Festus wandered across the street looking at the hand full of mail for Doc, rather than where he was going. One man on a horse had to stop to allow him to continue on his way. The man just shook his head and spurred the horse forward again.

Festus reached the board-walk in front of the General Store when a rickety old wagon loaded down with just about everything one could think of was pulled in by a mule with a sunflower stuck in it bridle over his ear. A blue and white polka dotted kerchief tied around its neck. The driver was a rotund older woman wearing a match dress and a straw hat that sat over her unruly grey hair. She halted the wagon at the store right where Festus stood. He mouth fell open. "Aunt Hootie Haggen?"

The woman let out a jolly laugh. "Well if it isn't nephew Festus! Some folks said you moved to Dodge. Guess they was right!" She clambered down off the seat.

By now Doc was standing next to Festus who still stood with his mouth hanging open. "Good Heavens. Another Haggen in Dodge." Doc said just loud enough for Festus to hear. Festus snapped to attention. "Jist fer that you ain't getting yer mail, you ole goat!"

Hootie was stood in front of Festus. "Now you mind your tongue." she scolded him.

Doc chuckled. "Hey, I like you! Anyone that can shut him up like that..." Doc extended his hand to Aunt Hootie. "Welcome to Dodge." He tipped his hat.

Festus huffed. "Aunt Hootie. This here...ole..." an insult sat in his mouth and both Doc and Hootie waited for it but it never came out, "is Doc Adams...he does the doctoring here in Dodge."

Hootie laughed again. "Well of course he would do the doctoring if he's the doctor!"

Festus continued. "Doc. This here is Aunt Hootie. Remember Hard Luck Henry Haggen? Wall this here is his Ma.." At that Festus swallowed and scrunched his left eye up at Hootie, "Hard Luck Henry ain't come here is he?"

"Oh, that poor son of mine. Cain't do nothin' right. Sware he was born with two left feet cause everything he touches gets all balled up..." Hootie explained to Doc.

Doc nodded having witnessed the carnage left behind after Henry's last visit to town.

"No Festus, he ain't comin'." Hootie finished.

Festus sighed with relief. "Here's yer mail Doc." He handed the stack over to his friend. "Jist what brings ya to Dodge anyhow?" Festus tucked his thumbs into his vest pocket.

Hootie looked back at her wagon. "Gettin' supplies. I decided to move from the old shackhouse to another one. One that your other Uncle Hogg Haggen had. He's dead now ya know..."

Festus nodded. "We always told him not ta be feeding them bears..."

Doc's eyebrows just about reached his hairline. "Good Heavens! Your uncle was killed by bears?"

Hootie shook her head no. "Not really by bears like yer thinkin'...one night they managed to get into the cabin and one took a real shine to the bed. Sadly that is also where poor old Hogg was asleepin'."

Festus continued. "Squashed him like a bug."