The Ninety-Day Grain

The bar in Kirkwall had five tables and a fire. Polly sat near the heat. "Can I see the menu?" she asked. There were only a few things on the card.

May limang mesa at isang apoy ang bar sa Kirkwall. Naupo si Polly malapit sa init. "Maaari ko bang makita ang menu?" tanong niya. Kakaunti lang ang laman ng karton.

"Could you recommend a good dish?" The owner was a heron. She said the bannock. Bere is a barley grown here for hundreds of years. It grows fast, in a short summer.

"May maimumungkahi ka bang masarap na putahe?" Isang tagak ang may-ari. Sabi niya ang bannock. Ang bere ay isang sebadang itinatanim dito sa loob ng daan-daang taon. Mabilis itong tumubo, sa maikling tag-araw.

"Do you have vegetarian options?" Polly asked. The heron pointed at the same line. Bannock, butter and soft cheese.

"May mga pagpipilian ba kayo para sa mga vegetarian?" tanong ni Polly. Itinuro ng tagak ang parehong linya. Bannock, mantikilya at malambot na keso.

"Can we get the bill, please?" Polly said. The heron took her time, which is a good sign. Outside, the wind was almost calm. Polly walked up to the red cathedral.

"Maaari po bang makuha ang bill?" sabi ni Polly. Hindi nagmadali ang tagak, na magandang senyales. Sa labas, halos kalmado na ang hangin. Naglakad si Polly paakyat sa pulang katedral.