A Woodland Thank-You

That morning, Puschel and Flauschi had met a neighbour on the woodland path. He had greeted them kindly and shown them where they could walk on dry ground beyond a large puddle. Flauschi was still thinking about it at home. Flauschi“A little greeting can keep you warm for a long time.” Puschel“Then let’s send one back. One you can look at.”

They fetched paper and wax crayons. Puschel drew a blue Wuselhörnchen friend, and Flauschi drew an orange one. A winding brown path appeared between them. Behind them grew a green fir tree, with golden leaves above. Flauschi“The leaves look as though they’re waving.” Carefully, she added another small twig.

Puschel almost drew an enormous ribbon around the fir tree. Then he paused. Puschel“But that tree wasn’t a Christmas tree.” Flauschi“Then it can simply stay a woodland tree.” They liked that. Their thank-you needed no decorations. The fir and the path they shared already told enough of the story.

Later they went outside again with the finished picture. The crayons were back at home. Puschel held the edges of the sheet with both paws. The last golden leaves glowed among birches and beeches; the fir trees stayed green. It was the same woodland, yet the two friends were looking at something new: their little woodland thank-you.

They stopped in a quiet spot. Flauschi pointed one paw towards the path in the drawing without holding the sheet. Flauschi“Our two friends have plenty of room here.” Puschel“And neither of them has to follow behind the other.” Not every mark was exactly where they had planned it. But the picture felt like theirs, and that was lovely.

They had not seen their neighbour on this part of the path yet. At the next suitable opportunity, they wanted to give him the picture in person. Puschel“Will he know straight away that we want to say thank you?” Flauschi“We can tell him.” They did not have to hope that someone would understand every painted leaf. A few kind words could belong with the picture.

Before Christmas they might give someone another small gift. Today they were practising something that belonged to no particular day: paying attention and remembering a good moment. Nobody needed to buy anything for that. And anyone who did not feel like drawing could show their thanks with a greeting or a few words instead.

A light breeze brushed across the path. Puschel held the sheet steadily and waited until the air grew calmer. Puschel“Our thank-you has already had a little outing.” Then they walked on side by side. The woodland thank-you was still with them. A brief friendly meeting had become a memory they now wanted to share.