I entered into a shop in Bayfield and thought it would be like all other shops of its ilk. But as I wandered through the place, admiring its wares, I heard a strange, high-pitched voice saying, “Psst! Over here!”
Puzzled, I looked around but didn’t see anyone, so I kept going.
“PSSST! Wrong way! You’re getting colder! Turn around!” I turned toward the sound of the voice, which appeared to be coming from a rack of beautiful cards made by quilling. Curiouser and curiouser!
A tiny movement caught my eye…and then I saw it (him? her?) – the hedgehog on a card was clearly gesturing to me with its tiny paws. I came closer to hear it better.
“If you don’t buy me for Teresa’s birthday, I will have been brought into this world in vain,” it said. And having delivered its message, it went back to being a card.
Strong words! Compelling words! What else could I do?
As it happened, I already had something for the aforementioned Teresa’s birthday, found many months ago in another shop of vintage items and remnants from estate sales. Teresa and I were there together ambling through the delightful collection of oddments, when she held something up and said, “Look at this! It’s adorable!” And it was: a figurine of a girl on a bench wearing a yellow raincoat, yellow boots, and sitting beside a little hedgehog. Although the item showed its years with small spots and minor discolorations, this did not detract from its charm one whit. Teresa put it somewhat reluctantly back on the shelf and as soon as we parted for our respective cities, I circled back around and raced into the shop hoping she hadn’t had the same idea. She hadn’t.
And now these two hedgehogs have been brought together. I expect the little yellow-raincoat girl is just as happy to have two of them to keep her company – and when they meet Teresa’s other hedgehog named Percival, there will be all sorts of rejoicing.
Happy (pre) birthday, dear friend!
A friend loves at all times…
Proverbs 17:17
This post may have exceeded the limit of hedgehog mentions and if so, will summarily be deleted in the morning.
Lynniebeemuseoday 