Flauschi’s Friendly Vampire Greeting

Only nineteen days until Halloween. Flauschi stood on the clear garden path and smoothed her short dark cape. Her ear flower shone brightly above it. Yesterday she had preferred to watch. Today she wanted to try something herself. “I would like to be a friendly vampire,” she said. Puschel looked at her. “With a very polite boo?” “Perhaps we could start with hello.”

The cape rested loosely on her shoulders. A broad, soft fabric tab held it together at the front of her chest; there was no cord around her neck. Her paws and tail had room. Flauschi took two small steps and turned around. The hem stayed well above her feet. “Comfortable?” asked Puschel. “Yes. And I can see you clearly.” She needed no makeup or special teeth. The cape and an idea were enough for her game.

Flauschi raised one paw and smiled. “Good evening, dear party guest. It’s lovely to have you here!” Puschel looked up at the sunny sky. “But it’s afternoon.” Flauschi giggled. “Then we’re practising for the evening.” “Oh, I see. I’m the party guest.” “If you would like to be.” Puschel nodded and stood up straight.

“Thank you very much for inviting me,” he said, bowing. First a little, then a little deeper. His big forelock tipped forwards and wobbled in front of his nose. “Oh,” he murmured. “My curl is greeting you too.” He straightened up again. The curl bounced back. Flauschi laughed softly. “It was especially polite.” “It wanted to say hello first.”

On his next attempt, Puschel bent his upper body just a little. Both feet stayed safely on the ground, and this time his curl stayed up too. “Now I can see you when I greet you,” he said. Flauschi nodded. “I like your greeting. A small bow is enough.” “Or a wave?” “That works just as well.” Puschel waved. His tail bobbed happily behind him.

Then they thought of imaginary guests. A ghost lady could be welcomed with a very quiet “Woo-hoo”. A pumpkin gentleman received a friendly nod. For a bat, they invented a greeting with one raised paw. Nobody had to fly or frighten anyone. “And what if our guest doesn’t feel like speaking today?” asked Puschel. “Then we give them time,” said Flauschi. “A smile can say welcome too.”

The two paper ghosts moved in the breeze by the fence. Of the three paper bats, the middle one still hung upside down beneath the orange bow. The whole pumpkin on the low table still had its pale crescent mark. Puschel nodded to it. “Welcome, Mr Pumpkin.” “He’s smiling back already,” said Flauschi.

After a while, Flauschi took off the cape and placed it on the table. Her vampire greeting worked without a costume too. “It’s lovely to have you here,” she said to Puschel. This time he bowed just a little. “It’s lovely to hear you say that.” And his forelock stayed happily in its place.