The Funtastic World of Hanna Barbera

36. Dinosaur in the Mural

April, 1988

It was a beautiful day in Hill Street Neighborhood, and just like usual, the sun was shining, the birds were singing, and the trees were swaying in the breeze. Huckleberry Hound skipped down the road with a smile on his face. "La la la la la la la la!" he sang to himself. "Oh my darlin...oh my darlin..."

He stopped singing as he suddenly stopped to read a sign he had just noticed. "Art Contest: TOMORROW! Enter your work of art for a chance to win $25,000! Come one, come all!" He soon saw almost everyone in the Funtastic World talking about the big art contest.

"Wait till they see our brontosaurus sculpture, Barney!" Fred Flinstone said to Barney Rubble.

"My futuristic painting of the family will blow them away!" George Jetson exclaimed.

"Hey, TC!" Benny the Ball said. "How about it?"

"Well, I'm not much of an artist," Top Cat replied. "Which is why you guys are gonna have to pitch in for this. I'm not gonna let 25,000 dollars slip away from us that easily!"

"There's no way we're losing, Yogi!" Boo-Boo Bear said to his best friend, Yogi Bear.

"Hey, hey, hey, that's the plan!" Yogi replied. "Our sculpture made of goodies will beat all the other projects!"

Huck couldn't believe it. Everyone had some great ideas, but what could he do? He thought for a moment, but all of a sudden, he had an idea. He was currently working as a house painter, so he had some experience working with paint, and he had quite a creative mind as well.

"Shuckins!" he said to himself. "I'll make a pretty lil' picture for everyone to see! Paintin' houses ain't that much different from paintin' pictures, the way I see it. I reckon I could dash off a real masterpiece if I just use my imagination. Or better yet, I'll paint a whole mural!"

Huck started to run off to get some paint, but he soon stopped and realized that house paint wasn't the same as the kind of paint that artists used. He remembered hearing about all the different types of paint that were for sale: watercolor, oil, acrylic...which one would be best for a mural? Not only that, but painting a mural was a huge task. How could he possibly paint one by himself?

"I can't do this on my own!" he said to himself. "I'm gonna need some help with this!"

Suddenly, he saw two familiar faces:his best friend, Snagglepuss, and Quick Draw McGraw!

"Greetings, Huck!" Snag called. "Salutations, even!"

"Howdy, Huck!" Quick Draw called.

"Hi guys!" Huck replied. "Listen, I need some help with something."

"And what would that be?" Snag wondered.

"Well, did y'all hear about the big art contest tomorrow? Everyone's gonna be there, and the winner gets $25,000! I decided that I wanted to paint a mural, on account of my having so many ideas I can't fit em' all on one little itty bitty canvas. I was wondering...maybe you guys could help me, and we could enter the contest together."

"Of course, we're willing to help!" Quick Draw answered. "After all, three heads are better than one!"

"Precisely!" Snag added. "And I myself am a talented painter! Artist, even! We'll be happy to help!"

"Great!" Huck cried. "I knew I could count on you!"

"No problem!" Quick Draw replied. "What are friends for?"

"Well then, what are we waiting for? Let's go get some paint, come up with some ideas, and..."

"Geronimo!"