The little hedgehog squeezed his eyes shut under his mossy blanket. By the oak tree classroom door, he watched a classmate toss a giant bouncy acorn-ball overhead. If he joined in, his sharp prickles might accidentally pop it. "Don't touch the toys," he whispered to himself, staying perfectly still.
The teacher clapped her wings out loud to announce art time. Everyone brought out bright, freshly picked maple leaves and sweet, wet berry paint. The little hedgehog crept to the edge of the table, but quickly tucked his paws away so he wouldn't scratch anyone's smooth canvas.
A classmate held out a green paintbrush. "Can you help me hold this big crinkly oak leaf flat?" he asked politely. The little hedgehog backed up until his heels hit the wooden floorboards. "No, I'm too pointy!" he shouted, watching his classmate drop the brush and go back to painting all alone.
Whoosh! A loud gust of spring wind swept right through the open classroom window. Brightly painted leaves lifted clear off the wooden tables and danced into the air. The colourful, wet artwork swirled up toward the ceiling like a flock of panicked butterflies.
Leaving his hiding spot by the door, the little hedgehog leaped onto the highest stool. He dove right into the very middle of the whirlwind of flying art. Thwack, thwack, thwack! The painted leaves landed completely safely, getting stuck perfectly on his sharp prickles instead of blowing out the door.
The entire class cheered loudly, carefully plucking their saved paintings off his spikes one by one. The little hedgehog stood tall and gave his classmate a ringing high-five. "Want to paint a leaf together?" he asked, grinning from ear to ear.