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In the furthest corner of City Park, just beyond the old sheds is the home of Brandon family. They are not the usual run of the mill family as they are hedgehogs. The whole family live in an old fox’s burrow and they each have their own personal space carefully dug into the soft, London clay. Jimmy lives with two older brothers Bruce and Max and his two older sisters Jane and Betty. His mum and dad treat him as their baby as he is the youngest. But don’t let this fool you; Jimmy is brave, courageous and strong. Hedgehogs are nocturnal creatures as they only really appear at night. During the time of darkness they go about their business, hunting for food, doing various jobs like we humans do in the daytime. They even have Hedgehog Night time TV, just like our daytime television! One evening, just after sunset, Jimmy walked into the kitchen holding his Piggy Bank. His mum looked up from her newspaper and asked him, "What are you doing with your Piggy Bank, Jimmy?" "I think that I have saved enough money for my scooter. Last time I counted I had £9.50 and with my 50p wages for my newspaper round this week I now have enough!" he replied offering a broad, hedgehog grin. His sharp adult teeth were beginning to appear behind his dark, rubbery mouth. "Are you sure that you want to spend all of your hard earned money on a scooter?" she asked. "Yes! It will help me to do my newspaper round in half the time. Mrs Wainscot said that he would give me a bonus if I could deliver even more newspapers next week!" "Oh, I see. You have made up your mind then." His mother started to read her newspaper again and continued to sip her glass of warm milk. Bruce, his eldest brother walked into the kitchen. He was a lazy, good for nothing kind of slob. He never washed; he just ate, slept and watched TV all night long. Jimmy was fond of him but hardly considered him a suitable role model. "What yer doin’ stinky?" asked Bruce as he helped himself to the contents of the fridge. "I’m going out to buy my scooter. Look, I have saved up enough money now and it only took me six months." Jimmy waved two, crisp five pound notes in the air. Bruce sat down to scoff a bowl of cereal. As he ate Bruce watched Jimmy and the two five pound notes with some interest. Jimmy started to read a brochure showing the full range of Hedgehog Scooters and ignored his brother. When Bruce had finished his breakfast he wiped his snout with the tablecloth and started a new conversation with Jimmy. "Now, my youngest brother. Are you telling me that you plan to go out tonight carrying your hard earned money on your own?" "Yes?" replied Jimmy in all innocence. "If I may be so bold to suggest you are too small to be able to defend yourself if someone tried to mug you. You wouldn’t stand a chance, just look at you!" Jimmy looked at himself in the mirror. Yes he was tiny but he had attitude. He would take on anyone to protect his savings. He had one thought on his mind and that was his new, orange scooter. Jimmy continued, "What are you saying? Am I a wimp or something?" Jimmy stared at his brother with ever narrowing eyes. "No, no, little chap. I think that it would be much safer if I got your scooter for you," replied Bruce as he picked some cereal from his teeth. "Look, give me the £10 and I will return within the hour with your scooter, OK?" Jimmy thought about it for a few seconds and realised that his brother’s suggestion made sense. It would be horrible if something happened to him and his money was stolen. Jimmy slid the two £5 notes over the tabletop and Bruce swept them up and stood in one swift movement. Before Jimmy could say anything else Bruce left the kitchen shutting the door heavily behind him. To read the rest of this story send me an email... 2nd March 2003.
Ó 2003 Steven Longman-Marshall – all rights reserved.
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