A Basket for Every Possibility

They had barely walked a few steps beyond the willow when Puschel put the basket down again. His arm felt as though it had been carrying an entire cosy afternoon. Flauschi stopped beside him, holding the boat securely.

Puschel“Perhaps the basket is not properly awake yet. It certainly does not like moving.”

Puschel knelt and opened the lid. Two cushions pushed upwards. The ball was wedged beside them. The checked blanket slipped over the rim and settled on the dry path. Beneath everything were their prepared food and closed water containers.

Flauschi“Did you pack a picnic or a second sitting room?”

Puschel“A picnic with possibilities. In case we want to sit comfortably. Or especially comfortably. Or suddenly need football.”

Flauschi smiled. Puschel looked from the two cushions to the blanket and then at the path winding through the trees. For the next stretch, they mainly needed free paws and enough energy. A second sitting room did not fit very well.

Puschel“I wanted to be ready for everything. Now I am mainly ready for heavy lifting.”

Flauschi“Then let us change the plan. We are still close enough to home.”

Together they gathered up the blanket. They left nothing beneath the willow. Instead of dragging the basket farther and farther, they followed the familiar path home. There they took out the cushions and the ball. They folded the blanket more neatly. Food and water stayed closed inside the basket; the unfamiliar boat kept its own place away from their food.

Puschel“One less sitting room. Still two squirrels coming along. That is a good packing list.”

On their second departure, the lid closed without being pushed. Puschel lifted the basket and grinned. Their little detour had not brought them closer to the island. But it made the rest of the journey much easier.