Hedgehog has to go away--""for five long days--""and Mouse has to stay at home alone. How they will miss each other! In alternating scenes, Hedgehog and Mouse count down the days, always thinking of their absent friend.

""Five days until I see my mouse. Today I went to the beach where I found a seashell. I'm going to bring it home to my mouse.

Five more days until I'll see my hedgehog again. Every night at eight o'clock, I look at the bright star to the left of the moon. And then we think about each other.""

But on the day of their reunion a misunderstanding finds them both all alone at the train station. Did Hedgehog decide not to return? Has Mouse forgotten him? Absence does indeed make the heart grow fonder in this sweet story.