Mary was at her wonderful dacha. She was in love with summer, her bicycle and a green house she built in the bushes. She used to hide from her granny in this green property of hers when she wanted to play hide and seek. But that day she was really scared when she entered her green kingdom and saw a big hedgehog, staring at her. The animal looked sad. Mary wanted to run away but suddenly the hedgehog started speaking:
-Hi, Mary. Don’t be afraid of me. I won’t hurt you, - said the hedgehog.
-You know my name? - Mary was surprised.
-I have been living here with my little children for some time, I heard your granny calling you that name when she wanted you to have lunch, - said the hedgehog sadly.
-What is your name, hedgehog, and why are you so sad?
-My name is Bob and I am sad because my poor little kids are hungry. I haven’t been able to find anything for their supper today, - said Bob and burst into tears.
Mary felt sorry for Bob and his children and wanted to help out.
- Don’t cry Bob, I think I can help you and your children. My granny has got some milk and apples in the fridge and I can easily bring the food here. Just stay here and wait for me. I will be back in no time.
- Oh, thank you, kind Mary.
Mary brought the food from the fridge and Bob, the hedgehog, showed her a place in the bushes where he lived with his kids. The small creatures were so cute and awkward that Mary fell in love with them the moment she saw them. She learned a sad story about their mother’s disappearance in the forest. Bob was not able to find his wife in the woods. Bob was an only parent. They fed the kids and waned to have some fun, so Mary found some Tick-Talk videos in her smartphone and they danced together with Bob. The little hedgehogs looked happy after the meal and danced with pleasure with Mary and Bob, the hedgehog.
In the evening Mary realized that it was time to go home as her granny might start worrying about her whereabouts. She said good bye to hedgehogs and headed towards the entrance of her granny’s house. When she was approaching the house, she suddenly heard a strange hissing sound! Something was crawling in the darkness and she got really frightened. The sound intensified and suddenly she saw a big yellow snake staring at her and ready for attack. The snake’s eyes were big and angry. Mary thought that she must have stepped on her accidentally. Mary wanted to run but she couldn’t. she closed her eyes and started praying. When she opened her eyes, she saw Bob, the hedgehog, who was doing something with the snake and the snake seemed to be shaking.
- Don’t be afraid, Mary, - said Bob, it will never frighten you again.
- What did you do with her? - asked Mary.
The snake suddenly started crawling away from Bob very fast.
- I know this coward snake. It only attacks those, who are afraid of her. Don’t be afraid, Mary. It will never touch you. She knows me well and she doesn’t want to become a meal for me and my children. You know, we, hedgehogs, eat snakes.
- Thank you, Bob. You have saved my life. We will be friends forever.