, you're squooshin' yer purdy hair." He reverently touched one of the spiral curls that lay across her cheek.

"I don't care," she whispered, holding him closer.

Baloo, wrapping his arms around her small frame, pointed out, "Ya might care when we start takin' pictures."

"Aw...look at the lovebirds," Louie said with a dreamy smile on his face.

Wildcat peered up at the sky. "Where?" he inquired seriously, prompting a giggle from Kit.

The lovers reluctantly broke apart. Rebecca flashed a bright smile at Baloo as she picked up the box filled with boutonnieres. "Time to make the rounds."

Coming to her mechanic, she pinned a boutonniere on Wildcat's jacket.

The lion said in his usual simple way, "You smell really nice, Ree-becca, like my crouton garden, except the little croutons won't grow, no matter how much salad dressing I water them with."

"Uh, thanks, Wildcat," Rebecca said, slightly confused.

He beamed at her and at Molly, who was tugging on his hand.

"Let's go play on the swings, Wildcat!"

"Oh, this is for you and Baloo. Happy birthday." Wildcat handed her the package. Molly eagerly dragged him to the playground equipment.

"Thank you," Rebecca said, wondering what on earth the lumpy, newspaper wrapping could contain. It could be anything. "Keep your dress clean, Pumpkin!" She gingerly set the present on the refreshment table and picked up the box of boutonnieres.

As Rebecca pinned his flowers on his jacket, Louie said, "Are ya sure ya wanna marry this rundown ol' bear?"

Baloo growled softly, "I'll run you down, innkeeper."

"Baloo didn't give me a fair chance. Marry me, Rebecca, an' I'll make ya the happiest woman on earth. All the free Krakatoa Specials you can eat."

Rebecca, her brown eyes twinkling with merriment, said, "That's a tempting offer, but..." she winked over her shoulder at Baloo, "I'm afraid you're too late, Louie."

Baloo puffed out his chest, feeling as if he could fly without the Sea Duck. "Whatta ya think of them mangoes, Louie? I got the girl this time."

"There's a first time for everythin'," Louie joked, a smile breaking over his simian features as he lightly jabbed Baloo in the stomach with his elbow. "An' she's some girl, you lucky fella."

Last but not least, Rebecca bent down to pin Kit's boutonniere on.

Shyly, he said, "Jeepers, Miz...Rebecca, you look great!"

"Thank you, sweetie. You look very handsome yourself and so grown-up." She hugged the boy and whispered into his ear, "Thank you for getting Baloo here on time. I think you deserve the Hero of the Year award just for that."

Kit laughed, then blushed with pleased embarrassment when Rebecca planted a tender kiss on his cheek.

Louie complained, "Hey, how come I didn't get a kiss with my flower?"

Rebecca answered saucily, "You're not the best man." She gazed around the park and checked things off on her mental to-do list. "Everything's ready and everyone's here, except for the photographer. I wonder what's keeping her?"

"Her, Beckers?" When Rebecca's back was turned, Baloo stealthily reached for another handful of mints. He shoved all of them his mouth at once, chewed three times, and swallowed. "I thought we hired a guy named Frank ta take the pics."

"We did, but he cancelled this morning. Something about a big development he couldn't miss out on." She frowned. "Very unprofessional, in my opinion."

Always on the lookout for a pretty woman, Louie's interest was piqued. "Is this she single?"

Rebecca smiled. "She is definitely single."

Louie adjusted the cuffs of his suit. With Baloo getting married, he wouldn't have any competition. "Cute?"

"I suppose she could be considered cute." Cryptically, she said, "She sees a lot of different men."

"Finds all men too handsome ta be tied down by one, huh?" He licked the palm of his hand and smoothed his reddish-brown hair down. "Just my type."

Rebecca giggled. "Yes, she is."

"When's she gonna get here?" Louie asked eagerly.

"She should be here any..." A pink, single-man, single-engine airplane buzzed the park, causing all of the flowers to rustle and the punch to slosh in its bowl. "There she is."

Louie's expectant smile turned to shocked horror. "AUNT LOUISE?" he shrieked. "Oh, man, hide me! Hide me!" The big ape turned this way and that, desperately searching for a hiding place before diving underneath the table. He almost yanked the tablecloth and, consequently, the food, to the ground. He peeked through the lacy tablecloth, trembling.

The Pink Piranha flew over the hills and circled back. It hurtled towards the park at a breakneck speed. The plane's wheels skimmed over the top of the caterer's van before it landed bumpily on the road.

"Man, what a pilot!" Baloo said in admiration as the propeller came to a stop.

Aunt Louise, a brownish-red ape dressed in a pink polka-dotted dress, hopped from the Pink Piranha. A pink bow perched atop her shock of orange hair. Pink bracelets jangled on her wrists as she reached into the plane's innards for a camera. After jauntily proclaiming, "The party can officially begin. I am here!" she made a beeline for her cringing nephew. She dragged him out from under the table. "Louis, what are you doing under there? You'll wrinkle your suit, and what an adorable suit it is."

"Louie," the ape gasped breathlessly as his aunt crushed him in her vice-like grip. "Louie!"

She pinched his cheek and hugged him again, squeezing the stuffing out of him.

"Wha..." he wheezed, "what are you doing here, Aunt Louise?"

"Aw, ain't he sweet? I knew that you couldn't wait to see your favorite auntie again, Louis, just like I couldn't wait to see you. That's why I jumped at the chance when Rebecca called me this mornin'. I couldn't let an old D.O.A. friend down."

"The chance to do what?"

"I'm taking pictures for the wedding."

"You're the photographer?"

"Sure, silly boy." She retied his necktie very tightly, causing his eyes to bulge out.

"Gah!" Louie choked. The blue-faced orangutan loosened the tie that was cutting off his oxygen supply. When his coloring returned to normal, he rasped, "I didn't know you were a photographer."

"It's my newest hobby." Aunt Louise looked over her new camera as if she was trying to figure out how it worked; it still had the price tag on it. "Just took it up today. Lucky for Rebecca, I was available to fill in."

"More like bad luck, right, Baloo?" Louie murmured sardonically. But the big bear didn't answer. He was staring at his soon-to-be bride as if she would disappear if he took his eyes off of her for two seconds. Waving his hand in front of his friend's face, he said, "Yoo-hoo! Baloo? Hey, cousin?" He murmured, "Man, he is solid gone over her," to Kit, prompting a sympathetic grin and a nod from the boy.

From the gazebo, Aunt Louise, who was waving her camera wildly above her head, said loudly, "Everyone over here for pictures!"

Meanwhile
Downtown Cape Suzette

"It's a capacity crowd here at Cape Suzette's third annual Civic Service Awards," Dog Rather, a reporter for K-CAPE radio, said into his microphone. The short brown canine looked around at the bustling surroundings as he continued in his deep, easily recognizable voice. "All are here to pay tribute to this year's greatest heroes - Mrs. Sara Coopersmith-Fitzwarren-Goldenheimer-Stein, a strong pillar of our volunteer community, and the surprising man-of-the-hour, the former air pirate Don Karnage."

It was true that curiosity and skepticism had induced most of Cape Suzette to turn out to see Don Karnage receive the Hero of the Year award. In front of the downtown stage, over which was draped a banner reading '3rd Annual Cape Suzette Civic Service Awards', a large crowd had gathered. The rows of folding chairs were swiftly filling with people of all species and ages, and there were others milling around on the fringes of the seating area. Many police officers patrolled the blocked-off area, and, overseeing all of the police, was Detective Thursday. His keen eyes scanned the crowd as he stood in front of the stage.

There was also a row of folding chairs on stage. Mayor Tuskany, sitting next to Shere Khan, was reviewing his note cards. Owen sat on the other side of Khan, prepared to do anything his employer asked. At the other end of the stage, photographers were taking pictures of an elderly lioness, her face lined with smile-wrinkles, wearing an ancient-looking black silk dress. Her grey braided hair was wound around her head like a coronet.

A hush of anticipation fell over the assemblage when a shiny black limousine pulled up just outside the barricade. Don Karnage got out, followed by Gibber. Eager onlookers pressed in closer for a better look at the new heros. Excited and astonished whispers rippled through the crowd as the nefarious captain of the air pirates and his first mate walked towards the stage. The photographers and reporters flocked around them.

Karnage and his big ego soaked up the attention like a thirsty sponge. "No pushing and no shoving. There is plenty of the heroic, really handsome Don Karnage to go around." Once on stage, he announced, "I am ready for my close-up shot." Akin to a fashion model, he struck one dramatic pose after another. "Remember to get my good side - every side." He stood there, grinning like a Chestershire cat, long after the photojournalists trickled away.

When all of the reporters had gone, Gibber whispered into his ear.

Don Karnage sighed. "Oh, very well. Fine. I will sit down with the other mere mortals, the peoples who are not heroes of the year." He took his seat next to the elderly lioness, running a greedy, calculating eye over the audience.

Back to the Wedding

Picture taking time was over. The wedding party and guests, who were seeing spots dance before their eyes, were lounging on the bench that spanned the perimeter of the gazebo. They were waiting for the pastor to get ready.

The giraffe took off his chef's hat. He turned his green, reversible jacket inside out to the black side and put it back on, causing Caterer Geoffrey to become Pastor Geoffrey. He extracted a pile of official-looking papers and a pen from his pocket. Clearing his throat, Pastor Geoffrey said, "Before we start the ceremony, there is a little paperwork to fill out."

"Oh, man, don't tell me we gotta take a test," Baloo groaned. Tightening his arm around Rebecca's bare shoulders, he whispered accusingly, "You didn't say there'd be a test, Becky."

Highly amused, a small smile tugged at the minister's lips. "No, it's not a test. Just a legal formality. Groom's full name?"

Wildcat's hand shot up in the air. "Hey, I know that one! Uh, what was the question again?"

"Baloo Augustus von Bruinwald," the big bear said with a sheepish grin. He wasn't accustomed to using his full name. Everyone in the aviation community knew him simply as Baloo.

"Augustus?" Kit, who was sitting beside his Papa Bear, snickered.

Baloo looked hurt and very irked. "Hey, kid, Augustus has been passed down from generations of von Bruinwalds."

"Mores the pity," Louie remarked none-too-quietly.

Shooting Louie a scowl, Baloo said, "It's no laughin' matter."

The boy continued to snigger uncontrollably.

"An' we can tack it onto your name when we adopt ya, Kit-boy," Baloo said sweetly. He tried it out. "Kit Augustus Cloudkicker von Bruinwald. Kinda has a nice ring to it, doncha think?"

The boy grimaced. He didn't feel like laughing anymore. "Uh...sorry, Papa Bear."

"Bride's full name?"

"Rebecca Elizabeth Cunningham," the bearess said, carefully enunciating every syllable. "Rebecca with two 'c's, not a 'k'. Elizabeth with a 'z', not an 's'. C-U-N-N-I-N-G-H-A-M."

"Not for long," Baloo murmured in her ear, causing another big smile to break over Rebecca's face.

"Good. We'll fill the rest of this out later." Pastor Geoffrey folded the papers up, put them in an envelope, and put the envelope in his jacket pocket. "Groom, best man, and guests up here in the gazebo with me. Bride and flower girl..."

"Maid of honor," Molly corrected indignantly.

"Yes, maid of honor." Geoffrey smiled down at the little girl. "Please start at the end of the sidewalk and walk towards the gazebo." He waited until Rebecca and Molly were in place before saying, "Ready?"

"Ready, Freddie," Aunt Louise said, holding her camera to her eye.

Pastor Geoffrey put 'The Wedding March' on the record player. The sweet strains of the orchestral piece wafted through the air.

"When you get up there, stand by Wildcat," Rebecca whispered as she retied her daughter's hair ribbon.

"Check."

"Go ahead, Pumpkin. I'll be right behind you," Rebecca said, giving Molly a little nudge.

Molly marched down the sidewalk with preternatural solemness.

Rebecca tweaked her bouquet of pink and yellow roses, made sure that her train was straight behind her, then started down the makeshift aisle herself, fixing her shining eyes on her future husband. She ascended the two steps into the gazebo and took her place beside Baloo.

Pastor Geoffrey turned off the record player and opened his well-worn book. "Please join hands."

Rebecca handed her bouquet to Molly before placing her hands in Baloo's with a smile full of trust and love. Squeezing her fingers gently, he grinned in adoration down at her.

"Dearly beloved, we are gathered here in the presence of God and these witnesses to join this man and this woman in the bonds of holy matrimony."

Downtown Cape Suzette

Across town, another ceremony was starting. Mayor Tuskany strolled up to the microphone on stage. He tapped the microphone. "Is this thing on? Testing one, two, three." Feedback caused the crowd to wince and groan as he said, "Welcome, people of Cape Suzette, to the third annual Civic Service Awards ceremony, designed to award those worthy of awards with er...an award." He cleared his throat and frowned at his note cards. His speech hadn't sounded so asinine when he had practiced it at home. "Our first award goes to a woman who, for the past fifty years, has been volunteering her time at many places. If I read them all, we'd be here all day." He chuckled wanly at his weak joke.

A few people in the audience tittered politely. Most, squirming in the uncomfortable folding chairs, silently prayed that he wouldn't read the entire list.

"Instead, I'll mention a few of the most illustrious - the Cape Suzette Memorial Hospital, the Care Center for Senior Citizens, The Hospital for Ill Children, Save the Clams, The International Federation of Nations..."

Karnage, who was sitting behind the mayor, ground his teeth in frustration and impatiently tapped his fingers against the handle of his sword while the extremely long list of achievements was read.

Finally, Mayor Tuskany said, "Would you please welcome Mrs. Sara Coopersmith-Fitzwarren-Goldenheimer-Stein?"

The elderly lioness rose from her seat and crept up to the podium. She walked so slowly that Don Karnage, about ready to jump out of his skin with impatience, got out of his chair, bodily picked her up, and set her in front of the podium. "Thank you, young man," she said, peering up at him through her bifocals. She didn't see the murderous glint in his eyes as he stomped back to his seat. In a brittle, thin voice, she began her acceptance speech. "Mayor Tuskany, men, women, and children of Cape Suzette, I do not deserve this award..."

"Then get off the stage, old woman," Karnage muttered under his breath, "and let me in the spot of light."

Ten minutes into her speech, she said apologetically, "Oh, dear. I lost my place. Now I'll have to start all over again."

With a deep and burning desire to slay the old lady, Karnage unsheathed his sword, causing Owen and the mayor to start in fearful surprise. Khan merely raised an eyebrow. Gibber, seated beside the pirate captain, hastily murmured into his ear.

Karnage put his sword back into the scabbard. "I remember, unfortunatement. I have to pretend to be nice, or my whole glorious plan is kaput," he mumbled in disappointment. The savage gleam returned to his eyes. "But it would be more fun to bump her off right here and now."

Back to the Wedding

"Do you, Baloo, take Rebecca to be your lawfully wedded wife from this day forward, to have and to hold, to love, honor, and cherish, for richer or poorer, to...er..." Pastor Geoffrey cleared his throat, "fight with and to make up with..."

Baloo shot Rebecca a questioning look, which she countered with a mischievous grin.

The pastor continued, "Through sickness and health, 'til death do you part?"

Baloo was so elated that Rebecca was about to be his that he wanted to jump for joy and shout from the highest hilltop. Or, better yet, sky-write his vows everywhere that he went so that the entire world could see how much he loved this bearess. Caressing the backs of her small hands with his thumbs, he confidently vowed, "You better believe I do!"

Louie guffawed. "Ain't he an eager beaver!"

Pastor Geoffrey flashed Louie a reproving glare. "Do you, Rebecca, take Baloo to be your lawfully wedded husband from this day forward, to have and to hold, to love, honor, and cherish, for richer or poorer, to fight with and to make up with, through sickness and health, 'til death do you part?"

While the pastor read her vows, Rebecca silently thanked the powers that be that she had purchased Baloo's Air Service. There had been two air cargo services for sale when she had been searching for a failing company to buy. Because she knew next to nothing about the air cargo business - except that it sounded adventurous and romantic - it had been difficult choosing between them. The scales were tipped in favor of Baloo's Air Service when the banker informed her that Baloo was a terrific pilot, the best in Cape Suzette. Desiring to have the best pilot working for her and curious to meet the pilot with the unusual name, she had promptly paid her money and signed the deed.

And here she was, marrying the terrific pilot with the unusual name.

Rebecca had promised herself that she wouldn't bawl and be a red-eyed mess on her wedding day. After all, she had spent a lot of time and money on her appearance. However, try as she might to stay calm, cool, and composed, her emotions overwhelmed her. Gazing directly into her beloved's eyes through her own tear-filled eyes, she gently squeezed his hands with a watery smile. She quietly, sincerely, but tremulously said, "I do."

"May I have the rings, please?"

Kit dug the gold rings out of his pocket and handed them over.

"These rings are a token of your never-ending love and devotion to each other." He gave the smaller ring to Baloo.

"Uh, this one's Becky's," Baloo murmured in the pastor's ear. "It's too small for me."

"Yes, I know," Pastor Geoffrey said with an amused smile. He was beginning to think that he had never met anyone as clueless about weddings as this bear. "You're going to put it on her finger."

"Oh."

"Not now, Baloo!" Rebecca whispered, yanking away her hand as he tried to put the ring on. Her annoyance at his ignorance made her forget her tears. "Haven't you ever been to a wedding before?" Then she answered her own question. "No, you've never been to a wedding before."

"I told ya we needed a weddin' test-flight, Beckers," Baloo whispered back.

"No, I was the one who said we needed a test-flight, er...practice." Rebecca's voice rose in pitch and volume. "You said, 'We don't need to practice. Any idiot can get married.'"

"I didn't say that."

"Well, maybe not those exact words, but it was to that effect."

Kit rolled his eyes, and Molly flashed an uncomfortable glance at Kit that said, They're fighting during the wedding ceremony?

Swallowing a laugh, the pastor interrupted with, "Before you exchange rings, you have to say a few things first."

"Okay," the big bear said huffily, returning Rebecca's slight frown. "What do I say?"

"Repeat after me, Baloo - with this ring, I thee wed."

"With this ring, I thee wed. Now what?"

"Now you can put the ring on her left hand."

Flustered, Baloo proceeded to put the ring on her right hand.

"My other hand, darling," Rebecca whispered, holding out her left hand. "On the same finger as my engagement ring."

When Baloo slipped the ring on, Rebecca smiled up at him, her eyes misty. Perceiving that he was forgiven, Baloo kissed her hand and grinned back.

"On the other hand you have different fingers," Wildcat observed.

Aunt Louise examined her own hands. "Ya know, he's right."

Wildcat and Aunt Louise began a discourse on hands and why fingers of the right and left hands weren't interchangeable.

"Can we get back to the matter at hand?" asked the peeved pastor.

Louie snorted. "They were discussin' hands."

Rebecca's perturbed, "Quiet!" reverberated through the park.

Silence fell over the group.

Following a stunned silence, Pastor Gregory said, "Rebecca, repeat after me - with this ring, I thee wed."

"With this ring, I thee wed," Rebecca echoed, slipping Baloo's ring onto his finger. With a smile, she squeezed his hand three times. It was their secret, silent signal for 'I love you'.

Beaming from ear to ear, Baloo returned the gesture.

Returning to the Awards Ceremony

Mayor Tuskany nervously tugged on his collar. "Now for...for our second award. This pirate, er...man has saved over one hun...hundred tw...twenty-eight pilots from crashing...and..."

Karnage roughly pushed the mayor away from the podium. Everyone in the audience listened, spellbound, as he began his acceptance speech.

"Hello, ladies and gentlemints of Cape Suzette. Yes, there were other heroic hero-type persons, but you chose me, Don Karnage, hero extraordinaire. Good for you! As I always tell my men, courage is something that you can't be afraid to have. And I have a lot of courage. For instant pudding, you may have heard of my single-handed saving of many, many very thankful pilots from their deaths by drowning, burning, crocodile bites. Oh, that's a nasty one! But I am a humble pirate. I do not deserve this."

He picked up the plaque engraved with his name and the year. "Hey, this is only gold-plated! I deserve better than this! Oh, well, I will get it in a few minutes. Now that I have my award, it is time for you to receive your just award, Cape Suzette."

His eyes moved towards the cliffs as if he was expecting something. When nothing happened, he tapped his foot impatiently and he said louder, "Ahem! I said it is time for Cape Suzette's award!"

Back to the Wedding

"By the authority vested in me by the state and the city of Cape Suzette, I now pronounce you man and wife. You may kiss the bride," Pastor Geoffrey said, closing his book and shaking his head with a smile of disbelief. This had been one of the most interesting and amusing weddings he had ever conducted. He didn't think that so many zany characters could exist outside the movies or radio.

"Ooo! The best part. Pucker up pretty, you two," Aunt Louise said, raising the camera to her eye.

Rebecca stood on tiptoe to wrap her arms around her new husband's neck. She murmured, "I love you, Baloo."

Wiping a glistening tear from her cheek, he gathered her close to him. "I love you, too, Mrs. Rebecca von Bruinwald. Man, oh, man, I love the way that sounds, but not half as much as I love you."

While they shared their first married kiss, Louie blew his nose loudly on his tie, muttering repeatedly, "Bee-you-ti-ful. Just bee-you-ti-ful."

Aunt Louise took snapshot after snapshot. Feeling as if they would never stop grinning, the cubs hugged each other.

Wildcat's dreamy smile turned to bewilderment when his sensitive ears detected a low hum. "Sounds like a really big airplane with a really, really big engine." He cocked his head to one side. "And it has a dirty air filter."

Kit, who had also heard the sound, looked at the cliffs over Molly's head. The smile faded from his face. "Uh-oh!"

Without warning, a missile whistled over the cliffs and smashed into the hill that the park sat atop, causing the earth to shake.

"Wow-how-how! That was some kiss!" Wildcat exclaimed as the gazebo swayed beneath them.

"That was no kiss. That was a near-miss!" Louie cried, throwing his aunt protectively to the floor."Everyone duck and cover!"

End of part 2