Puschel and the Invisible Earworm

Beside the garden bench stood a flowerpot with white flowers and a little green watering can. On the meadow beside the garden bench, the little radio played a cheerful Wusel song. It sounded like bouncing paws and a very good afternoon. Puschel stopped halfway along the path. First his nose bobbed. Then his ears. Finally the whole Wusel bobbed.

Puschel“This song knows my paws! They want to dance along straight away.”

Flauschi“Then let us listen for a little longer.”

They listened together. Puschel especially remembered the little tune at the end. When the song was over, he kept humming it. While sitting down. While standing up. And even while deciding whether to sit down again.

Puschel“Mmm-mmm, mm-mmm! The song just keeps coming along with me.”

Flauschi turned the radio down and smiled. Puschel’s tail kept swaying to the beat, although the speaker was now playing a completely different tune.

Flauschi“It sounds as though you have an earworm.”

Puschel stopped humming halfway through a note. His tail stopped moving. Slowly, he raised a paw beside his ear without putting it inside. Then he looked at Flauschi with very wide eyes.

Puschel“An ear-WHAT?”

Flauschi“An earworm.”

Puschel“Is it long? Does it have feet? And how does it know my song?”

Flauschi was just about to answer when Puschel accidentally hummed two more notes. His own humming startled him. In his imagination, a funny word had turned into a tiny, very musical lodger. Of course, nobody could see an actual worm.

Puschel“It is singing again! Perhaps I need to rinse out my ears.”

Beside the bench stood the little watering jug for the flowers. Puschel picked it up by its handle and held it low in front of his belly. He looked very determined, but he did not yet have a good plan. Flauschi came straight over. The jug stayed well away from his ears.

Flauschi“Wait, dear Puschel. We do not need water for this earworm. Put the jug down first.”

Puschel set it on the grass. Flauschi sat beside him on the low bench. She did not laugh at him. She simply moved a little closer so that her calm voice had all his attention.

Puschel“But you said worm.”

Flauschi“That is true. The word sounds as though it means an animal. But an earworm is also the name for a tune that keeps playing in your thoughts or that you keep humming. Nothing is crawling inside your ear.”

Puschel relaxed his shoulders. He looked at the watering jug, then at the radio and finally back at Flauschi. His ears stood quite normally on his fluffy head. Suddenly everything felt much less mysterious.

Puschel“So nobody is living in my ears?”

Flauschi“Not because of this song. You have simply remembered a lovely tune. There is no need to be frightened of it.”

Puschel“And I do not have to build anyone a tiny bed?”

Flauschi“No. Nor do you have to make a tiny breakfast.”

Now Puschel giggled. An invisible guest ordering a crumb-sized bread roll in the morning was a wonderfully Wusel-like idea. It remained an idea. The song was simply a song.

Puschel“Then my earworm is really a humworm. Without a worm.”

Flauschi“A Wusel song with an especially good memory.”

They sat quietly together for a moment. Puschel hummed the little tune again, this time without a frightened look. Flauschi joined in softly. One little hum became a cosy concert for two.

Puschel“If the song wants to stay, it can at least sit with us on the bench.”

Flauschi“It may. But we decide how loudly we hum.”

Puschel nodded and hummed especially softly. Later, he carried the jug over to the flowers and watered the dry soil with Flauschi. The water went where it belonged. His ears only had Flauschi’s friendly voice to listen to.

Puschel“Good thing I asked. My song can stay. The jug belongs with the flowers.”

Flauschi smiled. Puschel bobbed the tip of his tail once more. And this time he knew exactly why.