The Spiderweb Stays on Paper

Puschel‘Twenty-two days,’ said Puschel, looking through the kitchen window into the garden. Puschel‘Do you know what our party still needs? A huge spiderweb! From the tree to the fence. And another one right across the path.’

Flauschi laid the party map on the table. Flauschi‘Yesterday we made sure we had a clear path.’ Puschel‘True,’ said Puschel. He looked at his paws. Puschel‘My web would be right where we want to walk.’ He hadn’t fetched a single thread yet. Luckily, he thought now. Puschel‘Then perhaps farther back, between the bushes?’

Flauschi‘Let’s leave threads out of those places, too,’ said Flauschi. Flauschi‘Animals could get caught in them. We can draw a web. It will stay indoors on paper and won’t get in anyone’s way.’ She fetched a large sheet and two pencils. Puschel carefully moved the party map aside. Puschel‘A web you can walk straight through?’ Flauschi‘You can walk straight past our table,’ said Flauschi with a grin.

She drew several lines meeting in the middle. Puschel joined them with little curves. At first, it went very well. Then one of his curves took a shortcut, running straight through the next one. Puschel‘Oh,’ he said. Puschel‘I’ve made a crossroads.’ Flauschi looked at the crooked patch. Flauschi‘Perhaps your drawn spider needs a signpost.’ Puschel giggled. Puschel‘This way, please. All eight paws at once!’

He wanted to rub out the line. But Flauschi asked, Flauschi‘Do you really want to change it? I think our web already looks lovely.’ Puschel thought for a moment. Puschel‘It can stay. Then tomorrow I’ll still know which part I drew.’ Together they drew the remaining curves. Some were round, others a little angular. A small pale space remained in the middle.

Flauschi‘There’s room for our party guest,’ said Flauschi. She drew a little spider at the edge of the web. Puschel counted its legs, pointing his pencil in the air. Puschel‘Eight. It must take ages to put its shoes on.’ Flauschi‘Then we’ll invite it nice and early,’ said Flauschi. Puschel‘Only the drawn one, though,’ added Puschel. Puschel‘The real ones can do their own things outside.’

They both admired the big web. Puschel tried putting one paw beside the sheet, then the other. He didn’t have to step over a thread anywhere. Puschel‘I like this,’ he said. Puschel‘Big web, clear path.’ Flauschi nodded. Flauschi‘And if someone doesn’t like spider pictures, we’ll show them something else.’

They put the drawing with their party papers indoors. Outside, the tree, bushes and garden path remained just as clear as before. Puschel took one more look at his crooked crossroads. Puschel‘Our spider will find its way home,’ he said. Puschel‘It’s already on the right sheet of paper.’