A Voice in the Pipe

I waddled off the sunny sidewalk into the neighborhood community garden. Tucked along the brick flowerbed lay a wide, hollow terracotta drainage pipe. I leaned my round face toward the shadowed opening and let out a soft, questioning "Hoo?" The pipe instantly answered with a deep, gentle "Hoo-oo!" that made the cool clay hum against my fur. Mmm! I paused, then puffed out a cheerful "Bup!" A crisp little bounce echoed right back from the darkness, wobbling through the red dirt. I leaned in closer, blinking into the curved tunnel as my own voice buzzed around my ears.