Tulla in Tangles

Liebchen and Tulla were sisters – two toy poodles small enough to hold in your lap. But nothing else about these sisters matched.

Liebchen’s hair was the color of ripe peaches. Tulla’s coat was as white as whipped cream.

Liebchen was strong with a steady stride. Tulla was smaller and lighter and ran like a wind-up toy, often falling over herself.

Liebchen never ventured into the street or into the patch of woods behind her house. She followed the rules. Tulla was more curious and more likely to get into trouble.

She lived in the house behind Liebchen’s that was connected by a small hill with the woods nearby. Often, when no one was looking, Tulla would run down the hill in search of her sister. Without even a bark from Tulla, Liebchen could usually sense her coming and would run to the back door. She would bark and scratch at the screen door until someone let her out.

The two sisters would jump on each other, standing on their two back legs. They would nip at each other’s tails and wrestle in the grass. That’s the kind of playing dogs do with their best friends.

After a while, Tulla’s family would realize she was missing and look for her in Liebchen’s yard.

One day, Tulla had meant to sneak out and visit Liebchen but as she ran down the hill, her little feet got twisted around each other and she tumbled into the nearby woods instead. Tulla was curious. “Look at all the leaves and pebbles in here. Sticks – even insects,” she thought. She sniffed and pushed sticks and leaves aside with her nose. One sniff led to another, then another. Soon she was deeper into the woods and got tangled in a ball of leaves and vines.

She tried to break free by pulling on her legs but she wasn’t strong enough. She barked several times but no one answered. Tulla started to cry. Would anyone hear her or find her?

After a long while, Tulla heard her name being called. “Tulla, Tulla, where are you? She’s not in Liebchen’s back yard.”

When Liebchen heard people calling for Tulla, she became worried. Liebchen could sense Tulla, but not this time, so her sister must be far away. But where? Liebchen began barking and scratching at her door. Gammy let Liebchen out and the poodle began to sniff and sniff, trying to smell Tulla. SNIFF, SNIFF. Finally, Liebchen got a whiff of Tulla’s scent. She followed the smell. It got stronger and stronger but was leading to the woods where Liebchen knew she was NOT allowed. She looked up at Gammy and barked as if to ask, “Can I go in there?”

Gammy said, “It’s okay, Liebchen. Keep sniffing. Lead the way!”

Finally, Liebchen sniffed her way to Tulla, who was still crying and trying to pull herself out of the brush. When she saw Liebchen and Gammy, she bowed her head as if to say, “I’m sorry.”

Gammy gently removed sticks and leaves from around Tulla’s legs until she was free. The two sisters licked each other and walked back out of the woods, safe and happy.

09 - Tulla in Tangles by Gammy