The Faculty - Written for FFFC and New Year Countdown

[prisca]

Title: Kutja
Character: Zeke Zyler, Mrs. Connor
Word Count: 188
Prompt: favorite winter food / big gesture
Rating: PG

:::

„Ähm... thank you, Zeke.“ As hard as she tried, Mrs. Connor wasn't able to hide her confusion. „But when I invited you for Christmas Dinner, I didn't expect you to bring something for it.“

Zeke smiled. „I understand; you don't know what this is.“

„Well, I don't,“ she admitted.

„It's Kutja, a very old recipe from Russia. Made out of wheat grains, honey, nuts and some other stuff. Sweet, but delicious. I can't cook, but already, as a child, my grandma taught me to make Kutja for Christmas.“

Now, Mrs. Connor's curiosity was fully awake; it was not that Zeke was willing to share bits of his past often. „Your grandma was from Russia?“

„No, she was born here already. But her family has polish-russian roots, and she loved to keep the old traditions alive.“ The smile on Zeke's face vanished for a moment. „She was a great woman. Sadly, she died some years ago.“

Mrs. Connor placed a hand on his shoulder, squeezing it slightly. „And now it is up to you to remember the old traditions,“ she said. „Thank you, Zeke, for sharing with us.“