This Week in Palestine - Story of the month
Issue no. 28 - August  2000
 
What will people say

Joha had a naughty son,whenever his father asked him to do something he would retort:"But what will people say?"Finally,his father had it with him and decided to teach him a lesson that one can never please everyone all the time.So,Joha took his boy to he market,while he rode the donkey and his son walked beside him.On their way they met a group of women,one of hem said to Joha:"you must have a heart of stone,and have no mercy.Aren't you ashamed of riding the donkey and letting your little boy run behind you?"So,Joha came down from his donkey and ordered his son to ride and he waklked by his side.Soonafter,they met a group of men sitting in the sun in the midst of their field.One of the men hailed to Joha:"if you pamper your son so much he shouldn't let you walk,what has happened to people these days?!"Joha said to his son:"you heard him, let's both ride the donkey."Joha rode next to his son.

On their way they met a group of people from the animal support group,and one of them yelled at Joha: "aren't you ashamed,you and your son,from riding this weak donkey?How will you face God on doomsday?"So Joha told his son:"now we get off the donkey and walk next to it."So,they walked side by side with the donkey until they came upon a group of children playing in the street.As they noticed Joha and his son one of hem cried sarcastically:"Joha, your donkey is weak and tired,maybe you or your son should carry it on your back"and everyone laughed at he joke.At this point,Joha took the donkey to the nearest tree,he tied both his front feet together and then his back feet with a rope,he took down a long stalk?From the tree and placed it between the front and back feet of the donkey and asked his son to carry one side on his shoulder while Joha carried the other,and this is how they entered the market. People gathered around them,making fun of Joha and asking him questions.He totally ignored them. Finally,with a lot of difficulty,they both arrived home. He looked at his son and said:"Now you've heard what people say,so don't ever say to me again,'oh father but what will people say!"
 

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