Creative Nonfiction
The Difference Between A Porcupine And A Hedgehog (Story #41 in my💯Story Challenge)
Or: The Difference Between Fiction and Nonfiction
Okay, so right off the bat I had to find a photo of a porcupine for this story, and it would amaze you to find out how many times the search mechanism on Unsplash showed me photos of hedgehogs.
You see, that’s a hedgehog.
I know. I’ve owned a hedgehog. He was a cranky old fart that we called Mr. Smithers. You had to wear big thick leather gloves to handle him because Mr. Smithers liked to bite.
Now, I can see how you’d easily confuse that critter with a porcupine, maybe even a baby porcupine — but they are not related. Not one bit. Actually, the closest relation to a hedgehog is a shrew or a mole.
A porcupine, on the other hand, is a rodent.
And he can be a bit of a prick.
Just try leaving your hatchet or axe out overnight while you’re camping. A porcupine will gnaw big chunks out of the axe handle. They like the taste of the salt from your sweat.
