The prickly echidna

September 16, 2023
‘People say I’m prickly,’ said the prickly echidna.
‘Who says that?’ asked the first little owl.
‘Everyone,’ said the prickly echidna.
She sighed.
‘Some people say I’m prickly,
without having spoken to me at all.’

(Pause.)

‘What do you think they mean?’ asked the first little owl.
‘I think they mean I’m cranky,’ said the prickly echidna.
‘I think they think I’m strange.’
She wiped away a tear.
‘I think they think…
‘I’m not very nice.’

(Pause.)

‘When people say you’re prickly,’ said the dishevelled little owl,
‘They don't mean you’re not very nice.’
The prickly echidna blinked her sad brown eyes.
She flexed her pointed snout.
‘No?’ she asked.
‘No,’ said the dishevelled little owl.