The Valley of the Gentle Giants
Everyone says the giants in the faraway valley are huge and frightening. But Firlefanz wonders: is that really true?
Firlefanz woke up and stretched happily. The sun shone warmly through the window, and the birds sang their morning song. For days, Firlefanz had been thinking about something special: somewhere, very far away, there was supposed to be a valley where enormous beings lived — the gentle giants. Everyone said they were terribly big and scary. But Firlefanz wondered: was that really true?
In the kitchen, Firlefanz ate his jam bread and drank warm milk with honey. He thought about the giants. Perhaps they weren't so bad after all. Perhaps they were simply very, very big. And perhaps... they were lonely? Firlefanz thoughtfully wiped the honey from his mouth.
Firlefanz knocked on Papalapapp's door. His father was sitting in his favorite armchair, drinking coffee. "Papalapapp, I want to travel to the valley of the gentle giants. Will you come with me?" Papalapapp set his cup down and smiled warmly. "Of course," he said. "An adventure like this is best done with two."
So they got dressed. Firlefanz put on his green hat, slipped into his brown boots, put on his warm jacket, and picked up his walking stick. Papalapapp wrapped his scarf around his neck and packed a bag full of cookies. "Who knows how far it is," he laughed. "You always need cookies."
And so the two set off. Over seven seas, where the waves sparkled golden. Over seven deserts, where the sand shimmered like sugar. Over seven high mountains, over seven rivers, seven forests, and seven wide, wide meadows. Until at last...
...they arrived at the edge of a deep, green valley. Down below it was completely still. Unusually still. Not a single growl could be heard. Firlefanz and Papalapapp looked at each other. Then they carefully climbed down into the valley.
The valley was wonderful. The trees were as big as houses, the flowers as big as umbrellas. And then they saw it: behind the biggest tree of all lay something — as big as a hill. Something soft and fluffy. Something that was sleeping very peacefully.
The creature slowly opened one eye. Then the other. It was enormous — as big as a house — with soft golden-brown fur, small round ears, and the most peaceful gaze Firlefanz had ever seen. "Hello," said the giant in the tiniest, quietest voice. "Are you... not afraid of me?"
"Not at all," said Firlefanz. The giant — his name was Mummel — looked very surprised. He had been alone in the valley for a long time, because everyone who came ran away immediately. "But I would never harm anyone," said Mummel quietly. "I like to sleep and look at clouds. That's all."
Firlefanz and Papalapapp spent the whole afternoon with Mummel. They sat on his enormous, soft paw and ate cookies together. Mummel held them both as gently as a summer breeze. He showed them his favorite clouds and told them their names.
When evening came, Firlefanz gave a big yawn. It was time to go home. Mummel smiled his soft smile. "Will you come again?" he asked quietly. "Always," said Firlefanz. On the way home, Firlefanz leaned against Papalapapp and slowly fell asleep — dreaming of gentle giants and cloud-shaped cookies.