Animal Fables II: Hedgehog
Once upon a time, there lived a hedgehog called Cedric.
Cedric was the world’s friendliest hedgehog. Whereas most of his prickly pals would impulsively shy away from contact with anyone but other hedgehogs, Cedric would run towards complete strangers with open arms (well, he would have had open arms if such a pose was possible for a hedgehog), his little nose twitching with pleasure at the thought of making a new acquaintance.
Cedric loved human beings in particular. They were his favourite.
Our lovable hedgehog was not at all shy. He was positively effusive when greeting people. He was a ‘touchy-feely’ kind of hedgehog. Which made it all the more difficult for him to understand why folks would shriek and cry out as he rolled himself around the palms of their hands when saying hello. He was only trying to get to know them, after all. What harm could there be in that?
One day, Cedric finally realised the truth. Needles hurt.
Alarmed, he visited the hedgehog doctor and asked for his healthy coat of needles to be removed. The doctor narrowed his eyes and stared over the rims of his spectacles, as he tried to dissuade his patient from following such a drastic course of action. Cedric, however, was one determined hedgehog, and he would not budge.
So, after a few months wrapped up in bandages while he recuperated in Mrs Tiggywinkle’s Hospital For Malingering Hedgehogs, Cedric proudly revealed his new needleless stuff to the world. Unfortunately, no one gave him a second glance, no matter how friendly he tried to be.
“A hedgehog isn’t a hedgehog if it doesn’t have any needles!” people would say, while attempting to stifle their laughter. “What a silly hedgehog you are!”
Confused, Cedric visited the oldest hedgehog in the village, in the hope that he would offer some wise counsel.
The great, grand hedgehog nodded sagely. This wasn’t the first needleless hedgehog he’d seen, and it wouldn’t be the last.
“Oh Cedric. Cedric, Cedric, Cedric! It wasn’t the needles that were the problem, it’s just what you did with them. You have to be careful with needles. They’re very sharp.”
And with those words echoing around his small hedgehog head, Cedric departed, wearing a pin cushion on his back. It wasn’t the same but it would just have to do.
The End.