It was a warm summer's day, with a gentle breeze. Bunny was hopping along the garden path when suddenly he bumped into something prickly.
Oh, and who are you?
I'm the Hedgehog Without Buttons.
It turned out to be a hedgehog. He had accidentally pricked Bunny.
Why are you being so prickly? You seem such a sweet little thing! asked Bunny.
My spines are growing, replied Hedgehog.
But other hedgehogs don't prick people for no reason!
That's because other hedgehogs wear little jumpers with buttons. I don't have any buttons, so my jumper blows away in the wind, and then I become prickly.
Why didn't you say so? exclaimed Bunny. Come round to my house! We'll think of something!
Thank you, Bunny! beamed Hedgehog. What's your name?
Everyone just calls me Bunny. And you?
I'm the Hedgehog Without Buttons.
Would it be all right if I just called you Hedgehog? asked Bunny.
Of course it would! exclaimed Hedgehog.
And off they went to Bunny's house for tea.
What sort of buttons do you need? asked Bunny.
All hedgehogs have jumpers. But we only wear them when we go out, so we don't prick anyone. These jumpers have buttons on them. But I haven't got a single button, sighed Hedgehog.
Don't be sad! We'll sort it out right away!
But how?
I'll sew buttons onto your jumper. I'll just nip out and fetch some!
Bunny rummaged through the cupboard, found some buttons, and sewed them onto Hedgehog's jumper with a needle and thread.
There you go, he said. Now this jumper has a whole nine buttons!
Thank you so much, Bunny! Every hedgehog has seven or eight buttons, but I have a whole nine! cried Hedgehog, delighted.
And so the Hedgehog Without Buttons became simply Hedgehog. Little Bunny showed kindness and helped his new friend, even though he was prickly.
