The Tales of Huckleberry Hound: Season 4

23. Can You Keep a Secret?

One morning, Huckleberry Hound had woken up very early to make a stack of pancakes for breakfast. He put lots of syrup on them to make sure they were really tasty. Something told him that today was going to be a very special day, so he decided that pancakes were the best breakfast to fit the mood. He gobbled them up rather quickly, but his face became a bit of a sticky mess from all the syrup, so he had to wash his face after he was finished eating.

"Boy, were those pancakes yummy!" he said to himself as he put on his favorite hat. "I think I'll go out and spend some time with my friends, even if it is a little chilly."

His puppy dog Pudgy barked and jumped up and down, wagging his tail.

"Oh, don't worry, Pudgy! I didn't forget!"

Huck filled the puppy's dog dish, then put on his red scarf to keep warm in the cool weather. Then he headed out the door, and sang to himself.

"Oh, I went down South for to see my Sal

Singin' Polly Wolly Doodle all the day

My Sal she am a spunky gal

Singin' Polly Wolly Doodle all the day

Fare thee well, fare thee well

Fare thee well my fairy fay

For I'm goin' to Louisiana for to see my Susi-anna

Singin' Polly Wolly Doodle all the day."

But as Huck walked out the door, he didn't take a look at the calendar. It was January 17th! As he walked down the block, he noticed his friends all gathered up, whispering and giggling.

"Hmmmm, I wonder what the gang is up to," he said. Then he went over to the gang. "Howdy, fellers! What's up?"

Hokey Wolf gasped and turned around. "Fellas, it's Huck!!" he cried.

The gang turned to face the hound. "Oh, uh... hi, Huck!" Mr. Jinks said, twitching nervously. "How are you today?"

"I'm fine!" Huck replied. "Uhhh, what were you giggling at?"

"Well, uh..." Pixie began.

"Hokey was telling us a funny story!" Dixie quickly said.

"Oh? Well, I love funny stories!" Huck smiled. "Can I hear it too, Hokey?"

"Well, uh, sure!" Hokey chuckled. "I was at the circus the other day, and I asked the ringmaster where the human cannonball was. He told me that he was fired, and when I turned around, there he was, flying out of the cannon!"

Huck stood there for a moment, then burst out laughing. "He was...fired? HAHAHAHAHA...ohhh, I get it! That's pretty good, Hokey! HAHAHAHAHA!!!"

"Why, thank you!" Hokey replied. "But, what were you doing here?"

"I was out for a walk, when I ran into you fellers!"

"Ohh, and that reminds us," Snagglepuss said. "I think we got a meeting at the studio in about two minutes!"

"The studio?"

But before the gang could say anything else, they quickly ran off.

"Wait! Come back!" the hound called. "I was just about to..."

But his voice trailed off as the gang disappeared clean from sight.

"Awwww, they left!" Huck sighed. "Something tells me something fishy is going on. And I've gotta get to the bottom of it."

So he walked over to the candy shop to get some candy. But just as he suspected, people were acting strange towards him. They were looking a little worried whenever he walked by! Huck scratched his head in confusion. Why was everyone giving him these odd looks and trying to avoid him? It didn't make any sense.