One fine day in Marysville, Charles the cat was measuring out coffee in his kitchen. His children, Mika the panda, Maddie the rabbit, and Melissa the wolf played nearby. Someone special was coming by today!

"Daddy, who's Uncle Donny?" Maddie asked.

"Well, he's not your blood uncle- uncle would usually mean he's my brother,- but he is a good friend of mine. So Uncle it is," Charles explained. He finished measuring the coffee and began pouring in the water.

Then, there was a knock at the door! "Knock knock knock!" "I think that's him! Melissa, do you wanna get the door?" Charles said.

Melissa wasn't sure how much she liked that- she was a very shy cub, after all. But she did like helping Daddy, so off she went.

She stretched a little bit to reach the doorknob, and opened the door.

A tall grown-up cheetah was there! "Well hi there! Are you Melissa?"

Melissa felt an overwhelming wave of shyness fill her up, from the toes to her nose! "Eeek!" she cried as she scurried back behind her Daddy's legs.

"Hahaha! Yep, that's Melissa!" said Uncle Donny.

"Heya Dude! Great to see you! Kids, can you come say hi?" Charles asked.

"Hi Uncle Donny!" Mika and Maddie cheered.

"H-h-h-hi..." Melissa waved shyly.

"Hello to you too, guys!" said Donny. "Gosh, I swear all of you get bigger and bigger whenever I see you!"

"I just plugged in the coffeepot. It should be ready soon," Charles said. "Why don't you sit down?"

"Don't mind if I do," Donny said.

"Daddy, can Maddie and I go play now?" Mika asked.

"Sure thing, bud!" Charles said.

As his two younger children went off to play, his eldest climbed into his lap and sighed contentedly. "Good baby," Charles said, holding her close.

Donny broke the silence by saying "You are so lucky, Charles! I look forward to being a Dad one day."

Charles chuckled. "It doesn't get easier, but I do get better at it. Plus, I wouldn't miss it for the world," he smiled.

Just then, the coffee finished brewing! "Just a sec," Charles said. He balanced Melissa on his hip while he walked over to the counter. Expertly using one paw, he got the mugs ready, poured the coffee, and brought one for Donny. Then, he did the same for himself.

Melissa sniffed. Coffee smelled good, but weird. Like burning leaves, but much stronger, somehow. "Daddy, can I try?" she asked.

"I dunno, sweetie. Coffee usually only tastes good to grown-ups," Charles said.

"Please?" Melissa asked.

"Well, all right," Charles said, slightly amused.

Maddie took a sip of her Daddy's coffee. She really wished she hadn't as soon as it hit her tounge! "Yuck!" she spat, with a disgusted expression!

"Hahaha! Told you so!" Charles laughed. He wiped up Melissa's face using a corner of his shirt.

"How do you drink it?! It tastes like poop!" she exclaimed!

"Hahahaha!" Donny laughed too! Kids were so silly! He stopped smiling for a sec when Charles kept drinking.

"Don't you want a new cup?" he asked.

"Naw, we share everything around here, germs included," Charles said, snuggling Melissa close. It was almost time for her afternoon nap.

Donny was the first to make conversation. "It's really terrible about...you know, that guy," he said.

Charles sighed sadly. "I really don't get it. How could he do what he did? To himself, to that kid, to his Mom and Uncle..."

"What happened?" Melissa murmured sleepily.

"Uh, that's a story for when you're grown-up, Melissa," Charles said. He hoped he would never have to tell her, period.

Just then, Mika and Maddie came running back in, making airplane noises! "Neer, nee-nee-neeeeer! Skrrrrrrrm!" they laughed! They came very close to Charles's chair.

"Kids, no running in the kitchen," he called out.

As their footsteps thundered all over the house, Donny smiled. "I can't wait to have kids! I just have to find Ms. Right first," he said.

"I haven't found her yet, but that hasn't stopped me," Charles pointed out.

"Hahaha, true!" Donny said.

The two men settled into the afternoon, enjoying their beverage while making smiles as friend will do.

Donny is not mine, he belongs to  TheHotrodHero this guy.

I promised Hotrod I'd make him a xmas gift, so I drew this. I'm sorry I made you wait like that, dude.