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Ike LaRue has been sent to obedience
school, and he isn't happy about it. Even though the Brotweiler
Academy is very cozy — in fact, a luxury resort for dogs
— he is determined to get back home. So he writes letters
to his owner, Mrs. LaRue, in which he complains about the
awful conditions at school, and about how cruelly he is being
treated. Of course he hopes she'll feel sorry for him, and
maybe a bit ashamed of herself for having sent him to such
a terrible place. Showing the difference between these two
versions of reality was a lot of fun, and the main source
of humor in the book. To do so, I used a "split screen" technique.
The "real" scene is depicted in vivid color, while Ike's imagined
hardship is in black and white. That way the two versions
are always sharply contrasted, with Ike's version always grim
and sometimes even a little spooky. In the cafeteria scene
he imagines himself pleading for "seconds" of some awful gruel.
The mean-looking cook is contrasted with the friendly waiter
in the "real" scene, while the harsh sign on the wall contrasts
with the menu of tasty dog treats. The book titled 50 Great
Escapes gives a clear idea of what Ike is planning if all
else fails.
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