First Night at George and Nicole's
Written by David Monid (Based on Raccoons Stories by GoodCaptainClack)

It had been 10 minutes since they left Evergreen Station. The car containing George, Nicole and their little nephew Michael was almost back at George and Nicole's home. They both were looking forward to looking after their nephew for the upcoming week, well it was Tuesday evening and Michael's parents Ralph and Melissa wouldn't be back from their anniversary break in the Porkonos until Sunday. Poor Michael however was a bit skeptical about the whole thing. He sat at the back of the car looking very nervous.

'How are you holding up back there, lil' guy'?, asked George.

'Erm..I'm..OK'., gulped Michael.

'Oh now, now Mikey. Zere iz nothing to worry about, no'., said Nicole, reasuringly, looking at him from the front passenger seat and smiling.

Michael just nodded and sighed.

Just then a loud bang startled the trio of raccoons, as there car suddenly began to emit black smoke from the engine.

'Sacre Bleu! What 'az 'append George'?, asked Nicole.

As she said that the trio felt the car starting to slow down on it's approach to their house. The car soon haulted all together.

'Oh no. It must be that....darn engine again'!, exclaimed George, having a breif pause as he remembered that there's a child with them and didn't want to say anything unpleasent in front of him. It had been a while since George had to remember to do that for his own children's sake.

'Oh dear, and I thought I'd fix all ze problems'., added Nicole.

The two of them got out of the car and popped open the hood of the engine and black smoked poured out in front of them. Causing the two raccoons to splutter and cough quite a bit, but soon the smoke settled and dissapeared, allowing the two to further inspect the problem.

'It's overheated again. We really need to sort out getting a new engine for this thing'., said George.

'Now you know that ze don't make engines like this anymore. Anyway with a bit of fixing, it should be as good as new. Look, it's only a few feet to ze garage. Why don't we just push it in there, zo I can 'ave a look at it'?, suggested Nicole.

'You're right. It's not that far'., replied George.

'Besides, you could use some excersize..no'?, Nicole added with a wink.

'Ha, ha'., retorted George with a smile.

Michael overheard what they were saying and offered to help.

'You know..erm..I can help..if you want me to'?, he asked.

'Oh no, it's OK. It's not that far to go really and this is quite a big task for a little guy like you. You may get yourself hurt'., answered George.

'But I was taught to help whenever I can'., replied Michael.

'Oh, we know you mean well 'oney, but this is a big task for you to do. Why don't you just sit back and enjoy ze ride'?, suggested Nicole.

'Oh..OK'., Michael replied, a little solomly. He say back down in his seat and sighed.

Both George and Nicole got to the back of their car and started to push the vehicle forward, towards their garage. Michael could see the trees outside move slowily past him as the vehicle made it's way down the tarmac, powered by two raccoons.

'This reminds me...of the time that rental car...broke down on us...in Alberta'., grunted George.

'And you still grunted with zat car too'., giggled Nicole, who seemed to be taken her time and not straining too hard against the vehicle.

George blushed slightily by that remark, but smiled as he knew his wife was only having a bit of fun with him about one of their past experiences, a while before they had their first child Lisa.

They stopped by the garage door. George went over to open it, once he lifted it upwards, he returned to behind the car and once again helped Nicole to push the car inside.

Once it was inside, Nicole shut the garage door, as Michael came out of the left rear passenger door.

'I could have helped. I wouldn't have minded'., said Michael.

'It's Ok Mikey. It's done now. Oh, I better get the dinner started'., said George, looking at his watch.

'You go and do zat then. I'll stay 'ere and look at ze engine'., replied Nicole.

George left the garage, but then Michael asked.

'Well...what about me'?

'Oh..erm I'm not sure..Oh I wish I could play with you right now. But I really need to fix zis engine. Perhaps there's something on television, or perhaps there are some toys in Bentley's old room. It's up ze stairs and to ze left. I promise I'll be with you, as soon as this is done'., said Nicole.

Michael had heard what she said, but then Michael was a bit puzzled as he saw Nicole working on the engine.

'Erm...shouldn't Uncle George be doing that'?, he asked.

'Oh your Uncle dosen't know much about engines'., she replied.

'OK'?. added Michael, sounding confused.

Michael left his aunt to fix up the car, he then heard some noises coming from the kitchen. Michael went to investigate what it is and he was surprised to see his uncle, weaaring an apron and was about to use cooking equipment.

'Erm...Uncle George...shouldn't erm...Auntie Nicole..erm..be doing that'?, he asked.

'Huh? what are you talking about Mikey? I thought your Mum and Dad told you. I'm a cheif, so I do the cooking around here. Oh don't worry my food is delicious'., he replied.

'But isen't erm..cooking...supposed to be done...by the erm..Mom or something'?, asked Michael.

'No, not at all. Anyone can cook. There is actually quite a few Dad's who wind up doing the cooking for the family and they enjoy doing it too'., answered George.

Now Michael was really confused, a woman working on a car, a male doing the cooking...poor Michael felt like he had stepped into the Twilight Zone as he is not used to seeing this sort of thing before. He would often see his mother Melissa doing the cooking and any few odd jobs that needed doing were taken care of by his father Ralph. He went away from the kitchen to clear his mind over what transpired.

He wondered into the living room of the house. Everything certanly looked tidy and Michael likes things to be organised. he did see the TV and remembered what his aunt said, but he didn't really fancy turning it on just now.

He then found the set of stairs that led him to the upstairs of the house. He remembered what his aunt said about Bentley's old room being on the left. he went inside there and found an almost empty room, since Bentley was no longer living there and has since he married his girlfriend; Annie Ringtail.

Michael saw an empty bed, though it had been stripped on it's bed clothes, the mattress and a pillow still remained. Michael could think of nothing else, but putting his little suitcase that he was carrying with him ever since he left the car down, climb onto the bed and just lay there. He sighed as a small tear filled his right eye as he was all ready starting to miss his parents and wondered if everything will be OK with his aunt and uncle until their return on Sunday.

Nicole was still inside the garage, tinkering with the car, as she soon discovered where the problem began.
'Ah Zhis 'ere section is loose'., she said to herself. She grabbed onto a wrench and after a bit of effort, she managed to tightily secure a few loose bolts, making the engine stable again.

Then George came into the room.

'Honey, did you want some cold lemonade'?, he asked.

'Oh I would love some, merci. Oh offer some to Mikey as well. 'E must be thirsty by now'., she answered.

'Speaking of which, where is Mikey'?, asked George.

'Well I thought 'e would be in ze living room. Isen't he there'?

'No...not that I know off. Though I've been in the kitchen most of the time. I actually thought that he may have wanted to help with fixing the car? He did seem eager to help us when we pushed the car into the garage'.

'But I thought it may have been a bit 'azardous for a young raccoon. I thought maybe you may 'ave let 'im 'elp in ze kitchen'?

'Well you see..I wanted to bake a cake for him and didn't want to ruin the surprise'.

'Oh 'e must 'ave gone upstairs to Bentley's room perhaps'?

'You can go and check to see if he is up there and I'll follow along, just as soon as I gotten your lemonades'., said George, as he left the room.

After wiping up some motor oil from her paws, Nicole went upstairs to Bentley's room to see if Michael was in there. She knocked on the door first.

'Mikey..are you in there'?, she asked, but there was no reply.

She opened the door and found Michael lying on Bentley's old bed. She went over to him and sat on the edge of the bed.

'Erm 'oney, are you OK'?, she asked.

Michael sniffed and replied. 'I...I guess so'.

'What seems to be ze matter huh'?

'I..I just miss..Mom and Dad...is all'.

'I'm sure you do. But they'll be back at the ze end of ze week, you know that'., replied Nicole, with a smile and placing her paw on Michael's shoulder.

'I know...but I still miss them'., was Michael's response.

Nicole had a think for a few moments, then came up with an idea.

'Well I've finished fixing up ze car now. Why don't the two of us go into ze attic, oui'?, she asked.

'Erm..what was that you said'?, asked Michael.

'I said that I've finished fixing up ze car, so why don't the two of us go into ze attic, oui'?

'There's that word again...did you say 'we' at the end'?

'Oui, I did...why did you ask'?

'There you said it again. Why did you say 'we' at the beginning that time'?

'What ever do you...oh..oh I get it now. No, no, no I'm saying 'yes' in French. Oui means 'yes' in French'.

'Oh...it sure is a funny way of saying yes though'., replied Michael.

Nicole couldn't help but laugh a little as Michael's response.

'I guess it does sound odd to those who are 'earing it for ze first time oui'., said Nicole, which caused Michael to chuckle.

Just then George came in with a tray and on it were 3 glasses of lemonade, one for each of them.

'Well here we are, your lenonades'., announced George.

'Oh this is delicious, George, merci'., thanked Nicole.

'Huh'?, pondered Michael.

'Oh she just said thank you in French'., replied George.

'Oh..well me and Aunt NIcole were talking about how funny French sounded like'., said Michael.

'I'm sure it will sound a bit strange to you kiddo. After you drank up your lemonade, perhaps you may want to see the attic. I remember now putting a few of your cousin's old toys up there'?, suggested George.

'I was trying to suggest that too'., added Nicole.

'Well...if you two come with me, I guess that's OK'., replied Michael, before taking another sip of lemonade.

'Then it's decided'., said George, before he drank some of his lemonade himself.

When they had finished their glasses, George took the tray and the glasses back downstairs, before rejoining Nicole and Michael upstairs, as they were about to enter the attic.

The attic door could be opened by a cord attached to the door. George pulled on the cord and the door opened and a step ladder folded out, so the three of them could use it. George climbedthe ladder first, though Michael was a little relunctant to climb it at first. However Nicole reasured him that it's OK.

'There's nothing to worry about. I'll be right behind you, OK'., she said smiling.

Michael then nodded and slowily climbed up the ladder. The steps didn't leave too much of a gap inbetween them, so Michael wasen't too concerned about falling through them. He certanly seemed to have a slight fear of heights, no doubt this was due to his dad's old fear of heights. But Michael soon reached the top of the attic and Nicole soon followed.

'WOW'!, came Michael's reply as he was struck in owe at the awsome sight of thir large attic.

George started to move a few boxes over and blew off some dust that was on them. But as soon ashe done that, he sneezed, causing little Michael to giggle.

'Que Dieu vous benisse'., said Nicole.

'Huh'?, asked Bentley.

'I said 'bless you' in French'., answered Nicole.

After wiping off some more dust from a box that reads 'Bentley's toys', George set the box down onto the floor and opened it up.

'Now then, let's see hmmm.....Ah here's Bentley's old train set. Maybe you want to give this a try'?, asked George.

'Well..OK'., Michael answered smiling.

George took out all of the track piecies and helped Michael and Nicole to assemble them, forming a large circle line across the attic floor. Finally there's the train itself, which resembled an old steam locomotive. Nicole looked underneath the train to see if there were any batteries inside it. However none were inside.

'George, there is no batteries in this train'., she said.

'Don't worry, Nicole. There's some here'., answered George, who looked inside another box and found some slightily dusty, but still brand new and sealed box of batteries and they were the right ones for the train. Nicole put the batteries in the correct positions and placed the train onto the track.

'OK, Michael. All you do now is press ze red button on top of ze train'., said Nicole.

Michael did just that and the train made a whistle noise, before it started moving along the track.

'WOW'., came Michael's response.

As he was seeing the train go along the track, George had found a few other trains, a large blue locomotive and at the back of it came out two smaller bullet trains.

'Huh? I don't remember Bentley having these'?, pondered George.

'Actually I remember Bentley 'aving these. I once got them from Willow's years ago. I think ze little trains can combine with ze big train to form a robot or something'., answered Nicole.

'Hey..can I see those please'?, asked Michael.

'Sure, kiddo. Go right ahead'., replied George, giving Michael the toys.

He examined them throughily and realised that the two smaller bullet trains can do other things, the darker one had smaller wings and became a plane-esque vehicle, while the pale white one actually transforms into a smaller robot. He then discovered that the two became arms. He studied overthe large blue locomotive and realised that it can stand up. He switched around a few other parts and twistedthe main section around a bit and he now has a body, two legs and a head. He put together the two arms and the robot was completed.

'Hey, Aunt Nicole, Uncle George I did it'., exclaimed Michael.

'Oh well done Mikey. We are so proud of you'., said Nicole, giving Michael a nice big hug.

As he was being hugged, Michael realised how nice it actually felt. It may not have been his own mother giving him that hug, but it still felt nice regardless. He certanly didn't hesitate and hugged Nicole back, even giving her a sweet little kiss on her left cheek.
George then pulled a small police carout from the toy box, as well as a large trailor.

'I guess these two are from the same set'?, pondered George.

'Can I see that Uncle George, please'?, asked Michael.

'Sure you can, Mikey'., answered George, giving them over to Michael.

He attached the car to the trailer, so that the small car would pull along the trailor. Like Geoirge said they went together. Then Michael noticed that the police car transforms into a robot. After finding that out, he carefully examined the trailor a bit more.

'George, 'e is certanly clever, no'?, asked Nicole.

'Oh yeah. He must get that from his Dad....and some of it from his Mom too'., relied George.

As the two were talking to one another, Michael formed a large robot body, arms and legs from the trailor. He then took the robot and partially transformed it back to it's vehicle form, but he knew that it can also form the chest compartment for the robot, as well as being able to pop open it's face for the head. Once again Michal had formed another large robot.

'Hey I did it again'., exclaimed Michael.

'Well done Mikey'., said George.

'Oh you are a clever young raccoon'., said Nicole.

This time both of them hugged Michael, and he didn't hesitate to hug either of them back. Then George checked his watch.

'Oh I better head back downstairs and check on dinner. It should be ready soon'., he said.

'Maybe I better put all this stuff away before coming down to dinner'?, suggested Michael.
'Ah a very good idea'., replied Nicole, nodding her head.

As George went downstairs, Michael put the two robots away and then helped Nicole disassemble the train set and put that back into the box too. Nicole then climbed down the ladder first and afterwards Michael came down, slowily taking his time, climbing down. He got to the bottom safely, before Nicole pushed the door to the top of the ceiling and the ladder retracked back into the door as it closed.

'Oh Mikey, if you need to use ze bathroom, it's streight on to your right, OK'., said Nicole.

'Thank you'., replied Michael as he went streight inside there.

Nicole smiled as she wentdownstairs to help George with setting up the table for dinner.

The family sat together and had a very nice hearty meal. Afterwards, Michael really felt stuffed and felt like he had gained a bit of a belly after eating George's really nice cooking.

'Thanks for making me dinner, Uncle George. It was scrumpcious'., said Michael.

'Oh why thank you for the compliment, Mikey. I'm glad you liked my cooking very much'., replied George.

'If you want me to, I can help with clearing the table, and maybe doing the washing up'?, asked Michael.

'Well...I guess that's OK, if you want to though that is'?, added Nicole.

'It won't be any problem at all'., replied Michael.

He all ready got up from his chair and started to collect the dirty plates from the table and take them into the kitchen.

'Just be carefull with those'., called George.

'I will'., replied Michael.

Michael mannaged to take the plates over to the kitchen and Nicole started to fill the washing up bowl in the sink with water and washing up liquid.
She then asked Michael.

'Perhaps you should let me and your Uncle George do ze washing up and you can dry? 'Ow's that sound'?

'That's sounds OK to me, Aunt Nicole'., replied Michael.

So when they started doing the washing up, George and Nicole washed the dishes, while Michael very carefully dried up everything with a clean dish towel. Afterwards he put the dishes onto the dish rack, so that they could dry.
After the dishes were all washed up, Michael yawned quite a long yawn.

'Oh dear...are you getting tired Mikey'?, asked Nicole.

'Well..yeah a little'., answered Michael.

'Why don't you get ready for bed then? After all you do have school in the morning. For the time being you can use Bentley's room, since it's the only one that still has a bed in it'., chuckled George.

'OK,....I will'., yawned Michael, as he made his way upstairs.

'Oh George. 'E is such a responsible young kit. 'E does take after his father dosen't 'e'?, asked Nicole.

'Oh he certanly does Nicole, he certanly does'., George replied with a smile.

Sometime later little Michael was in bed, nicely tucked up in clean blue bedclothes.

'I hope you're feeling very comfortable there little guy'?, asked George, as he was making sure he was tucked in OK.

'Yeah, I'm fine, thanks Uncle George'., replied Michael.

'Well then, I guess we shall see you in ze morning then? I 'ope you 'ave a nice sleep, Mikey'., said Nicole, giving him a kiss in the forehead.

'Erm yeah...'., replied Michael, now sounding a little nervous.

'Well we better let you start catching Z's. Good nig'...started George.

'NO, WAIT! I err well erm...you see..erm'., stuttered Michael.

'What is it'?, asked George.

'I'm really sorry..I don't want to cause any trouble but...erm but..'., Michael said, continuing to stutter.

'What is it 'oney'?, asked Nicole.

'Can you two lay beside me. I don't want to be on my own...just for tonight, I promise'., answered Michael, now sounding a bit more determined.

'Well of course we will. Just let me and your Aunt Nicole get changed first and we'll be right with you, OK'?, replied George.

'Thank you'., Michael said, smiling a little that he was glad he was getting some company tonight.

A little while later and George and Nicole came back into the bedroom now dressed in their night clothes. Michael kindly pulled aside some of his blankets to let Nicole climb in from the right and George climbed in from the left, before they pulled the covers back across themselves.

'Are you sure you both don't mind being with me tonight'?, asked Michael.

'Of course not 'oney. We're 'appy that we're making you 'appy. Isen't that right George'?, answered Nicole.

'Of course it is, lil' guy. After all you're family and it's important to try and help one another'., added George, though as he said that, he couldn't help but tickle Michael's tummy a little. Michael of course giggled at this.

'Hehehe, Uncle George'.

'Ey, perhaps I want to join in too'., said Nicole, as she too started to tickle on Michael's tummy.

'Hehehehe oh oh hehe. Hey..hehehe no fair hehe'!, laughed Michael.

The two of them soon stopped tickiling little Michael and instead gave him a nice warm hug from both sides.

They all sighed with happiness as the trio were close together and very soon Michael, along with his loving Aunt and Uncle were fast asleep. It seems that little Michael is slowily getting used to being with his Aunt and Uncle, which is good, as Michael still has a couple of days with them before his Mom and Dad return from their Anniversary holiday in the Porkonos. Though if they could see Michael right now, they wouldn't have worried as he was defenately in safe loving paws.

The End.