The wedding was exactly one week later. Although no one was really looking forward to it, except maybe Cyril, and Rita, but only because of the fact that both would end up doubling her fortune by marrying. Also by this time, Cedric, Sophia, and the Raccoons were out of ideas to break Cyril and Rita up.

Finally, it was the big day. Cyril and Cedric were getting ready for it.

"Here it is, Cedric," Cyril said. "The moment of truth."

"Yeah, I know," Cedric said.

"I never thought this day would come, you know what I mean?"

"Yeah, I know, Pop. Uhh, good luck, I guess."

"You don't sound too excited about this."

"Well . . . . . actually, Pop, I'm a little uneasy about this whole thing."

"I kind of had the feeling. And I know exactly what the problem is."

"You do?"

"Sure I do. You're just uneasy about the fact that Rita is about the same age as you are. Anybody would be uneasy having a stepmother around the same age as they are!"

"Uhhh, no, that's not exactly what I meant."

"You still hung up on Rita only interested in my money?"

"I just don't think you should go through with this."

"Forget it, Cedric, there is no changing my mind."

"Whatever you say, Pop. I just hope this works out well for you. After all, if you and Rita decide to get a divorce or something like that, half of everything is hers."

"Half? Half of everything? Hers?"

"Yeah. Well, good luck, anyway, Pop."

Cedric sighed, and left his father alone. Clearly, nothing he could say or do was going to change Cyril's mind about calling off the wedding. However, upon hearing what Cedric had just told him, Cyril was beginning to have second thoughts.

Rita was getting ready, herself. She was in an upstairs room of the Sneer mansion, since the wedding was going to be held in the backyard.

"Now let's see," she said, as she straightened out her dress. "I think I have everything. And by the time this wedding is over, I certainly will have everything!"

Rita checked her hair and make up one last time, and then started down the stairs. As she was coming down, Melissa began taking photos. Rita had asked (well, practically ordered, actually) the Raccoons to make the wedding the social event of the season in the Evergreen Standard, and that meant all the pictures Melissa could possibly take.

"Be sure you get my good side," she said. "Because if you don't, I'll reduce that newspaper of yours to recycling!"

"Of course," Melissa said, through gritted teeth. Rita walked out of the room just then, and Melissa stifled the urge to throw the camera at her.

"I don't know why I'm even doing this," she sighed.

"Maybe we can still stop this before it goes too far," Bert said. "When he says the line about why these two shouldn't get married . . . . ."

"If we did that, we'd probably get clobbered," Ralph said. "Rita Ritzley is tougher than she looks."

Bert nodded. Ralph did have a point there.

About an hour later, everything was ready. Bert sat down next to Cedric and looked at him.

"Any luck talking your dad out of this?" he asked.

"None whatsoever," Cedric said with a sigh. "I might as well get used to the idea of military academy. Maybe it won't be as bad as I think it will be."

"Right. It'll probably be worse!"

Cedric sighed, but said nothing. Rita was starting to come down the aisle. She passed by the Pigs, who were busy bawling their eyes out, wailing at the tops of their lungs.

"What are you three crying about?" Ralph asked.

"We always cry at weddings," Boyd said. He pulled out his handkerchief and blew into it, but it ended up sounding like a sick goose.

"Dearly beloved," the officiant said. Bert stifled a snort upon hearing that.

"We are gathered here today to join Cyril Sneer and Rita Ritzley in holy matrimony," the officiant continued. "Do you Rita, take Cyril for your lawful wedded husband . . . . ."

"Awful wedded husband is more like it," Bert mumbled. Nobody heard him.

". . . . for sickness and in health, for richer or poorer, for as long as you both shall live?" the officiant said.

"You bet I do!" Rita shouted. "For richer and richer, even! I'll take him for all he's worth!"

"Do you, Cyril," the officiant continued, oblivious to everything. "Take Rita to be your lawfully wedded wife, and all that stuff there?"

"Well . . . ." Cyril started, still thinking about how half of everything he owned would be Rita's if he went through with this.

"Come on, come on!" Rita shouted. "I want to get this merger over with before the stock market closes!"

"Now wait a minute," Cyril said. "I'm not exactly sure about this anymore . . . ."

"Oh come on!" Rita shouted. "Hurry up and get this wedding over with, you old geezer!"

"Wait a minute!" Cedric shouted, standing up. "You can't talk to my pop like that!"

"What are you going to do about it, Four Eyes?" Rita asked, putting her hands on her hips. She glared at Cedric fiercely.

"Just who are you calling Four Eyes!" Cyril shouted. "You can't talk to my son like that!"

"Oh please, he can't even fight for himself!" Rita shouted. "There are going to be some major changes around here!"

"Yeah, and I'm making one right now!" Cyril shouted, and he began storming towards the house. "This wedding is off! Get off my property!"

"Huh! But . . . . you . . . . you can't do that!" Rita shouted.

"I can and I will!" Cyril shouted. "Out! Now!"

Rita began walking for the door just then, all in a huff. Before she left, though, she turned toward Cyril.

"You haven't heard the last of me, Sneer!" she shouted. "I'll sue you for everything you've got!"

"Hit the road, Jackie," Cyril said.

Rita stormed out of the mansion. Once she was gone, Cyril sighed.

"Well, there goes another whirlwind romance," he said.

"Don't take it so hard, Pop," Cedric said. "She just wasn't the right one for you. But don't give up. I'm sure there's someone out there."

"Yeah well," Cyril said. He was silent for a moment or so, but then he finally stood up, and headed for the house. "Don't just stand there, Cedric! I need to find out how much time and money I just wasted here! Let's move! We've got a lot of work to do!"

"Sure, Pop," Cedric said, and he started to follow Cyril into the mansion to hit the books. The others just started to laugh.

"Same old Cyril," Bert said. "He's not going to let romance come between him and his money!"

The End