Puschel and the Rustling Hiding Place

Puschel pulled the last leaf onto the pile. It was a little yellow leaf, and he placed it right on top.

Puschel“Finished. Now the leaves just need to go into the basket.”

Flauschi put the basket beside him. Puschel looked at the basket. Then he looked at the leaf pile. The basket was empty and boring. The leaf pile looked as though you could disappear inside it.

Puschel“Close your eyes for a moment.”

Flauschi closed her eyes. There was a loud rustle.

Puschel“Now you can look for me.”

Flauschi opened her eyes. A bushy tail was sticking out of the leaf pile.

Flauschi“Shall I start looking yet?”

Puschel“Why?”

Flauschi“Your tail is still sticking out.”

The tail disappeared. On the other side, a nose poked out between two leaves.

Flauschi“Now your nose is sticking out.”

The nose disappeared. For a moment, everything was quiet.

Puschel“What about now?”

Flauschi“Now I can hear you.”

For once, Puschel could not think of anything to say. That was actually quite helpful for hiding. Unfortunately, the little yellow leaf tickled his nose.

Puschel“Achoo!”

The leaf sailed through the air and landed in the basket.

Puschel poked his head out of the pile. He looked at the leaf in the basket. Then he looked at Flauschi.

Puschel“Did you see that? I can sneeze leaves into the basket!”

Flauschi“You can do one leaf already.”

Puschel moved the basket closer. Then he took a deep breath.

Flauschi“Do you actually need to sneeze again?”

Puschel held his breath for a moment. Then he let it out again.

Puschel“No. Now that I want to, of course I cannot.”

So they gathered up the leaves with their paws. When the basket was almost full, Flauschi spotted one more red leaf on Puschel’s head.

Flauschi“That one is still missing.”

Puschel took it off and placed it on top of the basket.

Puschel“Good thing you found me. Otherwise I would still be wearing that tomorrow.”