The Tales of Huckleberry Hound: Season 1

12. Huck's Crazy Christmas

"Dear Santa Claus,

I don't want much for Christmas this year, but I'll at least ask if you can bring some nice presents to all of my new friends. I reckon Yogi Bear would love himself a giant picnic basket full of sweet-type goodies, like gingerbread, sugar cookies and maybe some of them little mince pies that everyone talks about in them Christmas stories. Maybe Boo-Boo would like a toy or two though. I heard he wanted his own bicycle or scooter, since he has such fun riding them on our show. I wonder what Mr. Jinks would want too. Maybe a nice new bed to nap in? Cats love to take naps. Or maybe he'd like something soft to snuggle with in this cold weather. Even in California it gets a mite nippy in the winter time! I bet I know what my friends Pixie and Dixie would love though! Maybe you could send them the biggest tastiest wheel of cheese! Though I wonder exactly what flavor they'd like. Cheddar maybe? Swiss? Just don't send limburger. It ain't exactly the sweetest smelling if you know what I mean. I think that'll be just fine. As for me, well, I think I just want everyone here in Hill Street Neighborhood to have a Merry Christmas. And the same goes for the Hound family back home in North Carolina too. But if you do wish to bring me a gift, well, I guess you can always surprise me. I think I'd love just about anything you choose to bring me.

Yours truly, Huckleberry Hound.

P.S. Merry Christmas!"

Huckleberry Hound put his letter to Santa in an envelope, and signed it before he put his pen away. He was busy all day getting his house ready for Christmas. He had to decorate the tree, put up the wreath, and even hang the garland and lights up. He even made some gingerbread cookies not only for himself, but he was going to leave some for Santa when he arrived on Christmas Eve! He was just about to sit in his chair to relax, when he heard the mail truck pass by his house.

"Deck the halls with boughs of holly, fa la la la la la la la la!" he sang. "And the mail truck just passed by my house..." He stopped and did a double take as he realized what he'd just said. "The mail truck just passed by my house?! Oh no!!"

Huck quickly grabbed his letter, then put on his hat, scarf, and mittens, and dashed out of the front door, taking off down the driveway and along the sidewalk as he ran after the truck.

"Wait!!" he shouted. "Stop!! Halt!! Heel!!"

But the mailman did not stop, and soon disappeared before Huck had a chance to catch up to him.

"Doggone!!" Huck cried in a frustrated voice. "If I don't get my letter mailed, it'll never get to Santa! Christmas is only hours away and now it'll never make it on time!!"

Huck slumped onto his knees, threw back his head, and bawled. He couldn't believe he just missed the mailman.

"Why did I have to wait til' five in the afternoon to finish writin' my letter to Santa?" he sniffled to himself. "Daddy always told me, 'Don't wait til' the last minute, Huckleberry. You gotta plan ahead early, Huckleberry!' I should've listened better! I should've planned ahead! BWAAAAAAAAHHHH!!!"

Just then, Mr. Jinks heard Huck's crying and ran over to him. "Ohhhhh, not this, Huck!!" he cried. "What is it now?"

"Sorry, Jinksey," the hound wailed. "But I just missed the mailman! Now I can't get my letter to Santa Claus sent on time!"

"What!?" Jinks shouted. "That's terrible!!"

"Now no one will be able to get anything for Christmas!!! WAAAAAAAAAAH!!!"

"Wait, no one?"

"Yeah!" Huck said. "I didn't really want anything for myself. I just wanted Santa to bring presents to all of you!"