A Party Plan with Two Pumpkins

The next morning, the little pumpkin was waiting on the garden table. Its curved stalk still pointed upwards at an angle, and the pale mark on its skin still looked like a smile.

Flauschi put a sheet of paper beside it. Flauschi‘Twenty-nine days,’ she said. Flauschi‘Today we’ll choose three ideas for our Halloween party.’

Puschel‘Pumpkin!’ Puschel called at once.

Flauschi drew an orange pumpkin. Beside it she drew a little ghost with round eyes and a friendly waving paw. Flauschi‘Funny decorations,’ she said. Flauschi‘What else?’

Puschel fetched another sheet. With great care, he drew another pumpkin and placed it partly over Flauschi’s first one.

Flauschi paused with her pencil. Flauschi‘We’ve already got a pumpkin.’

Puschel‘Now we’ve got twice the pumpkin happiness,’ explained Puschel. Puschel‘That’s an idea of its own.’

Flauschi giggled. Then she moved the paper pumpkins together so they could still see both. Flauschi‘They can stay together. But our party also needs room for anyone who doesn’t feel like being spooked.’

She drew a soft cushion beneath a little moon. Puschel looked at it. Puschel‘A quiet corner?’

Flauschi‘Exactly. Somewhere to sit, tell stories, or simply watch.’

Puschel nodded and drew a round plate beside it. Puschel‘And afterwards we’ll eat something nice. I just don’t know what yet.’

Flauschi‘We can find that out later.’ Flauschi put down her pencil. There were no long lists on the sheet, just a few pictures: the pumpkins, the waving ghost, the cosy corner, and the plate.

Puschel‘Don’t we need a hundred other things?’ asked Puschel.

Flauschi shook her head. Flauschi‘We need a party we both want to have. It doesn’t have to be perfect.’

Puschel nudged his paper pumpkin a little closer to hers. Puschel‘Then my pumpkin is happy beside yours.’

They looked at their plan. Tomorrow they would begin with the waving ghost. For today, there was already enough happiness on the paper.