Roly Poly Prickle Faces The Music
Children's Story
Roly Poly Prickle was in something of a mess. His mother had warned him never to go near the rubbish bins in the park, but Roly Poly had been curious. He knew that human beings threw things away in the rubbish bins, and he wanted to know exactly what it was they threw away. So he scurried along on his four short legs as quickly as he could, keeping out of the way of park keepers and other awkward people.
When he reached the rubbish bins he found he was in luck, for one of the bins had been tipped over on its side and all its contents were sprawled over the path. Roly Poly squeaked to himself in delight. Then he began to rummage amongst the remains.
There were some delightful bits and pieces amongst the rubbish. He found an old paper which had been used to wrap fish and chips, and had a wonderful time licking off the grease. One or two chips stuck to his hedgehog spines, but Roly Poly didn't even notice.
He found some old cigarette ends, but he didn't like the smell of them so he pushed them away with his snout. While he was doing that, Roly Poly got a bit stuck up with some chewing gum, but he didn't care. He was having far too much fun to worry about what was happening to his spikes.
Next he discovered a baby's rattle and an old shoe. He played with the rattle for a while and tried walking round in the shoe, but it wasn't very easy so he gave it up. Meanwhile, a half eaten cake stuck to his back.
When he felt he had explored the rubbish enough, Roly Poly decided to go home. But to his horror he found he could hardly move. As he tried to put one foot in front of the other, he felt terribly heavy. Just then, the park keeper came along.
"Why, little hedgehog," the park keeper said. "What have you got stuck on your spines?" And he bent down and picked Roly up in his big, gloved hand. Roly couldn't see what was happening on his back, but he could feel the park keeper pulling gently at his spines. Gradually he began to feel lighter and lighter, as bits of cake and chips and bread and buns were removed from his spines.
But then the park keeper said, "This chewing gum is too tough for me. You'd better get home to your mum and face the music. That should do it." And he carried Roly right across the park back to his own home under the big oak tree.
Roly slipped inside the door, and was rather relieved to discover his mother was not at home. Since the park keeper had been so friendly and helpful, Roly decided to do exactly as the park keeper had told him, so he found his favourite CD and put it on the CD player. He danced a little to the music, hoping the movement would shake the chewing gum off his spines, but it didn't seem to work. Then he remembered. The park keeper had said he must face the music. So Roly turned around, faced the music and began to dance again.
He was still facing the music and dancing when his mother came home, but the chewing gum hadn't moved. Roly was so tired by now that he was nearly in tears. When his mother saw him, she knew exactly where he had been and she was very cross.
"Roly Poly Prickle," she began, in a very angry voice. Roly tried to run away, but he was still so stuck up with chewing gum that he could hardly move. His mother grabbed him by the scruff of his neck and dropped him straight into the bath. Then she scrubbed and brushed, brushed and scrubbed until Roly felt red raw and his prickles felt very tender indeed. But at last the chewing gum came off.
Next day, the park keeper called by to find out how Roly was. He chuckled when he saw Roly's tender back. "I thought it would sort you out when you faced the music," he laughed.
"Huh!" thought Roly to himself, "that just shows you know nothing. I faced the music for hours and it didn't work. It's a good job my mum came along, or I might never have got cleaned up. I shall never listen to human beings again."
When he reached the rubbish bins he found he was in luck, for one of the bins had been tipped over on its side and all its contents were sprawled over the path. Roly Poly squeaked to himself in delight. Then he began to rummage amongst the remains.
There were some delightful bits and pieces amongst the rubbish. He found an old paper which had been used to wrap fish and chips, and had a wonderful time licking off the grease. One or two chips stuck to his hedgehog spines, but Roly Poly didn't even notice.
He found some old cigarette ends, but he didn't like the smell of them so he pushed them away with his snout. While he was doing that, Roly Poly got a bit stuck up with some chewing gum, but he didn't care. He was having far too much fun to worry about what was happening to his spikes.
Next he discovered a baby's rattle and an old shoe. He played with the rattle for a while and tried walking round in the shoe, but it wasn't very easy so he gave it up. Meanwhile, a half eaten cake stuck to his back.
When he felt he had explored the rubbish enough, Roly Poly decided to go home. But to his horror he found he could hardly move. As he tried to put one foot in front of the other, he felt terribly heavy. Just then, the park keeper came along.
"Why, little hedgehog," the park keeper said. "What have you got stuck on your spines?" And he bent down and picked Roly up in his big, gloved hand. Roly couldn't see what was happening on his back, but he could feel the park keeper pulling gently at his spines. Gradually he began to feel lighter and lighter, as bits of cake and chips and bread and buns were removed from his spines.
But then the park keeper said, "This chewing gum is too tough for me. You'd better get home to your mum and face the music. That should do it." And he carried Roly right across the park back to his own home under the big oak tree.
Roly slipped inside the door, and was rather relieved to discover his mother was not at home. Since the park keeper had been so friendly and helpful, Roly decided to do exactly as the park keeper had told him, so he found his favourite CD and put it on the CD player. He danced a little to the music, hoping the movement would shake the chewing gum off his spines, but it didn't seem to work. Then he remembered. The park keeper had said he must face the music. So Roly turned around, faced the music and began to dance again.
He was still facing the music and dancing when his mother came home, but the chewing gum hadn't moved. Roly was so tired by now that he was nearly in tears. When his mother saw him, she knew exactly where he had been and she was very cross.
"Roly Poly Prickle," she began, in a very angry voice. Roly tried to run away, but he was still so stuck up with chewing gum that he could hardly move. His mother grabbed him by the scruff of his neck and dropped him straight into the bath. Then she scrubbed and brushed, brushed and scrubbed until Roly felt red raw and his prickles felt very tender indeed. But at last the chewing gum came off.
Next day, the park keeper called by to find out how Roly was. He chuckled when he saw Roly's tender back. "I thought it would sort you out when you faced the music," he laughed.
"Huh!" thought Roly to himself, "that just shows you know nothing. I faced the music for hours and it didn't work. It's a good job my mum came along, or I might never have got cleaned up. I shall never listen to human beings again."

