09.19.06
Nasr-ed-din Khoja
While in Turkey we picked up a cute little book called, “Tales of Nasr-ed-din Khoja.” My youngest son loves this book, and I find the stories amusing, too. Khoja is a popular storyteller in Turkey. In some stories he appears very wise, yet in other stories he appears to be a dufus. Aside from their hospitality, from these stories, I gather the Turks have a good sense of humor. I’ll share one short Khoja tale below:
A Suit for Payment of “Nothing”
Two men came before the Judge and pleaded as follows:–
Plaintiff: “Your Honour, this man had a load of wood on his back, and as he was walking along, his foot slipped. He fell, and all the wood came down with him. He begged me to put it on his back again, and I asked him what he would pay me for doing it? He answered, ‘Nothing.’ I said, ‘All right, I agree to do it for nothing,’ and I put the wood on his back. I then asked him for payment of ‘nothing,’ and he will not give it me. Your Honour, I demand my rights. Let him pay me ‘nothing’ here and now!”
The Judge always handed over delicate questions like this to our friend the Khoja, who, having listened attentively said, “Your claim is just. He must keep his word. He shall pay.”
Then pointing to the rug on the divan, he said to the claimant, “Just lift that rug a bit and tell me what is under it.”
The man looked, and answered, “Nothing.”
“Why,” said he, “that is what you want. Take it and go!”
Hee hee!
Marlakins 
