Dad's Storytelling

"Daddy, next! Read the next one!" "Yes. Don't rush me." With his daughter on his broad shoulders, Balsam opened the picture book. Nadia, his wife, who worked on a farm near the capital city, watched from a short distance away with a warm smile. "And the brave knight—" "Does this man win?" "Who knows? Let's read on." Balsam was reading a picture book to his daughter with the same serious expression he had when handling the large cooking pots. Above his head... A small red apple perched in his daughter's hair was flapping its tiny wings. The mimic apple seemed interested in the story as well. "Daddy, the apple is watching too!" "Hmm. A keen reader, indeed." Balsam turned the page without paying much attention. "Now, to the next page." Flapping. The tiny wings fluttered with anticipation. Today, once again, the priest of the Earth Mother Goddess Marfia lovingly told stories to his daughter and a mysterious apple.