The Curious Case of the Disappearing Għads: A Maltese Agricultural Mystery
The Mystery Begins in the Heart of Gozo
In the picturesque island of Gozo, where the shades of green rival the colors of a festa’s fireworks, something peculiar was afoot. It was the onset of summer, and Karmnu the farmer noticed something amiss with his prized għads (broad beans), which were as renowned in Gozo as the Azure Window once was.
“Now where on earth could they have gone?” Karmnu puzzled, scratching his head. “I was gearing up for a bountiful season to make the finest bigilla this side of the Mediterranean!”
In the farming community, where everyone knew everyone else’s business before they did themselves, the word of the disappearing għads spread like butter on ħobż biż-żejt. Soon enough, neighbors from as far as Mdina to the winding alleyways of Valletta were chiming in with theories.
Every Local Has a Theory
Leli from Mdina, who fancied himself a bit of a detective, proffered his hypothesis with the confidence of a festa statue-bearer. “Clearly, we’re dealing with a case of alien abduction. I’ve heard they’ve got a taste for our Maltese produce. Evidently, the għads are next after the ġbejna incident of ’92.”
“Uwejja, Leli! Aliens, seriously? I blame the tourists; they can’t get enough of our food. Someone should check their luggage at the airport!” retorted Franġiska, an avid gardener from the bustling village of Marsaxlokk.
Plot Thickens with an Unexpected Twist
Despite the comical theories, the situation was growing grave – no għads meant no tasty spreads at the village feasts. The islanders decided to take actions into their own hands. A covert night watch was set up, with Carmel acting as the chief watcher, relegated to a ħamrija (farm hut) furnished with only a transistor radio and a half-eaten pastizz.
However, it wasn’t until the full moon bathed Gozo in its silvery glow that the culprit was caught red-handed. It wasn’t aliens, tourists, or even the infamous Gozitan night bandit. It was a herd of plump, guilt-ridden fenek (rabbits) caught in the act of chomping down on the last of Karmnu’s għads.
The Plot Hop-pens!
But wait – another twist to the tale! As Carmel moved closer, he realized these weren’t any ordinary fenek. They were fluffier, chubbier, and… wearing miniature festa badges?
“Ah! So you’re the mischiev’s lot who escaped from Siggiewi’s ‘Fenek Pageant’!” Carmel exclaimed, remembering the village’s peculiar event where rabbits were paraded in costumes, a festivity that had been all the rage on Maltese social media.
Resolution or Just the Beginning?
The fenek were returned to their rightful owners, the pageant organizer’s face redder than a Maltese tomato. Apologies were made, fences were fortified, and in an act of peace (and perhaps a nudge from karma), the Siggiewi pageant committee pledged a year’s supply of għads to Karmnu.
And so, Gozo once again danced to the rhythm of agricultural life, the sun blessing the archipelago with enough warmth to ensure the broad beans would flourish. The bigilla was saved, the islanders were happy, and the fenek? Well, they gained a new appreciation for salads.
“Well, the rabbits have done one good thing, they’ve turned the village feasts into the biggest fenkata (rabbit feast) this island has ever seen. Silver linings, eh?” Karmnu laughed, as the sun set on another Maltese mystery, solved in the most unexpected of ways. – Interview with Karmnu, the għads grower
In the end, whether it was the mischief of the rabbits, the solidarity of the community, or just plain old island life running its course, the tale of the disappearing għads would be recounted for years to come at every ktieb il-kċina (cookbook) launch and festa celebration from Xagħra to Xlendi.
Times of Mela Interactive Engagement:
- Vote for your favorite għad comeback recipe on our Facebook poll.
- Post your funniest fenek costume idea and hashtag it #MelaFenekFiesta.
- Join us in a live discussion on rabbit-proofing your gardens – the Maltese way!
Mela, dear readers, while you ponder over the next vegetable escapade or fenek frenzy, remember, in Malta, each new day can sprout a laugh just as easily as a għad in rich Maltese soil.
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