Puschel’s Very Clingy Laundry

The little meadow beside Wuselwood smelled of fresh grass and clean laundry. A line waited between two wooden posts. Flauschi set the woven laundry basket beside it. Puschel stood beside the basket. Very ready. Very important.

Puschel“Today I shall be your very fastest laundry helper!”

Flauschi“Perfect. You can pass me the things, and we will hang them up together.”

Flauschi fastened a purple sock with a wooden peg. Puschel lifted a pale yellow undershirt out of the basket and held it in front of him. Then he considered the route around the post. It was quite short. Under the line, however, it was even shorter.

Puschel“I shall take the shortcut. It saves at least two Wusel steps.”

He passed Flauschi the undershirt, ducked and slipped under the line. His forehead tuft brushed the sock. The peg slipped off, the sock slipped farther — and rested softly over his ear. Puschel straightened up.

Puschel“Funny. The wind has suddenly gone very quiet on one side.”

Flauschi“Perhaps you should check your ear.”

Puschel felt the sock and giggled. He decided he did not have time to take it off just yet. After all, a tiny mint green pair of trousers was waiting in the basket. Meanwhile, Flauschi had hung up the undershirt.

Puschel“The sock may help for a moment. I will fetch the next thing!”

He draped the trousers over the line and picked up a peg. But instead of walking around the end, he took his shortcut again. The undershirt brushed his fluffy head. A little breeze helped it along. Now the yellow shirt sat on his hair like an oversized hat. The sock slid across to his other ear. His eyes were clear, but his important helper expression had vanished.

Puschel“Flauschi? The laundry is following me.”

Flauschi paused. Puschel stood before her with a sock over his ear and an undershirt on his head. The tip of his tail bobbed suspiciously close to the trousers, which had not been pegged yet.

Flauschi“I think it has mistaken you for an unusually fluffy drying rack.”

Puschel“Then it ought to ask first!”

Puschel turned towards the basket. His tail brushed the trousers. The little trousers slipped from the line and rested loosely on the broad tip of his tail. Puschel stopped. Very slowly, he looked behind him.

Puschel“Now even my tail is getting dressed. And I have no plans at all today!”

Flauschi giggled. Puschel looked from his yellow head decoration to his mint green tail decoration. Then he joined in. Their laughter bounced between them without either of them needing to pull the line.

Flauschi“Shall I rescue you from your very clingy laundry?”

Puschel“Please. I think I am already drying behind the ears.”

Flauschi carefully lifted the sock from his ear. Puschel stayed still while she took the undershirt off his hair. He handed her the little trousers himself. His tail fluffed out with relief.

Flauschi“How about a new job? You hold the peg basket. I take one peg, and you pass me the next.”

Puschel“A peg master! That sounds like a job with a good view.”

They stood side by side in front of the line. The little basket rested safely in Puschel’s paws. Flauschi hung up the sock, undershirt and trousers again. This time Puschel walked around the post when he needed to fetch something. It took two extra Wusel steps. In return, he came back with two uncovered ears.

Puschel“A peg for the sock. A peg for the shirt. A peg for the trousers. No peg for me.”

Flauschi“Exactly. You are already in very good hands.”

Finally, Puschel wanted to fetch the peach coloured sock from the big basket. He leaned into it. Unnoticed, the sock caught softly on the long fur of his back. Puschel straightened up and showed Flauschi his empty paws.

Puschel“The last sock must have gone home already.”

Flauschi noticed the little peach coloured corner on his back. She smiled. The rest of the laundry fluttered neatly on the line. They sat down on the grass beside it, leaving the line clear above and behind them.

Flauschi“One of them seems to want to stay with you.”

Puschel looked over his shoulder. There it was. The last sock. He took it off and laid it in his lap.

Puschel“It may come along. But it has to do its own walking!”

Flauschi laughed so warmly that Puschel joined in again. The sock, of course, stayed where it was. Socks did not have paws, after all. And Puschel had certainly done enough walking for other things today.