The Abbreviated Adventures of Mogey & Smush Volume 533

Curious lads that they were, Mogey and Smush thought a long time about the nickname that had been bestowed on a particular one of their schoolmates. Many theories as to the origins of the name had been proposed, but every one was discredited in turn. Finally, Mogey and Smush saw no other choice but to ask the classmate himself.

"So why is it they call you Muleboy?" Smush queried when they encountered him in the cafeteria.

"Why do you think?" Muleboy returned, setting down his tray and crossing his arms.

"Is it because of your enormous nostrils?" Mogey ventured.

"No," Muleboy answered, flaring his nostrils angrily.

"Your habit of eating out of a feedbag?" Smush suggested.

"No," Muleboy said. "And those aren't feedbags, they're potato chip packages. I like the crispy crumblies at the bottom."

"Is it your long snout, er, I mean, nose?" Mogey asked.

"Not likely."

"Your hairy face? Your big front teeth? Your affinity for hay?" Smush said.

"No, no, and no," Muleboy replied. "It's because of my incredibly strong legs!"

With that, Muleboy spun around, went down on all fours, and kicked at Mogey and Smush, just like a mule. Each of our heroes caught a foot square in the chest, sending them flying backwards so fast that Smush didn't eat anything but fudgsicles for a week, and Mogey coughed up a live gopher he'd apparently forgotten to chew thoroughly enough.