Schlaukopf
Villages all over the world, are made up of interesting, sometimes strange characters. Ganse-Stadt’s claim to fame in the strange character catagory would have to be Schlaukopf.
For as long as anyone in Ganse-Stadt can remember, Schlaukopf, also known as Old Schlau, has lived someplace near or in the forgotten apple orchard by edge of town. It’s been a long held belief that he is a recluse because he thinks people are afraid of him and they thought the problem might be solved if Schlaukopf wore some sort of warning bells. He grudgingly obliged but only to keep everybody away from his tree and out of the orchard. Bells, Bah! Sour apples! The few who have tried to venture into the orchard say he lives in a knarled old tree in the center of the orchard which is surrounded by many other trees. It is believed the knarled old tree is a Schlaukopf apple experiment gone wrong. It produces nothing but sour apples which is may be why he has a sour apple look on his face, he tastes them year after year hoping they would get better. The apples are so bad, he throws them at any one who comes into the orchard near the tree lest they discover his horrible mistake. Actually he’s afraid someone might damage the branches of his good trees and spoil some of his experiments, especially the ones that produce sweet juicy apples. The only one who is ever able to get some of these apples is the lady who lives right next to the orchard. He not only allows her into the orchard, but helps her select the best apples for her recipies. He tries to stay hidden, thinking she might be frightened by his looks, bells or no bells. The people of Ganse-Stadt are under the impression, she is the one who takes care of the orchard. Bless their hearts! Schlaukopf with his super sensitive nose, loves the aroma that comes from her kitchen whenever she bakes something from the apples. Needless to say, before she takes her wares to town, she always leaves samples for him. Schlaukopf never refuses them. If he likes her samples, he ventures into town to find some more. When the residents hear his bells, they know the apple wares are good today. |