The Wind Joins In

A golden leaf turned a full circle in front of Puschel’s nose. Then it sailed across the broad woodland path. Puschel stopped beside Flauschi and pricked up his ears. The branches rustled above them. Puschel“Listen! The woods are making music today, but somebody’s forgotten the little bell.”

Flauschi smiled. Their little golden bell was safely at home on its soft cloth. Out here, things sounded quite different: first a long swishing sound, then dry leaves rustling on the ground. Flauschi“Perhaps the wind doesn’t need a bell.” Puschel“Then it needs at least one Wusel to sing along.”

He opened his mouth for a very grand note. At that exact moment, the breeze tickled his nose. Instead of a long call, all that came out was a little splutter. Puschel blinked. Flauschi giggled softly, and soon he was laughing too. Puschel“That was the nose rehearsal. The proper beginning is still coming.”

They kept their feet firmly on the path. A few loose leaves danced past; there was no need to chase them. Puschel lifted an empty paw into the air, while Flauschi rested her other paw against her chest. First, they listened. When the swishing grew quieter, Puschel tried a little call. Puschel“Wusel-woo – I’m happy, you?” Flauschi answered straight away. Flauschi“Wusel-wee – as happy as can be!”

For a moment, they looked very pleased with themselves. Then the wind rustled the leaves across the ground again. Puschel“Its song has many more words.” Flauschi“Ours can stay short. We can remember it until Christmas.” Puschel nodded. He would certainly lose a whole woodland’s worth of words somewhere between today and December.

They tried again, taking their time. This time, Puschel left a little gap after his question for Flauschi’s answer. Together, it sounded friendlier than his grand first attempt. It was not especially loud or especially polished, but it sounded unmistakably like the two of them. Even without an instrument, they had found something of their own.

Puschel“When guests come later, we could welcome them like this.” Flauschi“If they like. And anyone who would rather just wave can wave.” Puschel raised his paw to try it. That worked without a sound. They kept both ideas: a little call for cheerful moments and a wave for quiet ones.

Then they carried on at an easy pace. The green spruce stood among the golden trees, and the path rustled beneath their feet. Puschel“The bell can ring at home. The wind has already given us something else.” Flauschi“An idea that fits into any empty paw.” Puschel looked at his paws and grinned. They really did not need to collect anything for this Christmas greeting.