The Insatiable Fenech Twins and the Tal-Mirakli Goose

The Mysterious Arrival

In the quaint town of Żebbuġ, where the church bells ring with a rhythm as predictable as the arrival of the No. 53 bus, something peculiar had landed, quite literally, in the central piazza. Renowned for its olives and less for its air traffic, the townsfolk were agog at the sight of an enormous goose, glittering like a disco ball, nestled beside the iconic statue of St. Philip. News spread faster than gossip at a Sunday family dinner, bringing people from as far as Sliema and Rabat, their curiosity piqued and their cameras ready. They called it the Tal-Mirakli Goose, an allusion to the dazzling church dome looming over the town.

The Not-so-plain Jane and Joe

Now the Fenech twins, Jane and Joe – not those ones, the other ones – were notorious for their insatiable appetite for extravagant foods and borderline absurd adventures. Jane fancied herself the queen of ħobż biż-żejt, while Joe was always on the prowl for the next twist on the classic rabbit stew. They approached the hubbub with a fervor usually reserved for Imnarja festival.

“Joe, you thinking what I’m thinking?” Jane’s eyes glinted with mischief.

“If it’s how we’re going to get the first slice of that golden goose, pastizz in hand, then yeah,” Joe replied, patting his backpack filled with Tupperware.

The Quest for a Golden Roast

Kicking into action, the twins decided to stake out near the goose, keeping an eye out for its potential departure because nothing was clear—was it here to stay or just on holiday? The council installed a 24/7 live-stream to deter pranksters and would-be bird-nappers, but little did they know that the Fenechs were a step ahead, camping out in a tent disguised as a traditional Maltese lacework balcony.

“Brilliant, isn’t it? Got the idea while at that lace exhibition in Gozo,” Jane whispered, binoculars in hand.

One evening, as the stars twinkled over the silent City of the Knights, a radiant glow emanated from the goose, intensifying until it suddenly took off into the night sky. Flashing their torches in sync, the Fenech twins sprinted after it, darting past timeworn buildings and dodging late-night pastizzi vendors.

A Twist in the Flight

The chase was as thrilling as the final lap at the Malta Marathon. Just when the Fenechs thought they were on track to snag a golden feather, the bird abruptly landed in Mdina, right atop the bastions. Screeching to a halt, they watched in awe as the goose transformed into a robotic contraption, its feathers folding into solar panels.

“Mela! I definitely did not see that coming,” Jane gasped, her dreams of a roasted bird evaporating.

The contraption beeped, projecting a hologram of a man who introduced himself as Sir Bargus, a forgotten Maltese inventor, who’d been operating the goose from his secret lab for years as part of a tourism initiative.

A Surprising Proposition

Joe, now sporting a look of half-confusion and half-hunger, glanced at Jane, “So, err, does this mean no golden roast then, Sir Bargus?”

“Afraid not, but how about becoming ambassadors for Malta’s latest attraction? The Tal-Mirakli Goose needs guides, and you two seem resourceful,” Sir Bargus offered, with a wink.

Jane and Joe exchanged a look that meant they would take the offer—and put their own spin on it. Their enthusiasm, however, came with a side of strategic planning, ensuring they’d still have time for their daily fix of pastizzi and seasonal feasts.

The Fowl Conclusion

Their lives thus entwined with the Tal-Mirakli Goose, the Fenech twins went on to fame not for their cooking but for their tours aboard a mechanical bird, spotting landmarks from the azure glint of the Blue Grotto to the fishing boats of Marsaxlokk. And while no golden roast was had, the recipe for success was simple: add a pinch of curiosity, stir in a dash of adventure, and always expect the unexpected in the amiable archipelago.

Uwejja, kollox jaqsam b’mod mhux mistenni in Malta, including the daily dish of news. Stay tuned to ‘Times of Mela’ for more tales with bizarre twists, turning the mundane into the fantastical, and always remember: life is too short not to chase after a mechanical goose at least once. Or twice, if you’ve got the energy.