Pearls on a Branch
Page 19
And so the man ate one ball of kibbeh after another enjoying himself and commenting:
“How delicious this is! And it is still warm! Imagine, raining kibbeh and it is still warm!”
His wife urged him to eat more:
“Eat your fill! The best of health to you!”
He ate until he was sated and went to bed a happy man.
But next day he resumed his accusations, telling his wife:
“You have stolen Umm Suleyman’s money! Stolen property must be returned to its rightful owners! I am going to report you to the judge!”
To this she made no reply. The man went before the judge and listed his grievances. So they sent for his wife to verify the accusations. They asked:
“Where did you hide Umm Suleyman’s money?”
“Umm Suleyman?” she asked. “Who is this Umm Suleyman? And what money are you talking about?”
The man was furious. He said that his wife was lying:
“She is a liar and a hypocrite! She is a cheat and a swindler!”
They began to argue in front of the judge then the wife said quietly:
“Please, Your Honor, ask him when this theft took place.”
So the judge asked:
“When was the money stolen?”
“It was on the day it rained dumplings, it rained kibbeh,” said the man.
“What was that?” said the judge, “Did you say on the day it rained kibbeh?”
“Yes,” repeated the man. “And the kibbeh was still warm!”
The judge thought how strange it is that men should be so simple compared with women and their many wiles. He dismissed the husband from his court. The man was disappointed but went home with his wife. To cheer him up the woman said:
“Let us both go to town tomorrow and together sell the cow. And let us call on Umm Suleyman on the way. What do you say?”
This reassured him and he went to bed happy and at peace – not only he, but his wife also.
There I left them and came very fast
To tell you their story from first to last.