The hedgehog lived at the bottom of a beautiful tree. It was beautiful because the squirrel who lived in the branches was attentive and regularly pruned the branches and harvested the nuts. He was a good gardener. Mr Hedgehog often saw the squirrel scampering along the branches, and the branches of neighbouring trees, but he looked forward to Sunday afternoons when he'd settle down with the squirrel for a good old gossip about what was happening in the wood and what their neighbours were up to. The squirrel lived high up in the branches of the tree in a penthouse apartment.
Then, one night, Mr Hedgehog saw his friend chatting to a man sitting in a sleigh in the clearing in the wood and, oddly, he found a great big raspberry outside his door the next morning. He saved it for dinner on what he understood to be that special day. The squirrel didn't mention his new friend, the man in the sleigh, and the hedgehog was too polite to raise the subject. But he did comment on the lovely new scarf in all the colours of autumn and winter the squirrel sported.
So the year continued, turning brighter and warmer and the hedgehog busied himself tidying up underneath the tree, keeping it all spick and span. He met Mrs Hedgehog and babies started appearing, more hungry mouths to feed but Mr Hedgehog enjoyed his work and still spent time chatting to his squirrel friend who brought him succulent berries from the nearby bushes. And it got darker and colder and the first frosts appeared and then the snow.
After telling his babies a bedtime story on that special night the hedgehog looked out of his door and there was the old man again, chatting to his friend and eating some nuts. He saw the squirrel scamper up onto the sleigh and start rummaging through piles of boxes and be-ribboned goodies and start to deliver them to the smallest homes. Gosh, thought the hedgehog, and closed his door and went to his warm bed for a good sleep. He woke up the following morning to a feeling of great joy and, looking outside, saw a big, succulent raspberry wrapped in a deep red ribbon and a basket of fruits for his family. The family had the best breakfast ever that morning.
A couple of days later the friends met for a gossip and the hedgehog asked his friend if he'd delivered the fruit to his door. The squirrel shyly said 'yes' and the hedgehog hugged him in thanks. The squirrel explained that he liked helping the old man deliver his gifts on that special night and he was good at finding the littlest of doors. He blushed.
The seasons passed and winter arrived again. The hedgehog and squirrel both started wearing their mufflers and then, one day, the squirrel wore his special scarf in all the colours of autumn and winter and the hedgehog knew that this was the special night. He ushered his children into their beds and sat with a warm mug of tea in front of their fire. Then went to bed, waking in the morning to find a raspberry in a red ribbon and a hamper full of fruit.
And so it went on, season after season, and the hedgehog's children grew up and started their own homes and their own families and the old hedgehog's spines became grey-tinged and he wore his muffler earlier and earlier to keep warm. But still he bustled through the leaves at the bottom of his tree to find the stray nuts that had landed to put into his larder. He enjoyed his cups of tea with his squirrel friend and then, one day, he was wearing his special scarf and his tail matched the colours in his scarf. Later that night he saw his friend sitting in the old man's sleigh and the old man brushed his tail back into it's old red colour. The hedgehog sat back down in surprise. 'Gosh!' he said as he watched his friend flying off in the sleigh.
The next morning he found the usual raspberry in a red ribbon and basket of fruit outside his door but when he called up to his friend there was no reply. He called up again the next day and still there was no reply. What could've happened, thought the hedgehog, he hasn't come back yet. Another day went by and he trundled over to the next tree he knew a squirrel lived in and asked him to pay a visit to his friend in case he was ill. The neighbourly squirrel soon scampered down to the first floor and said the apartment was empty and hadn't been lived in for a few days.' O dear' said the hedgehog, and shook his head sadly, and told the squirrel about what he had seen on the special night. He told the tale to everyone he met.
The seasons flew by and with only a few blinks it was that special night again The hedgehog knew it was because of the twinkling stars and the far off echoes of whale song. He made himself a strong cup of tea and pitched his chair outside his door, sitting on a cushion and rug pulled over his knees, muffler tight around his neck. He waited.
He heard the faint jingling sound just as he was nodding off and as it got louder he perked up. Then the sleigh appeared with the old man and suddenly he saw his friend, the squirrel scampering about, sorting out boxes and ribbons. The hedgehog smiled. The squirrel scampered around the homes of the folks of the wood leaving presents and then he came up the hedgehog's door with a basket full of fruit and a raspberry tied with a red ribbon. The hedgehog had a tear in his eye as he said, 'Hello old friend' and hugged the squirrel
'Where have you been?' asked Mr Hedgehog and the squirrel replied, 'Everywhere! I have seen such wonders, huge forests and so many impossibly colourful flowers, some bigger than me...' and he shook his head at the memories of his travels. The squirrel looked very red and strong, a squirrel in his prime and his tail twitched from side to side. Mr Hedgehog smiled and shook his head in amazement, his nose twitching as a tear of happiness started welling in his eyes. 'I must go, old friend' said the squirrel, 'this is the busiest night of the year and I have important jobs to do. Take care and pass on my best to Mrs Hedgehog. Until next year.' And with that the squirrel hugged his friend and scampered back to the sleigh. With a roar of merriment from the man, the sleigh climbed up into the sky and headed west with a sprinkling of stardust as the stars twinkled.
The hedgehog picked up the gifts the squirrel had left and went back inside to sit by the fire. He was happy for his kindly friend and remembered his fondness for flowers and the care he took with the blossom in spring. Mr Hedgehog decided that tomorrow, after breakfast, he'd visit his grandchildren and tell everyone he met about their old friend, the squirrel, and he was still helping the man with his important work. Yes, he thought, I'll do just that, as he got under the blanket and nodded off.
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