In a faraway, faraway forest, at the edge of a clearing beneath an old maple tree, there lived a hedgehog. Every morning he crawled out of his burrow and set off to get things done.
And he had a great many chores: saying good morning to the sun, to the maple, and to his animal neighbors, doing his morning exercises, washing up, tidying the area around his home, and stocking up on food. And he still made time to dream. For this important task he always found time.
One day, when the hedgehog was sitting on his little wooden bench, as usual, dreaming, the old maple rustled its leaves at him:
Hedgehog, can you tell me, your friend, what you are dreaming about? Or is it a secret?
There's no secret. It's just that nobody can help me.
But why not? You have so many friends!
I have plenty of friends, but I have no wings,
sighed the hedgehog sadly.Why would a little gray hedgehog need wings? You're not a bird,
said the maple in surprise.That's exactly the point: I'm not a bird, and I have no wings. That means I can never fly south. I'll always have to sleep through the winter in my burrow! And I don't want that. I dream of seeing the sea, warming myself on the sand under the sunshine, and eating sweet fruit.
But what about us? We'd be sad without you.
But I haven't gone anywhere yet.
The sun overheard the conversation between the two friends. It was already getting ready to go to sleep, but it lingered in the sky.
And what about the dream?
it asked.Yes, what about your dream? We have to think of something,
the maple rustled thoughtfully. Just then, its largest leaf drifted down and landed right in front of the hedgehog.This is a magic leaf that will carry you wherever you wish,
the maple went on.Hop on quickly and fly toward your dream.
The sun was so happy that it danced across the clearing in little sunbeams:
I'll ask the wind to lift you above the clouds. Just hold on tight, and most importantly, hedgehog, you must come back to us in spring. Do you hear me? Be sure to come back!
The sun warmed the hedgehog's prickles with a gentle glow, and the maple rustled:
Have a happy journey!
And the hedgehog flew: first over his burrow, then over the maple, then over the clearing, and then he was gone...
But, looking a little ahead, I can tell you that the hedgehog's dream came true. Afterward he returned home and still found time to dream, because now he has a new dream. But what it is, he hasn't told us yet.
