After resting in bed all day Thomas was bored and very glad when it was time for the second part of the story.
'I'm glad it's a happy story tonight' Bethan said. 'It was rather a sad one this morning.'
'It ended happily though' Grandpa reminded her. 'Do you remember?'
Yes, they both remembered.
'This story is the same' Grandpa explained. 'It begins rather sadly but ends very happily.'
'Good, I like happy endings' said Bethan, repeating what the mice had said.
'Then you will certainly like Hedgehog's story' said Grandpa. 'Let's see if he has arrived at the stable yet.'

The next night all the animals arrived at the stable very early, eager to hear the Hedgehog's story. And they waited, and they waited - no hedgehog!
'Oh, I do hope he is all right' said Rabbit who was very worried.
'He'll be fine' drawled Owl in a bored voice. 'You know how he always takes his time getting anywhere.'
Just then, in strolled Hedgehog. 'Oh, am I late?' he asked blinking round at them all.
'Yes, you are!' snapped Crow. 'We've been waiting here simply ages' and he strutted along the rafters to where the pigeons sat. 'And could you all please move along and give a fellow a comfortable seat?'
Before a quarrel could break out, Donkey hurriedly stepped in.
'Your story would be much appreciated, Hedgehog, if you would be so kind as to start right away.'
So Hedgehog began. 'I have seen Jesus many times, talking to people and performing miracles around Galilee.'
'Caw!' said Crow. 'You do get about a bit for such a little fellow.'
'I may only be small but I do get to places in my own time and pace' answered Hedgehog, bristling in annoyance.
A lot of 'Ssh!' 'Ssh!' came from the other animals.
'On with your story, Hedgehog please' said Donkey patiently.
'I have seen Jesus many times, as I said' Hedgehog continued, his spikes still on edge. 'And I was in the Courtyard of the Palace, a place I often go, when I saw the soldiers leading Jesus out, and He was carrying a Cross.'
A deep sigh was heard in the stable. They all knew what that meant.
'I knew where they were going' Hedgehog said ' So I decided to follow.' He paused, then shook himself as if trying to force himself to continue his story.
'It took me some time, but I eventually reached the hill of Crucifixion, and I was just in time to hear Jesus say "It is finished".
Little sniffling noises were heard around the stable, what a sad story it was turning out to be. Their beloved Master on a Cross!
'I looked at the Cross' continued hedgehog after a moment or two, 'And I could see that He had died so I decided to go home . I could barely see as my eyes were filled with tears, and although it was in the afternoon it had gone very dark.'
'Yes, I remember' all the animals spoke at once. They each remembered the strange darkness which had come over the land for three whole hours.
Hedgehog looked round at them all. 'I reached the bottom of the hill much quicker than I got up, as the ground shook and the earthquake tumbled me down. I was quite shaken when I reached the bottom. I stood for a moment getting my breath back, and then I saw some relatives of mine standing talking in a group.'
'Hello, Uncle Herbie, and cousins' I said going up to them. 'Sad business up on the hill don't you think?'
'Well, I'm not sure' Uncle Herbie said. 'I did hear that Jesus was going to come back to life again.'
'I told them that it wouldn't surprise me' said Hedgehog 'As I had seen so many other miracles He had done. I felt sure He could do this also.'
'Uncle Herbie said he would stay for a while to see if he could find out anything. I was tired and a little bruised after my fall so I said I would go home, and invited Uncle Herbie for supper, hoping he would bring me more news.'
'And did he? Did he?' chirped the sparrows.
Hedgehog frowned at them. He didn't like interruptions, and, after all, he was coming to the best part of his story!
'Wait and see' he answered rather sharply.
'Uncle did come for supper' he went on. 'And said that a man named Joseph had carefully taken Jesus' body and put Him in a lovely new tomb.'
'Uncle and I then decided we would visit the tomb and perhaps take some flowers and so after supper we went and what do you think we saw?' he asked.
All the animals looked puzzled.
'The Roman soldiers had sealed the tomb' Hedgehog told them.
'Well, that's that then' Crow said. 'No-one can get out of a sealed tomb' and he was just about to fly off when ...
'That's what you think!!' Hedgehog replied triumphantly. 'Uncle and I kept watch for three days, just snoozing off now and again, and on the third day when we looked, we saw the stone had been rolled away. We went inside - and Jesus had gone!'
'Instead!' he took a deep breath. 'Instead, we saw Two Angels sitting there. Their faces shone like lightning, and their clothes were so dazzling it hurt our eyes to look at them.' He paused.
The silence in the stable could almost be felt as the animals hung on Hedgehog's every word. Hedgehog had seen Two Angels! And Jesus had GONE! It was Amazing!
'We crept into a corner and waited' Hedgehog took up his story again. 'Then we saw the women arriving with spices and ointments. They were puzzled when they saw the stone had gone, and when they came in and saw the Two Angels they were terrified.'
They shaded their eyes from the brightness, and bowed down low before them. We heard the angels say "Why are you looking in a tomb for someone who is alive? Jesus isn't here. He has come back to life again. Don't you remember what He told you?"
The women looked at each other, and their faces lit up with joy as they remembered. "Let's tell the disciples, and the others" they cried, and they ran away as quickly as they could.'
'I looked at my Uncle "What an exciting morning" I whispered.'
'Uncle was quite overcome. He mopped his face and said " A bit too exciting for me at my age - but I wouldn't have missed this for anything!" and he gave me a beaming smile.'
'Did you stay there long?' asked Crow.
'It seemed a long time' Hedgehog answered 'As so much had happened.'
'Suddenly the bright light left the tomb, and we saw that the Angels had gone. We were just about to leave, too, when John, quickly followed by Peter, two of Jesus' disciples ran in, They looked at the empty grave clothes, and I heard John say softly "Jesus has risen, just as He said He would" and they went out talking quietly to each other.
'After a last look at the empty tomb my Uncle and I also left. We had only walked a few steps when we saw a woman crying. We went over to her then saw a man coming towards us. He asked her why she was crying, and who she was looking for.'
'She thought he was the gardener and asked Him where they had taken Jesus. Then the man said "Mary" - just one word - but said with so much love.'
There was a sniff, and a deep shaky breath. It was Squirrel, dabbing his eyes. 'I've seen that wonderful look' he said. 'It was Jesus, wasn't it?'
'Yes, it was Jesus' agreed Hedgehog. 'He has risen from the dead. I have seen Him.'
The animals gently smiled at one another, a deep joy in their hearts.
Words were unnecessary.
After a while, Rabbit spoke. 'I've seen Him too' he said quietly. 'Where?' 'Tell us' voices came from all around.
'Yes! I remember you told us you had a story' said Donkey. 'Are you well enough to tell us?'
'Yes, thank-you' said Rabbit 'I'll tell you tomorrow. I think we have much to think about tonight.'
'Yes' they agreed. Their Master was alive - it was enough.
Elizabeth Aynsley ©

John CH.19 Vs.16 to 18 & 30
John CH.20 Vs.1 to 16
Luke CH.24 Vs.1 to 12