Yusuf's One Small Step

Shhh, shhh, shhh, went the snow. It fell past the window of the warm cabin, one soft flake landing on another. Inside, Yusuf the little hedgehog sat on a soft rug. He had round ears, a small black nose, and a prickly back. His friend Tavi sat beside him. She was a little hedgehog too. Tavi held her little gray mouse. Mama Hedgehog filled the big round tub with warm water. Steam curled up like a little cloud. The cabin smelled of wood smoke and cinnamon.

Tavi looked at the big round tub. Her mouth went small and round. 'No,' she said. 'Too big.' Yusuf looked at the tub too. His tummy did a little flip. It felt tight and small, like a tiny knot. Mama Hedgehog put her soft paw on Tavi's back. 'The water is warm,' she said. 'I am right here. We can go slow.'

Yusuf took a slow breath. Tavi's tummy looked wobbly. Yusuf wanted to help. He put one paw on the tub. 'One small step,' he said. 'Then one more.' He put one paw in the warm water. Then another paw. Then another. The water felt soft and warm. Pop! A bubble popped on his nose. Tavi watched. Her round ears came up.

'Say it with me,' said Yusuf. 'One small step, then one more.' Tavi said it too. 'One small step, then one more.' Her voice was small. Yusuf held out his paw. Tavi put one paw in the water. Then another. Then another. Pop! A bubble popped on her nose. Tavi giggled. Her giggle was small and bright, like a bell.

Mama Hedgehog washed Tavi's toes. One, two, three. She washed Yusuf's toes. One, two, three. The water went swish, swish, swish. Bubbles floated up and popped, pop, pop, pop. Tavi held her soft toy above the water. It was a little gray mouse with pink ears. 'Mouse wants a bath too,' said Tavi. Mama smiled. 'Mouse can watch,' she said. 'Mouse likes dry ears.' Tavi giggled again. Mama poured warm water over their backs. It went whoosh, whoosh, whoosh. Yusuf closed his eyes. Tavi closed her eyes. The warm water felt good.

Mama Hedgehog lifted Tavi out and wrapped her in a warm towel. The towel was soft and fluffy. Then Yusuf climbed out. 'One small step,' he said. 'Then one more.' He climbed into his warm towel too. Mama rubbed their prickly backs dry. Yusuf's back felt warm and tingly. Tavi's back felt warm and tingly too. Mama gave them each a little pat. 'All dry,' she said. 'All warm.' Tavi wiggled her toes. Yusuf wiggled his toes. Their towels were soft. The tub went glug, glug, as the water ran out.

Mama tucked them into a big soft blanket. The blanket was pale blue, like the snow outside. Tavi held her gray mouse. Yusuf held his own cuddly toy, a round brown acorn with a tiny smile. The blanket was warm. The cabin was warm. Out the window, the moon hung round and pale. Snowflakes landed on snowflakes. The snow said shhh, shhh, shhh. Mama sat close beside them. Her paw was warm.

Tavi yawned a little yawn. 'Ahh-oooh.' Yusuf yawned a big yawn. 'Ahh-oooooh.' Mama Hedgehog hummed a soft hum. It went hmmm, hmmm, hmmm. The snow fell soft. The moon stayed at the window. The moon glowed pale blue. Yusuf's eyes felt heavy. Tavi's eyes felt heavy too. Mama pulled the blanket up to their chins. Yusuf whispered, 'Warm.' Tavi whispered it back. Then they were quiet. The cabin was warm. The snow said shhh, shhh, shhh. And everyone felt safe and sleepy.