AmytheHedgehogsGirlMiserableMrPeckHermumwasinthekitchenwhenAmyrushedin.‘Howwasschool?’askedMrsHarris,expectingtheusualanswer,‘OK.’‘Itwasgreat,’criedAmy.‘Aladygaveusatalkonwildlifeandsheshowedusahedgehogexpert.’‘Awhat?’saidMrsHarris.‘Ahedgehogexpert.Someonewhoknowsallabouthedgehogs.’‘That’sgood,’saidMrsHarris.‘You’llneedtogothelibraryandseeifyoucanfindsomebooks.’‘Ohdear,’Amygroaned.‘I’llhavetoseeMrPeck.’MrPeckwasthechildren’slibrarian.Hewasameanandmiserablesortofperson.HealsolivednextdoortoAmy.ThelibrarywasalmostemptywhenAmyarrived.Shelookedalongtheshelves,tryingtofindabookonhedgehogs.‘Whatareyoudoing?’snappedavoicebehindher.Amynearlyjumpedoutofhersocks.ItwasMrPeck.‘Iwaslookingforabookaboutanimals.’‘Animals,indeed,’sniffedMrPeck.‘Whatsortofanimals?Tameanimals?Wildanimals?AnimalsfromAfrica?India?Britain?’‘Hedgehogs,’saidAmy.‘Hedgehogs!’bawledMrPeck.‘Theveryworstanimalsthereare.Theydigupvegetablesandbitelumpsoutofthem.’Hepulledabookfromtheshelves.‘Ifyoumuststudythehorridthings,thisisthebestIcando.’‘Thankyou,saidAmypolitely.‘Makesureyoubringitbackontime.Anddon’tyoudarebringhedgehogsintoyourgarden.Yourgardenisnexttomine,don’tforget.IfIseeahedgehogsnearmycarrots,doyouknowwhatIamgoingtodo?’‘No,’saidAmy.‘I’mgoingtosquirtitwithmyspraygun.’Athome,Amyreadthebookonhedgehogs.Shefoundoutthattheyateslugsandsnails.Thebookdidn’tsayanythingaboutvegetables.Thenextdayshetookthebookbacktothelibrary.‘What’sthis?’saidMrPeck.‘Thisbookisnotduebackforanothertwentydays.’‘ButI’vereadit,’saidAmy.‘Haveyougotanymorebooksabouthedgehogs?’‘Overthere,’snappedMrPeck,pointingwithhisnose.Amywalkedslowlyalongtheshelves.Wherewerethebooksaboutanimals?ShewasjustabouttoristaskingMrPeck,whenshesawsomething.Itwasanoldcassettetape,called‘CallsoftheWild’.Itlookedasifnobodyhadeverplayedit.Amytookitdownfromtheshelf.Itwaspartofasetofanimalnoises.Thiswastapenumber12anditwascalledHedgehogs.AmyaskedMrPeckifshecouldborrowthecassette.‘Ofcourseyoucan,’hesaidrudely.‘Thoughanybodywhowantstolistentohorridanimalnoisesmustbemad.’Hestampedthecassettebox.‘Anddon’tforgettorewindthetape.’HedgehogtalkAmysatinherroomlisteningtothesoundsofhedgehogsonherpersonalstereo,overandoveragain.Amyrepeatedthesoundsherself.‘I’mtalkinghedgehog,’thoughtAmy.‘IwishIknewwhatIwassaying.Ireallyneedahedgehogtohelpme.I’msurethere’soneinthegarden.IfImakehedgehognoises,perhapsitwillhearme.’Amyrandownintothegardenandmadehedgehognoisesasloudlyasshecould.Shestoppedandlistened,butnohedgehogsanswered.Amytriedagain.Bntonlyacatcameintothegarden.1‘I’mgoingtokeeptrying,’saidAmy.‘I’msureIcandoit.’Atlastshegotcoldandshewentindoors.ThenextnightAmytriedagain.Shetriedeverynightforaweek.‘Whatareyoudoingoutthere?’askedMrsHarris.‘Waitandsee,’saidAmy.Justthenthedoorbellrang.ItwasMrPeck.Hestoodatthedoorinhisdressinggown.Amynoticedthathishairwaswet.‘MrsHarris,’saidMrPeck.‘EverynightwhenIhavemybathIcanhearanoise.Itseemstobecomingfromyourgarden.’Amygiggledbehindherhand.‘Noise?’saidMrsHarris.‘Somesortofanimal,’saidMrPeck.‘I’dputpoisondownifIwereyou.Thatistheonlywaytodealwithanimals.’AssoonasMrPeckhadgone,Amydashedoutintothegarden.‘MrPeckthoughtIwasananimal,’shesaidtoherself.‘I’mgoingtotryonemoretime.’Amywentdownonherkneesandbegantomakeherhedgehogsoundsagain.Almostatoncetherewasa...
