Once upon a time, in a very faraway forest, a hedgehog lived beneath an old oak at the edge of a clearing. Every morning he crawled out of his burrow and set off about his business.
He had a great deal to do: say good morning to the Sun, to the oak and to his animal neighbours, do his morning exercises, wash, tidy the ground around his home and gather food. And he always found time to dream, because that was the most important task of all.
One day, while the hedgehog was sitting on his little bench, dreaming as usual, the old oak rustled its leaves at him:
Hedgehog, can you tell me, your friend, what you dream of? Or is it a secret?
There's no secret at all. It's just that nobody can help me.
But why not? You have so many friends!
I have plenty of friends, but no wings," replied the hedgehog sadly.
Why would a little grey hedgehog need wings? You're not a bird," said the oak in surprise.
That's exactly the problem: I'm not a bird, and I have no wings. So I can never fly south. I'll always have to sleep through the winter in my burrow! But I don't want that. I dream of seeing the sea, of sunbathing on the sand in the warm rays of the Sun, and of eating sweet fruit.
But what about us? We'll be sad without you.
But I haven't gone anywhere yet.
The two friends' conversation was overheard by the Sun. It was about to go to sleep, but it lingered in the sky.
And what about the dream?" it asked.
Yes, what about your dream? We must think of something," the oak rustled thoughtfully. Then, from its highest branch, the biggest leaf drifted down to rest in front of the hedgehog.
This is an airborne leaf. It will carry you wherever you wish," the oak went on. "Hop on quickly and fly towards your dream.
Overjoyed, the Sun danced across the clearing in little sunbeams:
I'll ask the wind, and it will lift you above the clouds. Just hold on tight, and above all, hedgehog, make sure you come back to us in spring.
The Sun warmed the hedgehog's prickles with a gentle touch, and the oak rustled:
Safe travels!
And off the hedgehog flew: first over his burrow, then over the oak, then over the clearing, and that was the last anyone saw of him…
But, looking a little ahead, I can tell you that the hedgehog's dream came true. Afterwards he returned home and still found time to dream, because his dream is a new one now. But what it is, he hasn't told us yet.
