The Last Patch of Sunshine

Flauschi suddenly stopped in the living room. A bright patch of light fell through the left round window onto the wooden floor beside the rug. Golden leaves moved outside; indoors, sunlight shone between the shadows of the window frame. Flauschi“Look, the sun has left a little place for us.” Puschel came to stand beside her. Together, they studied the warm patch on the floor.

Their red book with its green bookmark lay on the low table. Puschel looked at the book, then back at the light. Puschel“Shall we bring it over right now?” Flauschi“We could read a story together here later.” She pointed to the spot near their feet. For now, they had time simply to look. A cosy plan did not always need to happen straight away.

Puschel imagined a quiet afternoon sitting side by side: the book between them, a familiar sentence, perhaps a surprising ending. Flauschi“And when our Christmas guests come, we can read them something too.” Puschel nodded. Being ready for guests meant more than a clear doormat, then. You could leave a little time free for them as well.

The two friends stood beside the rug with empty paws. Two mugs waited on the table; the little bell rested on its soft cloth on the cupboard. None of those things needed moving today. For a moment, Flauschi listened to the gentle crackling of the fire. It went nicely with her thought of sharing a story later.

Puschel studied the edge of the sunlight very carefully. Puschel“Can we save the patch until later?” Flauschi“The light will move on. But we can remember the place.” Puschel thought about that. A box full of sunshine would certainly have looked lovely, but he left the Christmas box where it was. Some things did not get better with a lid put over them.

A narrow shadow crept across a floorboard. The bright patch was no longer quite where it had been. Puschel“Then perhaps this is our last patch of sunshine today.” Flauschi“Perhaps. And we can still be cosy later.” She did not promise sunshine for every afternoon. A book and a little time together could be lovely on a grey day too.

Puschel thought about the golden leaf they had left in the wood yesterday. They had brought home only its memory. Today, even the light would not stay still. Yet he could already remember this small moment: Flauschi beside him, warm floorboards and the red book waiting patiently on the table.

Flauschi“Which story would you like to hear later?” Puschel“One where we stay sitting together for a little while after the ending.” Flauschi smiled. That could be arranged. They looked towards the window once more and let the patch of sunlight move on. Their plan for story time did not need carrying after it. It could wait lightly in their minds until later.