Puschel’s Little Adventures

Puschel and Hibernation with a Breakfast Break

Picture story6 scenesabout 4 min
Puschel sleeps with his little brown teddy beneath the pink blanket while snow falls outside.
Snow outside, snuggles inside.

Snowflakes danced outside the two round bedroom windows. A thin white layer was already settling on the branches.

Puschel had not noticed any of it yet.

He lay in their shared wooden bed, his head on a green pillow and the pink knitted blanket pulled up to his nose. His little brown teddy bear was tucked in his arm. Only Teddy’s ears peeked out.

Flauschi came over to the bed.

Flauschi“Good morning, Puschel. Breakfast is ready.”

One blue eye opened.

Puschel looked at Flauschi. Then at the window. Then at the snowflakes.

Slowly, he pulled the blanket a little higher.

Flauschi calls Puschel to breakfast. He pulls up the blanket and holds Teddy.
One look outside has changed the sleeping schedule.
Puschel“I’m afraid that won’t be possible.”
Flauschi“What won’t?”
Puschel“Breakfast. I’m hibernating now.”

Flauschi looked at the little bit of Puschel still sticking out from under the blanket.

Flauschi“Since when?”
Puschel“Since I looked out of the window.”

He gently hugged Teddy closer.

Puschel“We Wuselhörnchen belong to the squirrel family, after all. It’s snowing outside. A squirrel has to follow nature.”

Flauschi sat on the free edge of the bed. A little smile tugged at her mouth.

Flauschi“Then let’s take a closer look at nature.”

Puschel pushed the blanket beneath his chin. He needed both ears free to listen, after all.

Flauschi“Hedgehogs, for example, hibernate. Their bodies become much cooler. Their hearts beat more slowly, and they breathe less often. That saves energy.”

Puschel put a paw on his chest.

Puschel puts a paw on his chest and listens carefully to Flauschi, with Teddy in his other arm.
Puschel’s heart still goes thump as usual.
Puschel“Mine’s still going thump as usual.”
Flauschi“And so it should. Your body isn’t made for hibernation.”

Puschel studied his blanket.

Puschel“And I thought I was almost ready.”

Flauschi smiled.

Flauschi“A warm blanket doesn’t make a hibernator. Even hedgehogs wake up from time to time. But we still leave their winter shelters undisturbed.”
Puschel“So we shouldn’t knock and ask if anyone wants breakfast.”
Flauschi“Exactly.”

Puschel nodded. Then he pointed at the snowy window.

Holding little Teddy, Puschel points at the snowy round window and asks Flauschi about squirrels.
Getting up is part of winter rest?
Puschel“But squirrels stay in their cosy nests too.”
Flauschi“In their dreys, yes. When it’s cold, they rest more. People often call that winter rest. They stay much more alert and get up regularly to eat.”

Puschel lifted his head.

Puschel“Wait. Getting up is part of it?”
Flauschi“Yes. To find their hidden nuts, for example.”

Puschel looked at Teddy.

Puschel“We’ve only hidden you under the blanket. That won’t help much with breakfast.”

Teddy said nothing. His round ear rested against Puschel’s tummy.

Puschel“And what about us Wuselhörnchen?”
Flauschi“We don’t hibernate or take that kind of winter rest. In winter we’re awake too. We eat, play and go outside.”

Puschel thought for a moment.

Puschel“So being related doesn’t mean you have the same sleeping schedule.”
Flauschi“Exactly right.”
Puschel and Flauschi smile down at Puschel’s rumbling tummy. Teddy stays in his arm.
His tummy is already thinking about breakfast.

Just then, Puschel’s tummy rumbled.

They both looked down.

Puschel“My tummy’s clearly been listening carefully.”
Flauschi“It’s already thinking about breakfast.”

Puschel laughed and sat up. The pink blanket slipped into his lap.

Then he looked at Teddy.

Puschel“I have one more question.”
Flauschi“I’m listening.”
Puschel“After breakfast, when we come back in from the snow: can I snuggle under the blanket with Teddy? Just because it’s cosy?”
Flauschi“Of course.”
Puschel stands beside Flauschi with Teddy in his arm, holding her paw and looking happily back at the bed.
Hibernation is cancelled. Winter snuggles are happening.

Puschel’s ears perked up.

Carefully, he folded back the blanket, put both feet on the floor and stood up. Teddy could come to breakfast in his arm.

With his free paw, Puschel took Flauschi’s paw. Then he looked back happily at his warm bed.

Puschel“Hibernation is cancelled. Winter snuggles are happening.”