"The Green-Eyed Monster"

"Come on Splinter, hurry up!" Shouted Shaver. "You know I can't wait to see Mr. Mike's new puppy but there you are dragging along slow as a mud turtle."
Yeah, yeah, Splinter thought, what's the big deal anyway? If you have seen one pup you've seen them all as far as I'm concerned.

Mr. Mike told the neighborhood children two weeks ago he was going to buy a puppy but he had to wait until he made his toy shop safe for the new arrival. Puppies, you know, will chew on everything.

All the neighborhood boys agreed they would all meet at Mr. Mike's the day he brought the pup home. Today was the big day, the pup had arrived.

"Oh, Mr. Mike, he is wonderful...he is so cute!" Gushed Shaver.

All the boys were excited about the new pup and couldn't wait until he was a little older so they could play with him.

"Why did it take so long before you could bring him home, Mr. Mike?" Asked Bobby.

Mr. Mike started explaining to the boys everything he did before he could let the pup come home. First he had to raise all the electrical wires up high enough that the pup couldn't reach them. Then he had to make sure no poisons for field mice and insects were left laying around for him to get into. Puppies are naturally curious about all sorts of things so you can't be too careful.

He then went to visit the mother of the pup. He took an old towel and rubbed the mother all over with it so it would have her scent on it. He then put it in the small bed he made for the pup. He scouted around and found an old wind-up clock that ticked loudly and put it into the pup's bed too. This way the pup thought his mother was still with him because he could smell her. The alarm clock sounded like his mother's heartbeat. The pup would be well satisfied now.

"He is a beautiful pup, Mr. Mike." Remarked Pedro. "What kind of dog is he?"

"Well Pedro, he is a Beagle, a noble breed of dog." Mr. Mike proudly stated. "He was bred for hunting but I intend for him to hunt only for his food bowl."

The children all laughed at Mr. Mike's joke about the pup. Mr. Mike and the neighborhood children got along very well.

"What is his name, Mr. Mike?" Two of the boys asked at the same time.

"Well now, I thought long and hard before I came up with a name. After all, the pup will have it his entire life." He said. "I've decided to call him Bubba."

"Splinter, come meet Bubba." Shaver ordered.

Splinter slowly crept over to the bed Mr. Mike had made for Bubba. He eyed the pup up and down, took a few sniffs then wandered off in the corner of Mr. Mike's shop and flopped down. He seemed totally uninterested.

People...what do they know about puppies? He thought. I know all about puppies. First they bite you with their little teeth...sharp as needles they are. Then they whine and follow you everywhere you go. Humph! Look at them all over there acting like fools over a silly little pup.

Splinter was not at all impressed by the new addition to the neighborhood.

The children said their good-byes to Mr. Mike and Bubba then scattered like a bunch of mice through the toy shop to the back door.

"Bye Mr. Mike, see you later!" Shaver bellowed as he ran through the door.

All the way to Shaver's house the boys couldn't quit talking about Bubba. Shaver talked about how cute he was. Pedro said he thought Bubba was going to be really smart. Bobby told them he bet he was going to be a good watchdog.

Splinter was dragging behind them listening to all they were saying about Bubba.

Honestly, he thought. If they only knew how stupid they sound...I don't get it.

"Come on guys, last one to Shaver's is a rotten egg." Bobby yelled as they all took off running.

The boys were flying down the sidewalk to Shaver's. First by the old garage that belonged to Mr. Dipple before his house burned down. Then they went across the new neighbor's picket fence and, finally, across the side yard of Mrs. Hardy. They were tuckered by the time they arrived.

"Well now boys, tell me," Mrs. Hardy asked, "what were your opinions of Mr. Mike's new puppy? Tell me all about him, it will be a bit before I can go visit him."

All the boys started talking at once about how cute, smart, sweet and cuddly this pup was. Splinter listened for awhile, got up, stretched out a little bit then he wandered around to the back yard and flopped down. He had heard enough about this one of a kind pup. Enough is enough! He thought.

"Well now...I think maybe Splinter has been bitten by the green-eyed monster." Stated Mrs. Hardy.

"The green-eyed monster!" All the kids screamed at once. "What is that?"

"Now children, don't be alarmed. I only meant Splinter seems to be jealous of Mr. Mike's pup." She explained. "Being bitten by the green-eyed monster is only an old saying for someone who is jealous."

"Mother, why would Splinter be jealous of a little pup?" Shaver wondered.

Mrs. Hardy reminded the boys how Splinter was used to getting all the attention in their group. Be it good, or sometimes bad, he did get a lot of attention from the boys. I must say too, he really enjoyed it. He took to attention like a duck takes to water, he thrived on it. Now, suddenly, this newcomer is getting all of it.

After Mrs. Hardy spoke with the lads they all wandered out to sit on the back stoop. This time of day the sun was warm and it felt good on their faces. They started talking about Splinter and how sorry they felt for him.

"Poor Splinter," sighed Shaver, "I had no idea he felt so jealous about Bubba. We must do something to build up his ego. What can we do...any ideas, guys?"

The guys all sat quietly thinking of something they could do to make Splinter feel better. They were getting some good ideas but they must have one that Splinter would believe, without question, or the end results could actually make matters worse. After all, Splinter was a proud dog and he wouldn't take kindly to pity from all his friends.

"I've got it!" Screamed Shaver. "Guys, gather around, this is what we're going to do."

The boys all jumped off the stoop excitedly and immediately began to huddle like they do when they play football. Try as he might, Splinter couldn't hear the conversation the boys had going.

Hu-u-m, he wondered...what are they up to...and why haven't they included me in on it?

The boys casually strolled back through the old screen door on Mrs. Hardy's house. Splinter was dragging along behind them still wondering what they were up to.

Though they had the look of the cat who swallowed the canary, Splinter was just happy they seemed interested in him for a change. He began wagging his tail and jumping about when the lads began speaking.

"I would like to see Bubba one more time before I have to go home." Pedro muttered. "Does anyone want to go back to Mr. Mike's toy shop with me?"

Bobby and Shaver then joined in. "Yeah, we would like to see Bubba again...wouldn't you, Splinter?"

They can't be serious, he thought, but I guess I'll have to go if they want me to."

Splinter hung his head and dragged slowly behind the boys up to Mr. Mike's shop but this time something happened that Splinter wasn't expecting at all.

"Please Mr. Mike...may we see Bubba again?" The boys yelled as they ran through the toy shop to the bed the old man made for his new pup.

"He sure is a magnificent dog, Mr. Mike." Pedro said. "I hope he grows up to be as smart as Splinter...he is the smartest dog I have ever known."

"Yes," Mr. Mike said, "I would be a proud man if he grew up to be as smart as Splinter."

"He's not very big now, Mr. Mike." Bobby said. "I don't think he will get as big and brave as Splinter. Splinter is a fine watchdog...better than any."

Bye now Mr. Mike had a pretty good idea what the boys were up to so he followed their lead.

"I have to admit lads, Splinter is probably the finest watchdog I've had the pleasure of knowing." Mr. Mike stated as he grinned and winked at the boys.

"He's a fine looking pup too, Mr. Mike." Said Shaver. "I don't think he will have the grace and poise of my dog though. Splinter is the one and only of his kind. Yes...yes I'm sure, Splinter is the better looking dog."

"Well now boys, you definitely have a point." Mr. Mike said. "I fear I will have to agree. Splinter is the better dog all around."

"Splinter, don't you want to come see Bubba again?" Shaver asked.

Splinter had been sitting in the corner of the shop listening to all this flattery floating around.

Now...Splinter is not a stupid dog. He knew something was up but he wasn't sure what. Slowly, he stood up and began making his way to Bubba's bed. As he neared he stretched his neck out to sniff Bubba. Then he took his wooden nose and nudged the pup over on it's side. When this happened the puppy began crying pitifully. He didn't know what happened to him. Splinter panicked.

Oh no...what did I do? He wondered.

Shaver started to say something but Mr. Mike shook his head as if to say, no...let Splinter work this out himself.

Bye now Splinter was crying too. After all, the pup's cries were worrisome. He crept again to Bubba's bed. This time, he began licking the pup in the face like it's mother used to...the pup quit crying.

"Well now, Splinter," Mr. Mike said, "it would appear if I ever need someone to sit with Bubba, I'd do well to call you."

The boys all started to giggle at Mr. Mike's statement and Splinter suddenly felt differently about helpless little Bubba.

Yeah...this little tyke will need a protector. It should be an older and more experienced dog like myself. I mean...it is the least I can do he thought.

Pedro and Bobby started running for the door yelling something about a foot race. Splinter took off so fast his toenails were clawing at Mr. Mike's old pine floor. Then all of a sudden, like he was shot from a slingshot, his feet finally gripped the floor and he took off. Then again, I don't need to tell you guys how much Splinter loves a good race...do I?

"Gee thanks, Mr. Mike, for helping us get Splinter back to his old self again. Sometimes he is a real pest but I sure love that old hound dog."

Mr. Mike burst out laughing...

"As well you should lad...as well you should!" He beamed.

"Hey guys, wait for me." Shaver yelled as he took off like a little wasp trying to catch up with the other boys.

As he made his way to the door Mr. Mike picked up the pup and watched the children running down the street. Gently, he started petting his pup.

"Well now my new friend, what do you think would make three lads and a dog run so fast?" Mr. Mike wondered.

He grinned, rubbed the pup against his face lovingly and said...

"They run as if they're being chased by something...could it be...the green-eyed monster?"

The end

~Webrings~

~Index~