Wild Bill

Wild Bill was the neighborhood pet. Everybody thought they'd tamed him and he was their exclusive pet. Come to find out, Wild Bill made his rounds, beginning with Don H, who hated WB and sent him scurrying away, fearful that Bill was going to steal fruit from his trees.

Bill would scramble over the fence and run next door to Charlie's, where the patio door was open just wide enough for Bill. He'd ease in the door and eat peanuts that lay on the toe of Charlie's work boot, while Charlie chuckled in that deep voice.

He'd come next door to us and get whatever he could. If nobody left out treats, he'd hit the back screen with all four paws, peering inside. He'd check next door at Flip's, then head up the streeet to Scott's.

We finally compared notes and caught on to his scam. I think it was actually Charlie who did the real taming, enticing him closer and closer until he ventured in through the patio door where that peanut lay waiting.