My Prickly Friend

It happened last summer. I often in the evening played soccer with the neighborhood boys. In our village there is a football field. But sometimes play is not possible. The older boys came early and we, the youngest, had to wait. And it so happened that the senior chased the younger. But those and others were jealous of my leather soccer ball. Gave it to me dad.

That night my friends and I went to the football field. But there were already older kids. Instead of a ball they kicked a hedgehog! The poor animal curled up and released the needle, but it did not save him. Sneakers sole is thick and the players painless "played" hedgehog. I felt very sorry for the animal! It's so small and defenseless. I was afraid the elders, but then forgot about it. I demanded that they ceased to mock hedgehog. And instead offered to give them his favorite ball. They gladly agreed.

I took off my shirt, gently with the toe of the Shoe pushed back the hedgehog took the shirt with two hands and brought a hedgehog home.

I waited a long time, the hedgehog will unfold. But he remained in the form of a ball. Then I brought a bowl of milk and hid. A few minutes passed and it seemed muzzle of a hedgehog. He snorted and shoved his nose in a bowl of milk. But I came closer as he again curled. I decided not to disturb him, let him get used to it.

Every night I put in the same place a bowl of milk. In the morning it was always empty. A few days passed and one day I saw a hedgehog came out from under the wooden steps of the house. There he began to live. I called urchin Tim. He ceased to be afraid of me and even began to drink milk with me. Of course, when I'm a few steps away from him. Sorry Pat it does not work. But snorting I was very amused.

Mom often asks if I forgot to put a bowl of milk for her prickly friend.