Not time yet!

[KeithS]

The following was written following a call for help from a neighbour.

"I'M NOT READY TO WAKE UP YET!"
The tiny ball of prickles seemed to say to us.
Disturbed from his winter slumbers by a gardener armed with a rake.
Phone calls to Mum, the RSPCA and finally a trip to Kate and Keith as
"They will know what to do".

Like the gallant knight on his trusty steed
Armed only with a pair of gardening gloves
Leaving the lance and charger at home,
We rallied to the rescue.

The hedgepig had returned to sleep,
(Not) tightly curled up and on top of the autumnal debris.
Nestling in the palms of the gloves
He snorted, sighed and curled up tighter.
While being placed out of sight and covered again with the same rotting leaves
He continued to breathe softly,
As if saying "I'll wake up when I am ready, thank you".

Hopefully he settled down again and was sufficiently covered with leaves as we had a heavy frost later that night.