The day Hedgehog almost blew away.
You're a little shorty,
Giggles Meerkat.
You're too tall,
Laughs Hedgehog.
You're so spiky,
Teases Meerkat.
You're so stripey,
Yells Hedgehog.
Meerkat and Hedgehog's teasing turns into a tickling match and then a tussle.
They fall into a giggling heap on the floor.
I don't care that you're so strange looking,
Laughs Hedgehog.
You're still my best friend.
You're my best friend too,
Says Meerkat as he sits up.
What do you want to do next?
Do you know how to fly a kite?
Asks Hedgehog.
As a matter of fact,
I do,
Answers Meerkat.
Then you have to teach me,
Hedgehog yells excitedly as he jumps up.
They fetch two kites from Meerkat's room and off they go up the hill so that Meerkat can show Hedgehog how it's done.
Stand with your nose into the wind.
Hold your kite up and let the line out slightly,
Meerkat instructs Hedgehog.
Then you run slowly while you loosen the line some more,
Allowing the wind to pick up your kite.
Okay,
I've got it,
Says Hedgehog.
Can we start flying now please?
You'll see,
Mine is going to fly higher than yours.
Meerkat and Hedgehog turn their noses to the wind,
Loosen their lines and start running down the hill.
Whoosh goes the wind through the grass,
Picking their kites up high in the air.
This is fun,
Meerkat thinks to himself.
I wonder how Hedgehog is doing and he turns around to look at his best friend.
But Hedgehog is not behind him.
Meerkat looks up.
Hedgehog is floating in the air.
Hedgehog,
Stop joking around and come down this instant,
Yells Meerkat.
I can't,
Hedgehog yells.
His voice sounds thin and far away.
Meerkat thinks very quickly.
He runs back up the hill,
Past Hedgehog,
Who is now floating quite high in the sky.
Then Meerkat turns his nose into the wind and waits.
Meerkat's kite tangles with Hedgehog's kite.
At least now Hedgehog can't go up any further.
Then slowly Hedgehog starts sinking down to solid ground.
When his feet touch the grass,
Meerkat yells.
Are you okay Hedgehog?
Phew,
You had me a bit worried there.
But Hedgehog is smiling.
Did you see that?
Hedgehog asks.
I was flying and my kite went much higher than yours,
Meerkat.
Well that wasn't quite part of the plan but I'm glad you enjoyed it,
Meerkat answers.
I need to hide the kites away,
He thinks quietly to himself.
This could get dangerous.
Now let's have some tea.
Good idea,
Hedgehog answers and they skip happily down the hill back to their homes.
You won't tell my mom will you?
Hedgehog asks.
Of course not,
It's our secret,
Meerkat answers.
But next time you plan to fly you should really tell me.
Okay,
You have a deal says Hedgehog.
They run to the kitchen to have their favorite roebos tea and peanut butter cookies.
