4. The Battle
Once, in a tea shop, some soldiers were boasting about a few of their recent victories so all the local people were gathered around them, listening eagerly.
- And I took my double-edged sword and charged the enemy fearlessly, scattering them to the right and to the left like chaff! And the victory was ours!
Then there was a loud round of applause.
- Oh, that reminds me, remarked Hodja, who had only been in a few battles during his life time, of the time I cut off the leg of an enemy on the battle field. I cut right off!
- Sir, it would have been better, replied the captain of the soldiers, to have cut off his head.
- Of course, I would have, but somebody else had already done that!
5. It will soon be over
One of his neighbors came running to Hodja and said:
- Hodja, we need you! Come to see our house quickly! My wife and my sister-in-law are fighting!
- What about, their ages or their looks? Hodja asked.
- No, about something else, replied his neighbor.
- Then go home and don’t worry, the Hodja told confidently, I’m sure that it will soon be over!