A Beginning with a Fold

After their bench break, Puschel wanted to take the blanket out of the basket for their later picnic. He briefly folded it again so it would not trail across the path meanwhile. One corner stayed across the lid. When he tried to close the basket, suddenly nothing fitted.

Puschel“My tidy ending forgot a corner.”

Flauschi stood beside him and looked at the basket. The boat had its place on another stone. Puschel knelt down and lifted the lid again. He did not force it; the soft blanket could wait.

He thought of the first wish that had reached them inside the toy: being allowed to make a mistake. They had not displayed the folded note publicly and left it inside the hull now too. Puschel could still remember its few words.

Puschel“I wanted to prove today that I can get everything right now.”

Flauschi“Then you would have turned the wish into another test.”

Puschel held the crooked blanket edge between his paws. That was true. On their last outing he had dealt with a little muddle himself. Today another could happen without Flauschi having to take over all his preparations again.

Puschel“I will try once more. You are welcome simply to stay here.”

He freed the corner and folded the blanket smaller. Now it fitted in the basket. The lid closed. One fold stayed crooked, but it caused no problem. Puschel decided it did not need a repair meeting of its own.

Flauschi“What is your new folding plan called?”

Puschel“Fits Inside. A very clear title.”

They both laughed. They had not made an error-free Puschel or abolished muddles. But another attempt had been possible without teasing and without another job for Flauschi.

Puschel smoothed the basket lid. Perhaps that was a beginning he could take home: pause first, then try for himself. Everything did not have to be perfect before the day could carry on.