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!