| Harold looked out from under the house and saw Tommy making his way over towards their nest. Harold wondered what news he had to tell today. The 'Moglet', as Maree called him, squeezed his way under the house...He was quick to inform Harold and Hettie of the news..apparently Bryan and Maree were moving. The hedgehogs were devastated. Harold thought for a while. He asked Tommy if he knew when this was all to take place. Tommy told them it was to be in the next couple of weeks. They were moving to a farm, and that it was a long way away from here.. Later that night Harold told Hettie that he had a plan. Hettie was impressed. A week later they had a suprise visitor... Maree and Bryan had brought 'Great Uncle Hoover' down from the mountain. The mountain hedgehogs were a hardy lot, and Great Uncle was no exception. He was huge, and his prickles were a different colour from Harold and Hetties, more of a 'light brown' really. When he arrived he was feeling rather unwell. Apparently the trip down from the mountain had been one that he would rather not repeat. He spent the first night and the next day asleep in the spare room of their nest. As soon as Great Uncle awoke, he began telling tales of his adventures up on the mountain. Harold and Hettie were enthralled, and listened intently, for they knew it wouldn't be long before they would be off on an adventure of their own. They all enjoyed a wonderful banquet that night. Succulent slugs and worms were plentiful amongst the grass clippings. Great Uncle was most impressed. In the early hours of the morning Great Uncle Hoover 'suddenly' (as mountain hedgehogs do.) announced that he really must be on his way..as he had many 'hedgy' cousins to visit before dawn. He thanked them for their hospitality, and wished them both well for their own 'up and coming' adventure. Harold and Hettie waved him goodbye...and watched him scurry off into the darkness. Hettie wiped tears from her eyes. Harold snuggled in close for comfort and they soon began the planning their own big adventure. Tommy had popped in, and began telling them of what he knew about the big move. He had heard Maree on the phone...everything was to be packed into a big truck the day after tomorrow. He had seen packing boxes in the garage...and arranged to meet Harold and Hettie the following evening just outside the garage door in anticipation of helping them into a box for the long journey ahead. Tommy's whiskers tremored with excitement, he could hardly wait. |
 |
| HAROLD AND HETTIE CHAPTER TWO GREAT UNCLE HOOVER |
 |
 |
 |