Thursday, April 11, 2019

Kolaches with Birds and Bees


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The 26 eclectic-genre short stories for my #AtoZChallenge are excerpts from travelogue notes by
novel character Gahlen, who first appeared in SHARDS OF MEMORY – Oral History in a Heartbeat.

Each A-to-Z daily post is a complete, stand-alone tale - partly true, partly fiction.



Kolaches with Birds and Bees
Genre: Young Adult Science Non-fiction
(363 words)

We were gathered around Selena and Micha’s kitchen table. While visiting this quaint Czech village, they had invited us to their home for coffee and dessert. The table setting included urns of steaming hot coffee and platters of round pastries topped with sweet fillings.
When their young daughter reached for a poppyseed-filled kolache, Micha slowed her hand. “Tereza, tell our guests something you learned in school.”
Her disappointment slowly turned to delight. “We learned about the birds and the bees. Would you like me to recite the lesson?”
Our nervousness over hearing a lesson on reproduction was clearly misinterpreted.
“Tereza,” her father said, “our guests are growing restless for dessert. Give your report so they can enjoy your mother’s kolaches.”
“Our temperatures and seasons,” Tereza began, “are not much different from weather in your Wisconsin. Snow comes often in winter. Otherwise, we have warmer temperatures and enjoy the entertainment of what is called the birds and the bees. Let me tell you about this.
“Here in Hosti, Bohemia, we have many colorful birds: grouse and rose finch and even woodpeckers. In fish ponds, you will see white-tailed eagles and cranes. Storks and buzzards frequent our wooded areas and valleys. But we have no crows, none at all.
“Instead, magpies have taken over, especially the white-throated ones. They are not nocturnal and do not keep company with nightingales. They tend to frequent areas where hives of honey bees proliferate. That is how bees keep their population high, by . . . um, proliferation.”
Tereza stopped until her mother offered encouragement.
“The magpies do not eat honey and they are not bee-eaters. They prefer eating mice and cockroaches, and spiders whole. That is why these birds and bees get along so well together, or rather apart. They do not eat or sting each other.
“I like magpies because they eat things I really, really do not like, especially creepy crawly spiders.” Smiling, she said, “Now for dessert.”
Selena gave us a conspiratorial wink. “She only agrees to tell her birds and bees story when promised an extra kolache, preferably poppyseed.”
No one fought over a choice of prune or poppyseed. There were plenty for everyone.

*****



19 comments:

  1. In Chicago (with the second highest Polish population in the world after Warsaw) they're kolaczis. Whatever you call them, they're great.

    John @ The Sound Of One Hand Typing

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    1. I agree, John, they go by many names but the taste is always delicious.

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  2. They look delicious!
    www.findingeliza.com

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    1. My two Grammar always served them with whip cream but that might have been a Wisconsin dairy state thing.

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  3. That dessert looks great. I love the twist on the "birds and the bees" lesson. Plus, I learned something, which I always appreciate. Great work!

    J Lenni Dorner~ Co-host of the #AtoZchallenge, Debut Author Interviewer, Reference& Speculative Fiction Author

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    1. That's why I enjoy the research part of writing, always something new to learn. Thank you for visiting today.

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  4. I don't think I have every had a Kolache however they look yummy and now if I do see one I will be reminded of your birds and bees tale with its little twist that saved the situation.
    Fran
    TravelGenee visiting from the A to Z challenge.

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  5. We all had/have a sweet tooth so it was great to count the poppyseed and prune kolaches as a fruit choice.

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  6. An interesting tale which tempted me to go looking for a kolache recipe!

    My A-Z of Children's Stories

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    1. Hunting for a pastry shop is more my speed, Keith, but ones that sell kolaches are hard to find.

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  7. In my experience you never know the direction a story will take with children. lol
    Stephanie Finnell
    @randallbychance from
    Katy Trail Creations

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    1. So true, Stephanie. In this case, there was a sigh of relief.

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  8. I love poppyseed-filled kolache (my step dad calls them Kolachkis,(sp?) he's polish)and makes really good ones! Now this story I got. LOL! Happy A to Z...

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    1. Ah, nothing like home-made kolaches/kolachkis no matter how they are spelled.

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  9. Interesting tale about bees and birds but what is kolache?

    https://ideasolsi65.blogspot.com/2019/04/mouth-parts-of-body.html?m=1

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  10. Kolaches are round pastries topped with sweet fillings. But you have to eat one to really know what it is!

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  11. Amusing 'true' take, Now, please can I have an extra kolache? They look so good> I promise to visit again.

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