In the Garden

(Micro Story)

Night fell over the city, it was at an hour where most people would be asleep in their beds. In a small stone walled garden there was a rustle, a hedgehog had peered out of an overgrown bush to find a house cat sitting upon one of the walls nearby.

“You’re in my garden” said the house cat as its eyes glowed above in the moonlit sky.

The hedgehog didn’t reply.

“Didn’t you hear me? You’re in my garden hedgehog” continued the house cat

The hedgehog stirred, realising it had been seen.

“I do apologise” replied the hedgehog “I didn’t know I wasn’t allowed here”

“Well you do now” sneered the house cat from its high wall “I have lived here all my life, it’s mine”

“But...it’s a garden. It’s to be enjoyed by everyone” said the hedgehog confused.

“It’s my garden! And nobody else’s!” screeched the house cat

“Why do you be so cruel?” Asked the hedgehog

“You’re not from here” said the house cat with its self prescribed sense of pride and accomplishment

“But don’t you know how I live?” argued the hedgehog “on my hands and knees in the dirt, scavenging just to survive one night to the next?”

“Of course I know” said the house cat “But do it in your own garden where I can’t see you”