Moonlight on the Party Map

Only 23 days until Halloween! In the garden, the sky was slowly turning deep blue. Puschel carried the paper plan to the low wooden table. Flauschi put the pencils beside it. The two paper ghosts waved from the fence. The three bats hung on their short string. Flauschi“Today we will choose the place for our party,” said Flauschi. Flauschi“Somewhere everyone can feel comfortable.”

Puschel looked beneath the big tree. There was a small patch of open garden space. Puschel“We can stand together here,” he said. Puschel“And anyone who wants a break can stay at the edge.” Flauschi nodded. Together they walked the short path from the table to the tree. A handful of leaves lay on the stones. They gently moved them aside without reaching into the flower beds.

Puschel“This way we can find our way back too,” said Puschel. Flauschi looked at the path. Flauschi“Yes. It stays clear. We will not stretch anything across it.” Then both friends returned to the table. On the paper, Flauschi drew a tree and the whole pumpkin beside it. Its pale crescent still looked like a crooked smile. Little dashes showed the short path. Flauschi“This is our party map,” she explained. Flauschi“Without any words.”

The moon appeared above the treetops. Puschel lifted his yellow pencil. Puschel“That belongs on it too!” He began a big round curve. But his paw made a little dent, then a thick bump. Another dent followed. He looked at the paper. Puschel“Oh. My moon has turned into a potato.” Flauschi leaned closer. Flauschi“Quite a big potato.”

Puschel held the pencil in the air. Puschel“Perhaps it grows in the sky?” Flauschi“Then the sky would have to be a vegetable patch,” Flauschi replied. Both friends giggled. Puschel drew small round marks inside his yellow shape. Puschel“Now my moon potato has craters.” He looked up and then back at the map. Puschel“The real moon is much rounder. But mine still shows what I mean.”

Flauschi“We can leave it like that,” said Flauschi. Flauschi“Our map does not have to be perfect.” Puschel imagined the visitors. Puschel“Then I will say: We meet by the potato moon.” Flauschi smiled. Flauschi“And I will show them the tree and the clear path.” They turned the paper so that both could look at their drawings comfortably. Nobody had to walk backwards around the table.

Once more, they walked to the place they had chosen. Puschel stopped beside the tree. Puschel“Here I would like to try my quiet boo at the party. Only if someone wants to play.” Flauschi“And here we can simply talk together,” said Flauschi. Moonlight shone through the leaves. It was a familiar place that felt cosy even without spooky games.

Back at the table, they looked at the party map. A tree, a pumpkin, a path and a very bumpy moon were on it. Puschel“Everything found,” said Puschel happily. They gathered the pencils and took the paper somewhere dry. The decorations stayed as before. Only their map had grown something new: a moon potato showing them the way to the party.