Deep in the Tickly-Toe Meadow, where the grass always seemed to tickle your feet and the daisies wiggled when you weren’t looking, lived a little hedgehog named Hugo.
Hugo had one tiny problem, he hated hugs so much!
Not because he was grumpy. Not because he didn’t like his friends. But because, well… HE WAS COVERED IN SPIKES.
Every time someone tried to hug him, OUCH! His poor friends ended up looking like pincushions.
One day, his best friend, Benny the Bunny, hopped over and said, “Hugo! Today is Friendship Day! We’re all giving each other big, warm, squishy hugs!”
Hugo’s spikes wiggled nervously. “Uh… how about a nice wave instead?”
Benny frowned. “Hugs are important, Hugo. They show you care!”
Hugo gulped. He did care! But last time he tried to hug someone, Mrs. Turtlebottom spent an hour pulling thistles out of her shell!
As Benny bounced away, Hugo sighed. He needed a solution.
So, he went to the wisest animal in the meadow – Owliver the Owl.
“Owliver!” Hugo called. “How can I give hugs without poking everyone like a walking cactus?”
Owliver blinked. “Hmm… have you tried wearing a pillow?”
Hugo tried it. He wrapped himself in a fluffy pillow and waddled towards his friends like a marshmallow with legs.
“Here comes Hugo the hugger!” he announced.
Benny ran up excitedly, “Yay! Friendship hug!”and POOF! The pillow exploded, covering them in a cloud of feathers.
“ACHOO!” sneezed Benny.
“Well,” said Owliver, plucking a feather from his beak, “That was a soft disaster.”
Hugo sighed. “I guess I’ll never be a hugger…”
Then, Benny had an idea. “Wait a second! Hugs aren’t the only way to show love! You could give… high fives!”
Hugo’s eyes lit up. “With my paws, not my spikes?”
“Exactly!”
From that day on, Hugo became the king of high-fives.
He high-fived Benny.
He high-fived Mrs. Turtlebottom (who was very relieved).
He even high-fived Owliver (who had never been high-fived before and nearly fell off his branch).
And you know what? His friends felt just as loved as if they had gotten a hug without looking like pin cushions.
The Lesson?
There’s always a way to show love and kindness, even if hugs aren’t your thing. Sometimes, a high-five, a smile, or even a silly little dance can mean just as much!
And if you ever visit Tickly-Toe Meadow, don’t forget to give Hugo a high-five just, you know… not a hug.
The End
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