A Man-Sized Pet

"A Man-Sized Pet" by W. C. Tuttle is a funny tale set in the wild, early 1900s around Sleeping Creek, where three buddies, Magpie Simpkins, Tellurium Woods, and Bantie Weyman, deal with friendship, fear, and surviving in the backwoods. The story bounces around the idea of pets, especially the guys' weird animal choices that always end in funny, surprising problems. The story kicks off in a cabin where the three are playing cards, and their different vibes cause some friction, with Bantie being shy compared to the more bragging types, Tellurium and Magpie. A dancing bear and a wolf bring even more craziness, making Bantie not want to hang out with a live animal show. Bantie ends up taking in a playful gray kitten, which leads to more funny mix-ups involving the other men and their big "man-sized" pets, and all these misunderstandings and animal pranks explode into a big, comical adventure. Underneath it all, the story shares messages about friendship, being brave, and the crazy good times of having friends in the wild.