When Billy was ten years old he lived on a farm in the Ozark Mountains of northeastern Oklahoma. He wanted two good coonhounds very badly, he called it "puppy love", but his papa could not afford to buy him the dogs. For many months, Billy tries to content himself with some rodent traps his papa gives him, but he still wants a dog. Then one day he finds a sportsman's catalog in an abandoned campsite. In it he sees an ad for good hounds, at $25 each. He decides he wants to save $50 and order himself two hounds. Billy works hard, selling fruit and bait to fishermen, and gathering fruit that he sells to his grandfather at his store.

Finally, he saves enough money and gives it to his grandfather to order the dogs for him and asks him to keep it s secret. When a notice comes that they have arrived at the mail depot in the nearby town of Tahlequah, they decide to go into town the next week. That night Billy decides he can not wait any longer. He packs himself a little fo

One day while Billy was at his grandfather's store the Pritchard boys came up. Ruben and Rainie Pritchard are the meanest boys in the area. They tell Billy that his hounds are not tough and that his grandfather is crooked. Billy's mother always tells him not to mind the boys because they are abused and can not help being mean. This time though it was different because they insulted his dogs and his grandfather. They dare Billy to a bet; he is apprehensive but has to accept. Billy has to meet the boys at their land and try to catch the legendary "ghost coon".

Once Billy was home he wanted to start training his dogs. He needed a raccoon hide and went to his grandfather for help. His grandfather shows him how to make a trap that will lure a coon, and after many tries he finally catches one. His father helps him kill it after he caught it.

Billy was nervous about going home. He was afraid his parents would be worried and angry with him for leaving unexpectedly. They were not mad though they were actually proud. His grandfather had told them everything and they understood.

Billy goes hunting almost every night and his dogs get smarter and smarter. His grandfather tells him that coonskin prices are up because there is a fad for coonskin coats in the New England states. Billy starts hunting even more and then sells the skins to his grandfather's store and gives the money to his papa who is doing Billy's chores for him while he hunts.

Billy's grandfather sent for Billy one day and told him that he had been keeping up with how many skins he had turned in to the store. He told him that he had qualified to be in a coon hunting championship. Billy, his grandfather, and father take a buggy to the contest. When they arrive they see the campsite filled with tents, each containing adult coon hunters with expensive gear and beautiful hounds. Somehow though Little Ann won the beauty contest held on the first day of competition. The other coon hunters were kind and congratulated Billy.

Some common words found in the essay are:
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Approximate Word count = 1892
Approximate Pages = 8 (250 words per page double spaced)