Poor Harriet Hedgehog had terrible worries, she couldn’t sleep and just couldn’t concentrate on her long overdue spring cleaning. One day she was going on and on and on to an old friend called Hetty. Hetty was rather tired of listening to her good old friend going on so and she made a suggestion.
“Why not take yourself off to the other side of the great forest” she suggested “and see Gooner the wise old rabbit. He has a reputation for taking people in who have worries and turning them out without a care in the world”
The next day she set off, all the way over to the other side of the great forest. When she came upon Gooner’s door she rapped impatiently.
“Hellooo” said Gooner “It’s nice to see you Harriet how can I help you”
“Well” Harriet began “I am just in a tizzy, my head is in a spin and I just don’t know what to do. I would really like to talk to you, if you have time”
“Oh of course” said Gooner ” Do come in and I’ll get you a nice cuppa and we’ll have a chat”
Harriet followed Gooner into his den it was nice and cosy and a warm fire was crackling in the hearth.
“Do take a seat” said Gooner “What would you like to drink. Tea, Coffee, Orange Squash, Lemon Squash, Ginger Ale, Shandy or Cherry Punch”
“Oh just tea please” said Harriet
“Super, Super” said Gooner as he went on “Lemon tea, Black Tea, White tea, China tea, Darjeeling, Peppermint, Camomile, or ordinary”
“Oh ordinary tea please Gooner” said Harriet just a little bit exasperated ” I really need to talk to you about…..”
“Ordinary” said Gooner “good choice, yes very good choice. What would you like in your tea, white sugar, brown sugar, milk, honey, sugar lumps or little pills?”
“Oh just milk and white sugar please Gooner – I really want to talk to you about….”
“OK OK Harriet” said Gooner “Don’t get your knickers in a twist, would you like a small snack”
“Oh yes OK then” Harriet said “Just something simple so we can get to talk”
“Oh very good, very good” said Gooner “Would you like toast, buns, sweeties(candy), marshmallows, candy floss, peppermint creams, Turkish delight or popcorn”
“Oh just toast please gooner” said Harriet just beginning now to get rather red in the face ” I really want to talk to you about …..”
“OK OK Harriet” said Gooner “Don’t get your knickers in a twist, would you like white bread, brown bread, soda bread, wheat loaf, malt loaf, ciabatta, unleven bread, sourdough, or cornmeal”
“Oh just white please” squealed Harriet “please can we talk about ….”
“OK OK Harriet” said Gooner “Don’t get your knickers in a twist, would you like Jam on it or honey or peanut butter or marmalade or chutney or chocolate spread or stroop or just plain old butter?”
“Oh just plain old butter please” Harriet was just about ready to pop at this point and she went on “please can we talk about …”
“OK OK Harriet” said Gooner “Don’t get your knickers in a twist” He brought the tea and toast to the table and sat down next to Harriet.
“Now what was it you wanted to talk about”
Harriet began to talk “Well” she paused “Well, do you know, I have quite forgotten!”
“Ah Ha” exclaimed Gooner “Another satisfied customer. More Tea?”
“No, no please Gooner. No more anything. I really must dash”
Off toddled Harriet with a much lighter heart and without a trouble in her head. She was so happy to get away from the wise old rabbit that she ran all the way home. When she got there she immediately got on with her spring cleaning.
“I can’t wait” she thought “until someone tells me they are really worried about something I will send them straight away to Gooner the wise old rabbit”
Copyright TJB Feb2000
bradyclan 