An Apple Monster Without Teeth

Only 24 days until Halloween! Warm light came through the kitchen’s two round windows. Puschel sat down at the wooden table. Puschel“Today I would like to meet a monster,” he said. Flauschi put two plates in front of them. Flauschi“A friendly one?” Puschel“Very friendly. But with a big mouth!” A bowl held washed apple pieces that Flauschi had already prepared. The knife had been put away long before.

Both friends washed their paws. Then Flauschi took two small round apple slices and placed them on her plate as eyes. A little piece became the nose. Below it, she arranged curved apple wedges into a smiling mouth. Flauschi“My monster looks as though it has just heard something funny,” she said. Puschel leaned forward curiously. Puschel“Perhaps my whispered boo from yesterday.”

Now it was his plate’s turn. He placed the eyes far apart. His apple nose sat almost between them. Puschel“That way it can see all the way to the door,” he explained. For the mouth, he chose two curved pieces. He pushed one to the left and the other to the right. But one piece slid a little farther across the smooth plate. Suddenly one side of the mouth hung lower than the other.

Puschel paused. Puschel“Oh. My monster has a crooked smile.” Flauschi looked at the plate, then at him. Flauschi“Perhaps it is grinning especially happily.” Puschel tried to push the lower side upwards. As he did, the nose moved sideways. Puschel“Now it looks as though it is sniffing its own ear!” Both friends giggled. Puschel put the nose back between the eyes.

Puschel“Doesn’t a monster need teeth?” he asked. Flauschi shook her head. Flauschi“Our apple monster can smile without teeth.” They looked at the two plates. No sharp point or little stick held the pieces together. They simply lay on the plates. Puschel“Then it is a monster with a soft grin,” said Puschel. Puschel“And mine grins uphill!”

He raised a paw beside his mouth. Puschel“I could give it a voice.” Flauschi nodded. Flauschi“If you like.” Puschel spoke very quietly: Puschel“Hello. I am the crooked apple monster. My mouth has a hill.” Flauschi answered for her plate: Flauschi“Hello. Mine has a curve.” Then both friends spoke in their own voices again. The monsters were only their little game.

Flauschi“Which piece shall we eat first?” asked Flauschi. Puschel looked at his plate. Puschel“The nose. Then it cannot sniff its ear any more.” They took small pieces and ate calmly, sitting down. When one eye was gone, his monster suddenly looked as though it was winking. Puschel waited until he had finished chewing before laughing. Puschel“It is saying goodbye!”

At last, only the empty plates stood on the table. They tidied up together. Flauschi“We could make fruit faces again at the party,” said Flauschi. Flauschi“Anyone who wants to can join in.” Puschel nodded. Puschel“Then my monster will have a crooked smile again.” Outside, the whole pumpkin with its pale crescent was waiting. Today it had gained two funny apple friends.