Title: Hedgehog Holmes
Fandom: Sherlock Holmes (ACD)
Rating: G
Length: 545
Summary:  Hedgehog Holmes spots a raindrop which isn't, in fact, a raindrop.
A/N: Hedgehog Holmes began as a typo, but then it occurred to me that he would be perfect for writing in the style of a child's story, with his companion Mole Watson. 

Hedgehog Holmes was snuffling his way through the park one morning when he spotted some particularly shiny raindrops on the grass.

“Look, Mole Watson,” he said to his companion, “can you see those raindrops?”  Then he looked up into the clear blue sky and added, “But it hasn’t been raining today, and surely any dewdrops should have disappeared by now.  Let’s go and take a closer look.”

They drew closer, and Hedgehog Holmes realised they were not, in fact, raindrops, but diamonds.

At that moment, Mole Watson thought he saw two lovely red berries fall off the bush, so he worked his way over the grass to collect them as a midmorning treat.  However, to his surprise, they weren’t berries, but little hard sparkly stones.

“Hedgehog Holmes,” he called.  “Come and see these not-berries.  Do you think they belong with your not-raindrops?”

Hedgehog Holmes came to have a look.  “My not-raindrops are diamonds, and quite valuable, and these not-berries, if I’m right, are rubies.  I wonder how they came to be here?”

“Perhaps someone’s lost them?”

“I think that’s quite likely.  They may have been strung as a necklace.  Then something broke and the jewels fell to the ground.”

“If that’s the case, I expect the owner will be very sad,” Mole Watson said thoughtfully.  “Look, I’m right.  Even their tears have turned to stone.”

“Those are pearls,” Hedgehog Holmes said.  “Now we’ve found them, what are we going to do about them?”

They were wondering what to do when they saw two young ladies come close by.  They watched as one of the ladies pinned a notice to the bench, and, as soon as they turned away, Hedgehog Holmes trotted over to look at it. 

He waited for Mole Watson to catch up and then said, “I was right, they’re looking for a missing necklace.  Somehow we have to attract their attention.”

“Couldn’t you wave the notice at them?” Mole Watson asked.

“I don’t think that would work, but it’s given me an idea.  Help me to attach the notice to my prickles.”

Rather bemused, Mole Watson did as Hedgehog Holmes requested.  Then he watched as his friend scurried over to where the two young ladies were looking in the long grass, in the hope of spotting the necklace.

One of the ladies saw him and said to her friend, “Oh look, the poor little thing’s got your notice stuck on his back.  Come on, let’s see if we can help him.”

Hedgehog Holmes headed straight for the bush where they’d collected the jewels, and then ducking right underneath it, he dislodged the notice.

“Look here!” the lady said, “My jewels.  The thread must have broken.”  She bent down and picked them up.  “They’re all here.  I’m so happy I haven’t lost any of them.  I can get them rethreaded, but they were a present from my grandmother, and I would have hated to have lost them forever.”

“Oh, Sylvie, I’m so pleased for you.  It’s almost as if the hedgehog was trying to help.”

“Well, I think he was.  Thank you, Mr Hedgehog, you’ve made me very happy!” 

Hedgehog Holmes and Mole Watson smiled at each other.  It was impossible to tell if Hedgehog Holmes was blushing, but Mole Watson suspected he was.