Tal E. Whacker

I'll be the first to admit that rodents totally freak me out. Yet, I think hedgehogs are super cute.

For a short period of time during college I had decided I wanted a pet hedgehog because I found them so adorable. My wonderful roommate of all four years of college, knowing my fear of rodents, set out to change my mind and save me discomfort when I realized they are rodents on my own. She sat me down and made me watch hedgehog videos with her on Youtube until I realized their rodent-ness and decided a hedgehog wasn't the right pet for me.

Fast forward most of a year. Tall Dark and Nerdy and I somehow get on the subject of hedgehogs and how absolutely awesome we both find them. We both talk a little bit about how they could be a really fun pet.

The next day, I get a text from my mom with a picture of her classroom's new pet, Tal E. Whacker (the name is a play on the word "tallywacker," which FFA members use to refer to the zipper pull on official dress jackets).

I had to wait several months to meet this little guy, until I went back to SD to visit my family. He was pretty cute. Although, when he curls up on his side and I can see his little belly and feet, he's a little too rodent-y for my taste. Just keep him on his feet, though, and he's the best!