Xer Raccoon: Prologue

Prologue

Ralph Raccoon paced about back and forth nervously, in one of the halls of the hospital in the Evergreen Forest. He was in the Maternity Ward--his wife Melissa was having a baby, and he was anxious enough to know that he was about to become a father in any moment. Moreover, he's been waiting for hours on end.

Finally, a nurse came up to him and said, "Mr. Raccoon?"

Immediately, Ralph ran up to the nurse and shook her back and forth, shouting, "HOW'S MELISSA DOING? IS SHE ALL RIGHT?!"

"Shhh! Calm down, no need to get all excited," replied the nurse. After a few seconds of silence, she continued sweetly, "Your wife is doing very well. She has just given birth to a healthy baby boy."

Ralph became stunned. "R-r-really?"

The nurse nodded in reply. She led him away to a nursery, which showcased all the babies that have been born in the hospital. She pointed to one of the bassinets in the fourth row, and Ralph peered through the observation window to have a closer look. There he was...a baby raccoon, wrapped up in a pale blue blanket, with a face that resembled that of his mother. The nurse whispered happily, "He's even got your eyes."

Ralph smiled. His wife had just borne him a son--and with that fact announced, it was going to be the best day for the rest of his life. When he visited Melissa in the recovery room, he told her just how proud he was at seeing their first child for the first time. He then asked, "So, what do you think we should name him?"

"I don't know, Ralph," replied Melissa. "There's been so many names we came up with while we were preparing for the baby's arrival. But...what about you?"

Ralph thought for a moment. "Well...how about Rex?"

Melissa looked at him for a moment. "Rex?"

"It's probably the only name that I liked, Melissa. Even better than Tom, Dick, or Harry."

"Rex Raccoon...I think I like it, too. Let's call him that."

And so began the saga of Rex Raccoon, later known as Xer, the hero of the future!