Kickass hosts Ava

Kickass, the doorstop dog, assists the keeper and Phyllis in hosting Ava, a laid-back and laid-down beagle owned by Todd, Phyllis’s son who is off to a card-collector show.

Ava’s mission in life is to pack as much sleep into a day as possible, preferably on the soft surfaces of beds and couches, an admirable goal in the keeper’s view, and one he aspires to.

As one bred to chase rabbits, Ava has allowed herself to get out of shape and could not even catch the slow-moving Easter Bunny. This too is something the keeper identifies with as his previous activities are inhibited by his expanding girth.

Kickass himself experiences some uneasiness, as it is possible that Ava is angling for his doorstop job. But then she waddles over to her food dish and has lunch, which disqualifies her as a faithful doorstop.

By the same reasoning the keeper “waddles” into the kitchen and fries up his hearty “farmer” breakfast, ignoring the verity that if anyone in his household is to be in shape to catch the Easter Bunny it will have to be Phyllis.