It was nap time but Maria was putting up a fuss. Normally the little yellow hedgehog girl aged three years was cooperative but today, she refused. Her grandfather got her in bed but she was crying with tears running down her little face.

“Oh goodness, Maria,” her grandfather was feeling weary from this tantrum, “What is the matter? You normally like taking naps.”

Rubbing her eye with the back of her tiny hand, Maria tried to speak through her tears, “Shadow! I want Shadow!”

She was requesting the hedgehog boy her grandfather created. The reasons for his creation was unknown to her but she didn’t care. She wanted to spend time with him and nap time was getting in the way of that. Her grandfather had separated them and sent Shadow off somewhere else she didn’t know.

The man couldn’t help by bear a tired smile, “You like him that much, huh?”

He had hoped they would grow attached to each other but it seemed they bonded stronger than he expected. Taken by his little granddaughter, Gerald found it difficult to tell her no. Besides, what would happen if he did? Would Maria continue to fuss for the duration of nap time? Then she would be grumpy the rest of the day.

“All right,” the man sighed, “Stay in bed though. If you get out of bed, no Shadow for the rest of the day.”

Maria made a pouty face. What a terrible consequence! Going without Shadow for a whole day?? She didn’t want that. Maria nodded her head to comply but her crying didn’t stop.

Gerald left the room for several minutes and finally returned with the black hedgehog boy with red stripes. Seeing he was here, Maria’s sobs quieted and she wiped her face with her little hands. A smile grew on her face, “Shadow!”

Just as eager to see her, Shadow left Gerald’s side and climbed into Maria’s bed, “Maria!”

Maria sat up and they touched foreheads together, with her giggling and sniffling a bit as she recovered from her tantrum. Both had large smiles on their faces as they nuzzled.

Gerald had a smile, too. This was going better than he had imagined it would. It was clear that they were meant for one another more than Gerald had planned. Destiny, if one could call it that.

“All right, kids, it’s past nap time,” Gerald started, “Don’t stay up and no playing.”

“Yes, grandpa,” Maria replied, now being cooperative that she got what she wanted.

Shadow climbed under the blanket next to Maria and got comfortable laying on his side so he faced her. Maria readjusted herself and snuggling up to Shadow, with him putting his arm over her. Gerald pulled the blanket up so they were covered then he switched off the light. A night light plugged into the wall glowed, keeping the room from being too dark so that Maria wasn’t scared.

It didn’t take long for the kids to fall asleep after that.

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