Challenge 825 Response

The Vintner’s Daughter

with LindaAnn LoSchiavo

“The Vintner's Daughter” appears in this issue.

What does the ending mean, with the rose petals?

At first, the vintner’s daughter employs rose petals in a playful hide-and-seek maneuver; she tosses petals on the ground so the aristocratic guest can follow her to the orangerie. But when a mysterious bat consumes the petals, she is alarmed. She leaves the rosebuds on a chair as a clue, just in case her parents must search for her.

Several countries have unofficial mascots, for example: Russia, the bear; Canada, the beaver; France, the rooster. What mascot might Romania adopt? How might Romanians feel about it, even if it were elegantly dressed?

A vampire bat is a mascot Romania might adopt. Since Dracula has enduring popularity, why not? A bat mascot would go over well with the tourists.

[BwS] Thank you, LindaAnn. Some readers were perplexed by the function of the rose petals at the end. Might they — or even the chair — have some symbolic significance? We’re glad to learn they may have a practical use.

Yes, Romania might splurge on a literary figure as a national mascot. Maybe even a double one. Perhaps a toothy bat, by day, and a well-dressed — but toothy — aristocrat, by night.