In the city of Cairo, in the heart of Egypt, there lived an old man named Alibeg Kashkashi. He was lame in his left leg and, walking through the streets of the city, danced at every step. The city kids thought this was funny, and, seeing the old man from afar, they themselves began to dance and shout in a sing-song voice:
Alibeg Kashkashi, Dance, make me laugh!
When he approached them, the naughty ones shouted even louder:
Alibeg Kashkashi, Dance, make me laugh!
When he passed, the ugly people followed on his heels. And wherever the old man went, he heard the same thing everywhere:
Dance, make me laugh! Dance, make me laugh!
Finally Alibeg got tired of it. He bent down, picked up a stone from the road and threw it at the mischievous people. The stone hit one of the boys in the head, and a large lump swelled on his forehead. The naughty man ran to his father, crying loudly and complaining about the evil Alibeg. The angry father ran out of the house, grabbed Alibeg by the hand and brought him to the judge.
“This evil Alibeg,” said the father, “threw a stone at my beloved son and put a big bump on his forehead.” Deal with him!
The strict judge asked Alibeg:
- Evil man, how dare you offend a child? I will punish you according to the law.
But instead of answering, Alibeg made a funny face and shouted in a sing-song voice exactly as the kids did:
Just about there, punish me, make the people laugh!
- Of course, I will punish you! - exclaimed the judge. Then Alibeg sang even louder:
Punish, punish, make the people laugh!
Grimacing and grimacing, he began to dance in front of the judge and continued to sing:
Punish, punish, make the people laugh!
- Will you shut up, crazy old man! - the judge shouted, and his face turned red with anger.
Punish, make fun! - Alibeg continued without listening to the judge.
The enraged judge signaled to the guards, and the soldiers seized Alibeg. Then Alibeg laughed and said to the judge:
- O fairest of the fair! You lost your temper and your face was red with anger, and I only sang that stupid song to you four times. Think about what it must have been like for me to have evil boys running after me every day and making fun of my name. Didn't I have the right to be angry?
Then the judge realized that Alibeg was not guilty and said to the boy’s father:
“This respectable man adorned your son with a bump on his forehead.” Go home, take the reed rod and decorate the naughty man from the other end.
The judge said so and released Alibeg.
From that day on, the children stopped teasing the lame man. When they met him, they bowed and greeted him politely:
- Hello, grandfather Alibeg Kashkashi!
Translated from Russian · original on wisdomlib.ru