life in this republic

to protect and serve...and gather mushrooms

It was Circle Time. My Kindergarteners were sitting crisscross-legged looking up at me. We were singing and reading stories and counting the days on the calendar. I happened to look out the window to see a hard-hitting policeman walking around outside my classroom. He looked serious and intent in his extensive search. Hoping that my students wouldn't be too distracted from our Circle Time, I watched The Policeman out of the corner of my eye. His rigid search led him to the edge of the school grounds among the weeds. Looking high and low, even in the wild grasses he searched. Was he looking for eveidence? What crime had been committed here at our fair school?

Alas, he went to retrieve something from his police cruiser. Thinking it must be some sort of detective kit, or his walkie-talkie to alert his fellow peace keepers that he had found what he was looking for, but, no, he came away with a woven basket. Something along the lines of what Little Red Riding Hood carries to Grandma's house. Every Czech is issued one at birth for the sole purpose of....Mushroom Hunting. The national pastime. He proceeded to gather mushrooms.

We, Citizens of Hluboká, can rest knowing that this man is on the job. No criminal will escape his scrutiny. No shitake, no button mushroom will go unpicked, unsauteed, for our safety. No risotto with wild mushrooms will go uneaten, all in the line of duty.