The Funtastic World of Hanna Barbera

11. Huck's Hoppy Easter Adventure

April, 1981

One bright sunny morning, Huckleberry Hound was in his house, hard boiling eggs in a pot on the stove. But today, he wasn't going to be making them to eat. He was going to color them for Easter!

"Easter's my favorite holiday!" he said to himself. "Painting eggs is so much fun!"

His puppy dog, Pudgy, and his kitten, Mimi were sitting beside him, watching hungrily. Pudgy wagged his tail and barked, while Mimi let out a small meow.

"Pudgy, Mimi," Huck chuckled. "These eggs aren't for eating today. They're for painting."

Pudgy whined sadly.

"It's okay, boy, I know you and Mimi are hungry. But I'll give you something to eat while the eggs are cooling off."

So, after the eggs were boiled, Huck put them in the fridge to cool off. While he was doing so, he made himself a chicken sandwich for lunch. He added some sweet mustard and dill pickle slices to it, just the way he liked it.

"Mmmmmm!" he said as he took a bite. "This sandwich tastes delicious!"

He didn't forget to feed Pudgy and Mimi, so he fed them some of the chicken from his sandwich. Soon the eggs were chilled, and Huck took them back out and set the carton on the table. Then he mixed up his colored dyes, and sat down to start painting the eggs.

"Ahhhh, don't you just love painting eggs, Mimi?" he said to his kitty. "You can paint all kinds of patterns! I'm making stripes, spots, zigzags, I'm even gonna do some paw prints!"

His first egg was red with black spots to match his hat, which he was wearing on his head. Then he painted a blue egg with gold stars. His next egg was green with colorful musical notes. Then he made a purple and yellow striped egg. He even made an orange egg with blue paw prints! Zigzags, polka dots, swirls, and more! Huck was painting Easter eggs galore! And as he painted, he sang a cheerful song.

"La la la la la la!"

Pudgy and Mimi were looking at the eggs, thinking they looked very pretty.

"Do you like my eggs, Pudgy? I made this one with paw prints because it reminds me of when I met you!"

Pudgy barked, then lept into Huck's arms, and started licking him.

"Hey! Cut it out!" Huck laughed. "That tickles!"

Just then, he heard a knock at his front door.

"Hmm, I wonder who that could be," he said as he got up to answer the door. "It's too early for the mail."

But when he opened the door, it was Mr. Post!

"Sorry to come so early, Huck!" he said. "But I just got this special delivery for you!" And he gave Huck a note.

"Well, what do you know!" Huck grinned. "An early delivery! Thanks, Mr. Post!"

He went back inside, and opened the note. As he read, he heard a familiar voice.

"Dear Huck,

I'm writing to you to let you know that I...ahhh-ahhhh-achoo! I need your help. Please come to my burrow, and bring your bunny ears. I'll tell you what you have to do when you...achoo! Get here. I'm counting on you, Huck! Please...achoo! Hurry!

Sincerely,

The Easter Bunny"

"I don't think the Easter Bunny sounds too well," Huck noticed. "We better head over to the burrow."

And he rounded up Pudgy and Mimi, put on his bunny ears, and off they went. They ran as fast as they could to make it to the burrow. Upon arrival, Huck remembered that there was a special way to get into the burrow. So, he knocked three times, clicked his heels twice, and hopped in place five times. And suddenly, he, Pudgy, and Mimi found themselves falling into the rabbit hole! When they landed at the doorway, Huck opened the door, and in they all went.