Tonight the Excitement Can Rest

On October 30, the shallow materials basket stood on the low living-room table. One day until Halloween! Puschel smoothed his purple cape. Flauschi folded her dark one beside it. Today they had tried their little cheek designs once more, by choice and only briefly.

Puschel“What if we think of something else tomorrow?”

Flauschi“Then we can think of it tomorrow. Tonight we are only setting out what we already have.”

The game cards and the dry paper garland lay beneath the capes. Three bats, two ghosts and the orange bow were waiting for tomorrow. The middle bat could still hang upside down. The paper pumpkins for the house were safely stored with them.

Puschel lifted Teddy’s little cape. It was much shorter than his own. Carefully, he folded the broad belly fastening inward. The brown stuffed bear waited on the sofa without his cape.

Puschel“Your party outfit is sleeping in the basket, Teddy.”

Teddy did not answer. Puschel laid the tiny cape beside the two big ones. Then he placed the crooked paper pumpkin on top. But as soon as he pulled his paw away, the pumpkin slipped between the folds.

Puschel“Now our pumpkin has tucked itself in.”

Flauschi giggled. Together they moved the folded fabric a little farther apart. Now the paper pumpkin lay flat on top, with its crooked smile facing upward.

Flauschi“There. We will find it again tomorrow.”

The little LED light was switched off. Flauschi put it beside the basket. The real pumpkin lantern stayed somewhere cool and sheltered; tomorrow they would first check that it was still firm and undamaged. The old whole garden pumpkin could stay whole too.

In the bathroom, they both removed all their face paint, following its instructions. Puschel looked at his clean cheek in the mirror. The little pumpkin design had disappeared.

Puschel“My face has finished for the day too.”

Flauschi“So has mine. Nothing stays on it overnight.”

They cleaned the things they had used, closed the face-paint pots and put them away. Teddy had not had any face paint. Back in the living room, Flauschi briefly set the closed pots beside the folded cloth before storing everything safely.

Puschel looked at the basket. He opened his mouth as though he was about to plan the next game. Then he gave such a big yawn that Flauschi had to yawn too.

Puschel“Do we still have to practise saying hello?”

Flauschi“No. A friendly hello will do. And tomorrow everyone can choose what they feel like doing.”

The paths stayed clear. The quiet spot with the cushions was there. There was nothing left to tick off. Puschel rested his paw on the basket’s edge.

Puschel“Can our excitement come onto the sofa too?”

Flauschi“Of course. It does not have to do a thing there.”

Puschel picked up Teddy. Without a cape, the bear was especially easy to cuddle. Flauschi sat down beside him. In the basket, the paper pumpkin stayed on top. Outside, a leaf rustled past the window.

Tomorrow was Halloween. Tonight they were simply tired and content. And for this evening, that could be quite enough.