Il-Każ tal-Fenek li Ma Kienx Fenek: A Maltese Mix-Up

The Mysterious Heist in Mdina

One breezy morning in Mdina, the ancient silent city awoke to a ruckus unlike any other. Not because the tour guides had suddenly taken to singing, but because something valuable was missing. Tucked away in a little side street was ‘Il-Mużew tas-Serkin,’ a modest museum boasting a giant rabbit sculpture made entirely of Maltese limestone, celebrated for its magical ability to grant ‘good luck’ to anyone who patted its head. Rumor had it that the sculpture, lovingly named ‘Ir-Rabbit tal-Fortuna,’ was gone, nada, completely disappeared! Uwejja, how does a statue just vanish?

Local resident Ċetta, known for her extraordinary ħobż biż-żejt sandwich-making skills, was the first to sound the alarm. She explained in an interview:

“I was just out to get some ġbejniet for my sandwiches, you know, for that extra kick. Then, pazam! The rabbit was missing. I almost dropped my loaf!”

The Getaway Car… Or Was It a Boat?

The townspeople of Mdina suspected foul play from the get-go. Initial reports speculated that smugglers had used a getaway car, but the city’s narrow streets made that as likely as findin’ iceberg in Marsalforn Bay. Instead, witnesses claimed they saw a mysterious boat sailing from Sliema to Gozo with what appeared to be rabbit ears poking out from under a tarp. Uwejja, a boat from Sliema to Gozo full of tourists with rabbit ear headbands, how unusual!

Enter The Detective

To solve the case, the authorities called in famed local detective Brighella Fenech, whose ability to sniff out crime rivalled the best hunting dogs in Qormi. Brighella was sharper than a żaqq of pastizzi on a Sunday morning and had a knack for seein’ through the foggiest of cases.

The Plot Twist… Of Course

Just as Brighella began investigating, a shocking twist hit the headlines of ‘Times of Mela’ — Ir-Rabbit tal-Fortuna was never stolen. It turned out that a group of overzealous tourists had been posing for pictures and buried the statue under a heap of ħobż biż-żejt sandwiches, mistaking it for a picnic table given its flat head. The ‘boat sighting’ was actually a crowded ferry full of rabbit-themed partygoers celebrating ‘Il-Festival tal-Fenek,’ which comically coincided with the statue’s disappearance.

Post-Plot Twist: Rabbits, Sandwiches, and Revelations

Brighella couldn’t help but chuckle as she joined locals and tourists alike, now laughing over the mishap. People were once again lining up to pat the statue’s head, this time making sure not to bury it under a mountain of Maltese bread. And just for kicks, Brighella patted the rabbit’s head herself. Maybe, just maybe, a little good luck wouldn’t hurt.

The mix-up became known as ‘Il-Każ tal-Fenek li Ma Kienx Fenek,’ and it wasn’t long before the souvenir shops started selling t-shirts with rabbit sculptures buried under sandwiches.

“Well, that was a first,” Detective Fenech mused. “A crime solved by sandwiches. Now that’s what I call a ‘tasty’ investigation.”

Interactive Fun

Following the peculiar case, ‘Times of Mela’ now offers its readers an interactive map of Malta, pinpointing all the bizarre happenings from our stories. Will you find the next quirky occurrence in Valletta, or maybe Birgu, with its knights and all? Stay tuned for more adventures that might just make you say, “Mela, I’m living in a comedy show!”

Want to share your own wacky Maltese misadventure? Tweet us your tale using #MaltaMixUps and get featured in our next installment!

Remember, folks, when in Malta, even the statues can serve up a good story… and sometimes, a sandwich or two. Kollox jaqa’ taħt… as long as it’s not a pile of ħobż biż-żejt!