Hind Khettouch
This is the story of a Moroccan couple who have been happily married for over 50 loving years.
But, with old age, life started to get a little bit boring! They were too old to travel and when their youngest child left the family home to move to the city it only got worse.
So they decided to challenge each other and test each others’ cunning by playing tricks on each other.
Whatever the trick, they had one rule: nobody should get hurt. EVER!
The wife said to her husband: “I bet I can make you look like a fool! I promise I will explain everything to our neighbors and friends as soon as I make my point!”
!نتخاطرو نقدر نخلّي الجيران كاملين يضحكو عليك؟ شوف غادي نفسر ليهم كلشي من بعد. منخلّيكش ضحكة!
“I am so smart that I am not even worried,” said the man in a very arrogant manner. “I do not even need to think of a plan! I will improvise and it is you who will be surprised. Don’t forget you are an open book to me! I have known you for so long … too long.”
“Ok! Game on!” answered the determined woman.
!سير على لله
She was a bit surprised at her husband’s behavior. He always made sure to teach their children good values and that no challenge should be underestimated!
As we say in Morocco العود لّلي تحقرو يعميك
Which literally means: “The branch you underestimate, is the one to blind you”
The old woman did not do anything for weeks
… her husband started to forget about the challenge.
Then one day, on the day of the weekly market she waited until her husband went to work on the field.
She went quickly to buy 50 small fish that she then dispersed like seeds in the field while her husband took a break for lunch.
She sat down for lunch with him and then waited for him to discover the fish.
When he went back to work he was of course surprised by what he found:
“COME SEE! THIS IS A MIRACLE! FISH ARE GROWING IN MY FIELD!”
“What are you talking about! I cannot see anything!”
“HERE! AND HERE! AND HERE! HERE IS A FISH! AND ANOTHER ONE! THERE ARE FISH EVERYWHERE!”
“No there aren’t, I cannot see any!”
“Do you not believe me? Ok stay here, Iwill call the neighbors and they will confirm!”
When he left, she quickly gathered all the fish and hid them in her bag!
A few minutes later her husband came back with 10 of his neighbors who of course confirmed that there were no fish in the field! OF COURSE!
Everybody was looking at the old man. They were really worried about him! “He is hallucinating”, they said! “Poor man! He must be so tired or maybe he has been out in the sun for too long!”
“BUT I SWEAR! THEY WERE HERE!”
He turned to his wife: “YOU SAW THE FISH, RIGHT? TELL THEM SOMETHING!”
The wife shrugged and said:
“I did not see anything! You need to rest! Let’s go home.”
.ماشفت والو! راك عيّان, يلّاه نمشيو لدّار
It was the summer and the nights were so warm they spent the night in their cozy basement. It was perfect for the woman’s plan …
When it was dark enough and her husband was sound asleep, the old woman moved the big stone mill they used to make olive oil. She brought it next to one of the basement’s windows and all night long she turned it over and over and over …. and splashed water against the window!
The stone mill was very loud and the water against the window glass made the old man think a thunderstorm was hitting his village!
“The next morning, all the villagers came to enquire about their friend’s health. The old woman welcomed them into the house.
“So how are you today dear neighbor?” they asked the old man.
“Well, I am fine but how are you? How did you deal with the storm?”
“What storm?”
“Yesterday, it was raining cats and dogs and the thunder … it was so scary!”
“It did not rain yesterday!”
“YES IT DID! IT DID! I HEARD IT, I SAW IT!”
He turned to his wife: “TELL THEM SOMETHING! YOU WERE HERE AS WELL, SAY YOU SAW IT!”
Now they were all really worried about their neighbor and did not know what to do to help the couple deal with this situation!
The woman replied with a smile on her face: “I will say one thing and it is that I have won!”
She then explained everything to the surprised neighbors and to her embarrassed husband …
She won her challenge, she taught her husband a lesson and both of them forgot about their boredom!
The question is … what trick will the husband play on his wife to get back at her?
