Once upon a time, a long, long time ago, a wee, very wee, Hedgehog was born.  This brand-new baby Hedgehog was called, Wee Hedgehog. 

Wee Hedgehog was called Wee Hedgehog because he was the tiniest of tiny newborn Hedgehogs, ever.   He was so tiny that even his mommy and daddy could scarcely find him, sometimes.  Even though he was tiny as a button, he also was healthy.  He was so healthy, in fact, that he rolled and twirled and curled himself up and wiggled and swiggled all around Grammy’s Garden into which he had been born.  His mother often was frantic with worry.   His father worried, too.  They loved Wee Hedgehog so very, very much.  They wanted to cuddle him and feed him so that he could grow big and strong.  They thought, maybe he will be a Daddy Hedgehog, some day.

Mommy and Daddy Hedgehog did their best to take very good care of Wee Hedgehog.  When they were able to find him, they held him.  They cuddled him.  They fed him.  He ate and ate.  Sometimes, he burped a little (oops) and then ate and ate some more.  Each time he ate, he had to make up for all the meals he had missed.  His mommy encouraged him to burp.  She even patted his back ever so gently, saying, “It’s ok my son.   You must burp to make room for more food. I want you to grow big and strong.”  She even told him, “Maybe you will be a Daddy Hedgehog, some day.” 

 And so, it continued.  Wee Hedgehog would be missing in the garden, found, cuddled, fed, burped and missing again.  The days wore on with Mommy and Daddy Hedgehog scurrying and worrying while they searched for their son.  When they found him, they worried some more to ensure he ate enough to grow big and strong and maybe become a Daddy Hedgehog, some day.  It was a frenzy in Grammy’s Garden that Spring.

One day, Mommy and Daddy Hedgehog started to cry.  They cried and sobbed and sobbed and cried right in front of all the inhabitants of Grammy’s Garden.  For you see, Mommy and Daddy Hedgehog were frantic.  Their very wee, wee Hedgehog was missing, again.  

Sunflower, Spider, Beet Top, and Tomato Plant were broken hearted for the Hedgehog family.  Together they said to Mommy and Daddy Hedgehog, “Dear, dear friends.   We are all in this together.  We see you so worried about your wee, wee baby Hedgehog.  How can we help?   Please let us help.  If we work together, we can accomplish so many things.  Please let us help you.  We know we are plants and you are creatures but we all live and share Grammy ‘s Garden.  Please, we are here to help.  What can we do? “

Mommy and Daddy Hedgehog took a moment to talk together.  They were so relieved to have been noticed.  They were relieved to know they were not alone.  Even though they looked and lived differently than the plants with whom they shared Grammy’s garden, they lived together.  Even though they were different than the other inhabitants of Grammy’s Garden, they knew, together we live. 

Mommy and Daddy Hedgehog responded, “Our dear friends and fellow inhabitants of Grammy’s Garden.  We sure could use your help.  In fact, we need your help.   We are growing worry weary.  Could you please watch over our Wee Hedgehog and let us know to where he travels?  We can find him more quickly with your help.   He needs to be fed every three hours to grow big and strong and maybe to be a Daddy Hedgehog some day.  Please.   Will you help?” 

And so Sunflower, who had helped to raise Spider, and Spider, and Beet Top and Tomato Plant said, “We will be honoured.  We will set up an Alert Signalling System.  Here is how it will be.”

Sunflower, being the tallest in the garden, spoke first.  She said, “I will be the Signal Master. My Blossom can be seen from far and wide.  Once I receive the signal, I will bend my stalk placing my Blossom directly above Wee Hedgehog.”

 Beet Top, being closest to the ground, said, “I am closest to the ground.  I will scan Grammy’s garden for movement.  Once I detect wee Hedgehog, I will alert Tomato Plant.”

Tomato Plant agreed saying, “Count on me.  I have many vines that can point the way.  As soon as I receive a signal from Beet Top, I will point a vine in the direction of Wee Hedgehog.  Sunflower will watch and know where to place her blossom. “

Spider, who lives in Sunflower’s Blossom, volunteered saying, “Once Sunflower has placed her Blossom over top of Wee Hedgehog, I will spin a tendril of web.  I will come down from Sunflower’s Blossom and swing above Wee Hedgehog.  In this way, I can encourage Wee Hedgehog to wait and be still.  He will learn that when he sees me it is because his mommy and daddy are on their way to cuddle and to feed him.”

The plants in Grammy’s Garden asked Mommy and Daddy Hedgehog, “How does this plan sound to you?”

Mommy and Daddy Hedgehog breathed a sigh of relief.  They said, “You plants are the best.  We feel relieved already.  Thank you.  We knew we picked the Best Garden Ever in which to raise our son when we chose Grammy’s garden. This Alert Signalling System will be Perfect.  We know we are not alone.  We know that together we are strong.  Together we live.  Thank you.”

And so, it was with Gratitude and a Joyful Spirit that Mommy and Daddy Hedgehog continued to nurture their wee Hedgehog as he continued to wiggle and swiggle and turn and roll to his heart’s content, all the while growing bigger and stronger such that maybe, just maybe, he will be a strong, Daddy Hedgehog, some day.   

The End