A Tale of Friendship and Bravery

Unlikely Friends

Hedgehog and Rabbit were walking their children to school one morning, taking care to keep away from each other. Rabbit was overheard telling his children to “keep away from the Hedgehogs. They are NOT our kind of animals.”. Hedgehog overheard that remark and told his children the same thing. All the children were confused, because they sat together in school, and didn’t see any reason not to be friends.

One day on the way home from school, a young Rabbit decided to investigate a new bramble patch, and was cornered by a snake. The snake said “Yummm. You look like DINNER to me”, and was about to strike when a young Hedgehog jumped in front of the rabbit and said “Leave my friend alone, snake. Eat me if you think you can swallow a pincushion!” The snake decided that these young animals were going to be real trouble, and left them alone.

Later, after hearing the story from his daughter, Rabbit knocked on Hedgehog’s door. When Hedgehog saw who was knocking, he slammed the door open and angrily asked “What do YOU want, Rabbit? We have nothing for you here” and was about slam the door shut when his daughter asked Rabbit how his daughter was. “What do you mean?” asked her father. “I helped my friend escape from a snake today on the way home from school, and I just wanted to know how she is doing.”

Hedgehog asked Rabbit to come inside for a minute and both fathers listened to the story with amazement. After young Hedgehog finished her tale, Rabbit looked at Hedgehog and said “I came to thank your daughter for saving mine. I guess even though we are different, we have much in common and much to be thankful for. Do you think we could be friends too?”

Hedgehog agreed that they should get to know each other better, and invited all of Rabbit's family for Sunday Dinner. A good time was had by all, and they all saw that their differences were reasons for joy and wonder, not hatred. Many years later, as they shared Sunday dinner, Hedgehog’s and Rabbit’s great grandchildren were still talking about the day a Hedgehog saved a rabbit from a snake.

Image: http://www.acuteaday.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/hedgehog-with-rabbit-sticking-tongue-out.jpg