Sweet and bitter autumn memories
Seven autumns ago, in my pre-kid era, while roaming free along the high bank of the Vedea River, I met my first hedgehog. Riciu. The one in the photo, so cute and friendly! I actually touched him and he didn’t move an inch! Which might have been a big problem, as I realized after the first few seconds of euphoria.
I was very worried that night. I went to check on him, first thing in the morning, determined to take him home this time. I couldn’t find him anywhere and thought it was a sign of good health. Hooray!
A week later, while crossing a corridor in the Prefecture’s building, an old man stopped me and asked me to help him. He was illiterate and needed to write an application for social aid. I can’t remember the details, except that he was a very thin and shy widower in his 80s, with no family or house, sheltered for too long by a nephew in an impoverished home.
I talked to the lady clerk and she confirmed that I could write the application for him. Which I did, and never met him again. It didn't even occur to me to take him home, though. Strange, isn’t it?
I really hope Riciu and the old man made it through the winter.
As long as we care about hedgehogs, we care, most likely, about people, too.
Sweet and bitter autumn memories
Seven autumns ago, in my pre-kid era, while roaming free along the high bank of the Vedea River, I met my first hedgehog. Riciu. The one in the photo, so cute and friendly! I actually touched him and he didn’t move an inch! Which might have been a big problem, as I realized after the first few seconds of euphoria.
I was very worried that night. I went to check on him, first thing in the morning, determined to take him home this time. I couldn’t find him anywhere and thought it was a sign of good health. Hooray!
A week later, while crossing a corridor in the Prefecture’s building, an old man stopped me and asked me to help him. He was illiterate and needed to write an application for social aid. I can’t remember the details, except that he was a very thin and shy widower in his 80s, with no family or house, sheltered for too long by a nephew in an impoverished home.
I talked to the lady clerk and she confirmed that I could write the application for him. Which I did, and never met him again. It didn't even occur to me to take him home, though. Strange, isn’t it?
I really hope Riciu and the old man made it through the winter.