When a day feels hard

Puschel sits quietly beside the lake. Even his fluffy tail seems tired. Puschel“I don’t know why, but I feel sad,” he says.

Flauschi sits beside him. Flauschi“Then we can just sit here,” she says. Flauschi“You don’t have to be cheerful for me.”

After a while, Puschel tells her a little about his day. Flauschi listens. They drink some water and watch two stars shimmer on the lake. Puschel still feels sad. But Flauschi listens and stays with him.

Puschel has spent a long time building a tower from wooden blocks. As he places the last block, his elbow nudges the bottom row. Everything tumbles down. Puschel“Stupid tower!” he shouts. His paws curl into fists.

Flauschi stays a little way back. Flauschi“You’re really angry,” she says. Puschel nods hard. Puschel“I want to throw the blocks!” Flauschi“You’re allowed to feel angry,” Flauschi replies. Flauschi“We’ll make sure nobody gets hurt and nothing gets broken. The blocks will stay on the floor. Shall I move the box aside for a moment?” Puschel nods.

He sits on the bench. Flauschi asks, Flauschi“Would you like some space, or shall I stay?” Puschel“Stay. But don’t say anything yet.” So she waits. Puschel presses his paws together, then lets go. That feels right for him just now.

After a while he points to a little block. Puschel“That one was my roof.” Flauschi listens. They don’t build another tower today. Together they put the blocks in the box. Puschel still feels angry. Even so, his paws can be gentle now.

A game is going on in the meadow. Puschel asked to join. A Wuselhörnchen“Our group is full already,” someone said. Now he sits on the bench, looking at his feet. The others are laughing far away. Puschel hears them laughing. He feels sad.

Flauschi doesn’t sit too close straight away. Flauschi“Is there room beside you?” Puschel moves over. Puschel“For you, yes.” He tells her what happened. Flauschi doesn’t tell him it couldn’t have been that bad. Flauschi“You wanted to belong. That hurt,” she says.

Puschel“Maybe nobody likes me,” Puschel whispers. Flauschi“You matter. Even when you can’t join a game,” Flauschi replies. Flauschi“I like being with you.” Puschel looks at her. For a while they listen to the grass rustling.

Flauschi asks if he would like to walk with her later. Puschel“Maybe later,” says Puschel. Puschel“I’ll stay here for now.” She stays too. The game in the meadow hasn’t changed. But on the bench, Puschel is no longer alone.

Tomorrow Flauschi will show a new craft idea at the meadow festival. She knows every step. Even so, one thought keeps going round in her head: what if she forgets how to begin in front of everyone?

Puschel finds her with craft paper on her lap. Puschel“Have you got a new idea?” Flauschi“Today I’ve got a big worry instead,” says Flauschi. She tells him about tomorrow. Puschel listens to the end. Then he asks, Puschel“Shall we just talk, or would you like a small plan?”

Flauschi would like a plan. She writes the first step on a card and puts it in her pocket. Puschel can stand beside the table tomorrow if she wants him to. Flauschi“And if it still doesn’t work?” she asks. Puschel“You can take a break and ask for help,” he says.

The worry is still there. The card is there too. Flauschi puts the rest of the paper away and joins Puschel on the bench. She doesn’t have to solve every possible mishap today.

Puschel wants to collect leaves, fix a box and help Flauschi sort things. But even the empty basket feels heavy today. Puschel“I’m so slow,” he mutters. Puschel“And I haven’t done anything yet.”

Flauschi looks at him. Flauschi“You don’t have to show me how much you can do. The basket can stay empty today.” Puschel strokes its handle. Puschel“Even if everyone else is busy?” Flauschi“Even then.”

They choose a quiet place in the shade. Puschel drinks some water and settles back comfortably. Flauschi asks if he would like company. He nods. She brings her own leaves and sorts them quietly beside him.

Puschel doesn’t count finished tasks. On the way back, Flauschi carries the empty basket because he asks her to. Today wasn’t a day for big plans. Flauschi still enjoyed being with him.

Flauschi has invited two friends to a craft afternoon. But she has written the wrong day on one card. When her friend arrives, nothing is ready. Flauschi feels her ears grow warm. Flauschi“That’s my fault,” she says quietly.

Puschel looks at the card. Puschel“It really does say the wrong day.” He doesn’t joke about it. Flauschi wishes she could hide behind the paper. Flauschi“Now everyone will think they can’t rely on me.” Puschel“You made a mistake,” says Puschel. Puschel“You’re still our Flauschi.”

She goes to her friend. Flauschi“I’m sorry. I mixed up the day. The craft afternoon isn’t ready today.” She asks whether they can find another day together. Her friend feels disappointed and says so. Flauschi listens.

Later she checks the second invitation with Puschel. The mistake was uncomfortable. They haven’t hidden it, and they’ve found a next step. Flauschi still feels embarrassed. But she doesn’t have to be alone with that feeling. Puschel sits beside her on the bench.

Puschel has found a beautiful leaf. He wants to show it to a friend right away. Then he remembers: his friend lives far away now. Puschel holds the leaf very still. Puschel“I miss him,” he says.

Flauschi sits with him. Puschel“What do you miss most?” Puschel talks about their walks and how his friend always found the crookedest sticks. The memory makes him smile for a moment. Then he feels sad again. Both feelings are allowed.

Flauschi“Would you like to put the leaf in your memory book?” Flauschi asks. Puschel thinks. Today he would rather just talk about it. So Flauschi listens. She doesn’t promise his friend will come back soon.

That evening Puschel puts the leaf beside his little drawing of a crooked stick. He still misses his friend. The leaf and drawing remind him of their walks. And Flauschi knows a little more about the friend he misses.