Almost Spilled!

Flauschi folded a small piece of paper and held it in front of her tummy. Puschel had just straightened the box of questions on the table. Now his paw stopped halfway through the movement. Puschel“Is that another breakfast question?” Flauschi smiled. Flauschi“No. An idea for later.”

Puschel’s ears grew curious. An idea for later could mean all sorts of things: an outing, a story, or perhaps a breakfast that only began in the evening. Puschel“Does your idea happen to have crumbs?” Flauschi“I’m not telling yet.” The corner of her mouth twitched, but the paper stayed folded.

Puschel leaned forward a little. Then he stopped. There was nothing to see on the paper anyway. And Flauschi had just said that she wanted to keep her idea to herself for now. Puschel straightened up and raised an empty paw. Puschel“All right. My curiosity can wait a little longer.”

Flauschi gently held the paper between her paws. Flauschi“Thank you. When the surprise is ready, I’ll be happy to show you.” Puschel nodded. Puschel“Until then, I’ll ask the box something else. Such as whether you can tuck curiosity under a blanket.”

Flauschi laughed. Flauschi“You can give it somewhere cosy to sit.” Puschel looked over at the armchair. The green blanket was lying there. For a moment, he imagined his curiosity sitting underneath it, wiggling its toes. That was almost a little story of its own.

The two pictures, the red ribbon and the gift tags lay on the table. None of them needed to reveal today what they might become later. Puschel nudged a blank question slip towards the box. Puschel“Then I’d rather collect questions that everyone wants to guess.” Flauschi“I’m happy to join in with those.”

And so her surprise stayed a surprise. Puschel still did not know what was on the folded paper. But he knew that Flauschi was looking forward to it. For today, he could simply share her happy feeling.