The Hedgehog Who Collected Goodnights

A small hedgehog gathers gentle goodnights from the forest and shares them with a tired friend.

Under the soft blue evening, Hilda the hedgehog walked through the forest with a tiny basket. She was not collecting berries or leaves. She was collecting goodnights.

The owl gave her a quiet hoot. The mouse gave her a whisker-twitch. The pine trees gave her a sleepy whisper.

At the old oak, Hilda found a little badger sitting awake.

"I cannot sleep," said the badger.

Hilda opened her basket and let all the goodnights float out, one by one. They settled around the badger like warm socks.

Soon his eyes grew heavy.

"Thank you," he murmured.

Hilda smiled and tucked the last goodnight under his paw. Then she went home under the stars, carrying an empty basket and a very full heart.