The Tales of Huckleberry Hound: Season 3

6. Jump for Toys

Huckleberry Hound was at the toy store one afternoon, looking up and down the shelves and trying to decide on something to bring home. He may have been a young adult, but sometimes he loved to let his inner pup loose, and that meant that he still loved to play with toys. He still had his teddy bear, rubber duckie and sailboat from when he was little, and he had been given some toys as gifts, such as a yo-yo.

"Let's see, what should I get?" he muttered to himself, rubbing his chin.

He picked up a jack-in-the-box and wound it up as the familiar tune of "Pop Goes the Weasel" began to play. Then, sproing! A funny looking clown popped out of the box! That got Huck in a giggle fit. He decided he'd like to have one of his own, but he also had his sights set on a cute little stuffed bunny with floppy ears.

"Aw, shucks! Why not both?" he asked himself. "I've got plenty of money! And besides, the bunny should make for a nice new friend for Teddy!"

And that's just what he did! He bought both the bunny, and the jack-in-the-box, then walked home to have supper, which consisted of a huge chocolate cake. Now it may seem strange to have chocolate cake for dinner, but Huck was a better baker than a cook, and besides, he already planned to have a healthy breakfast the next morning.

"Shucks!" he said to himself as he looked at his new toys while eating. "I think I'll wake up tomorrow and see what that Romper Room program is all about on the TV. I heard they have a jack-in-the-box and a magic mirror!"

He watched a bit of TV while snuggling with his new toy bunny, then he prepared to go to bed for the night. But when he snuggled under the covers, he had no idea what he was in for. When he fell asleep, he could feel himself shrinking down to the size of a tiny mouse! He opened his eyes, and let out a gasp of shock!

"Leapin' lizards!" he cried. "What happened?! I'm a teensy-weensy little hound dog!"

He jumped out of his bed, and slid down the blankets as he looked around. Everything in his bedroom looked gigantic! And from where he stood, the door looked so far away! He gulped nervously, but then he heard a strange voice calling out to him.

"Huckleberry! Is that you?"

Huck tensed. "Eh? Who said that?!"

"I did!"

When Huck turned around, his teddy bear and his new stuffed bunny were standing right there, smiling at him!

"Teddy!? Bunny!? You can talk!?"

"Of course!" Teddy said.

"Well, we can here," Bunny added. "You're inside your imagination, Huck! I'm so happy you brought me home with you, that Teddy and I want to take you somewhere special!"

"Really!?" Huck cried. "Ohhh, goody goody gosh!!"

Huck's rubber duckie and his new jack-in-the-box also started hopping over to him, both smiling happily.

"Quack! We wanna take you there too!" the duckie cried.

The clown popped out of the box and chuckled. "Yes! A very happy and special place!"

Huck grinned. "Well, alrighty Jack! Where to?"

"I'll take you and the others can follow!" Teddy said. "You're small now, so I will carry you, just like the way you always carried me in your arms!"

"Aww, thanks!" Huck said.

Teddy picked Huck up and held him in his arms. Huck started giggling.

"Gosh, you're still soft after all these years," he said. "I love the way you feel even though your fur is a little worn."