One+in+a+Million+-+the++story

One in a Million One in a Million - the story x One in a Million Nasruddin Hodja looked at his donkey and drowned. The beast was a bag of bones and had a dirty shaggy coat. It stood under a tree daily chewing a clump of grass. Look at you. Hodja sneered. You are completely worthless to me. All you do is stand under that tree. You refused every order I give you.

The lazy donkey didn't even look at Hodja It kept chomping away.

That's it Hodja cried in frustration. I'm going to sell you!

So the next day Hodja led the scrawny creature to the crowded market p lace in the center of the village. He was grateful for the thirty dinars a f foolish man offered him for the beast.......

//Nasruddin Hodja took his donkey to the market place and sold it for 30 dinars. //

// The man who bought it immediately put it up for auction. //

// "Look at this fine animal!" he shouted to passersby. "Have you ever seen a better specimen of a donkey? See how clean and strong it is!" //

// And he went on to list the many qualities of the animal. At the end of his sales talk a man said he would give 40 dinars for it. //

// Another man offered 50. A third offered 55. //

// Hodja who was watching was amazed at the interest everyone was showing in the donkey. //

// "What a fool I was to think it an ordinary animal," thought Hodja. "It is an incomparable beast, one in a million..." He suddenly realized that the owner had received a good offer and was about to close the bidding. //

// "75 dinars once..." said the man.”75 dinars twice..." //

// "80 dinars!" said Hodja. // [] x **Below is another version of the same story. ** **<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 35px;">Contrast the two story versions. ** <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 45px; text-align: center;">THE DONKEY <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 45px; text-align: center;">GOES TO MARKET

<span style="display: block; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 30px; text-align: left;">I TELL you, no! I will not keep this miserable donkey another day!" Nasr-ed-Din Hodja glared at the little gray donkey that was patiently switching off the myriad flies as it waited for the Hodja to fasten on the piece of old rug that served as a saddle.

<span style="display: block; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 30px; text-align: left;">"A new donkey might be just as stubborn," suggested Fatima.

<span style="display: block; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 30px; text-align: left;">"This wretch is more than stubborn!" stormed the Hodja.

<span style="display: block; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 30px; text-align: left;">"It eats like an elephant but grows skinnier every day. It is slow as a tortoise, lazy as a pig, mean as a fox, stupid as a fish, and stubborn as a - as a - as a donkey!"

<span style="display: block; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 30px; text-align: left;">Fatima patted the little donkey who rubbed its head affectionately against her striped sleeve. Fatima said nothing. She had argued with her husband enough times to know that it was like throwing dry leaves on a fire.

<span style="display: block; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 30px; text-align: left;">"Say your good-byes to the creature!" Nasr-ed-Din Hodja threw one long leg over the little animal. He made the low throaty "Ughr-r-r-r," which is marching orders to a Turkish donkey. "Next time you see it, someone else will be riding it. You shall see what a fine donkey I shall ride home from the animal market. You know how good I am at buying and selling. I can sell this wretched donkey for enough to buy a fine one and still have a gold piece left over for you sew in your headdress."

<span style="display: block; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 30px; text-align: left;">"Ughr-r-r-r," he whirred to the donkey again. The little animal reluctantly shook its long ears, picked up one tiny hoof, and was off. Gloating over the great bargain he was to strike in the market that day, the Hodja patted the coarse hair of his donkey's neck.

<span style="display: block; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 30px; text-align: left;">Through the street gate rode the Hodja and on toward the market place. His long legs dangled at the donkey's sides, his feet sometimes touching the cobblestones of the narrow street. It was hard to pass by the charms of market day, but the Hodja had important business on hand. He nodded to right and to left at his many friends in the market place, but kept straight on until he reached the animal market.

<span style="display: block; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 30px; text-align: left;">"Here is a donkey that will make some man proud of his bargain," said the Hodja as he handed the donkey over to the auctioneer.

<span style="display: block; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 30px; text-align: left;">"Such a good donkey should bring a good price," said the auctioneer. He poked the donkey, pinched its legs, and looked at its teeth. Like the Hodja, he spoke loudly for the benefit of anyone who might be listening.

<span style="display: block; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 30px; text-align: left;">One after another, the auctioneer led the animals up for sale but not a bid did the Hodja make. His eyes were fixed on one donkey that was bigger, sleeker, and plumper than the others. Surely that was the donkey for him. Finally, all the donkeys were sold but two - the one Nasr-ed-Din Hodja had brought and the one he had resolved to ride away. He was relieved to see that the auctioneer led up his old donkey first. It would be good to have the money for his sale jingling in his belt with what money he already had before he started bidding for the beautiful dark donkey on which he had set his heart.

<span style="display: block; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 30px; text-align: left;">"Here is a donkey worth buying!" The auctioneer rubbed his hands gloatingly as he set the Hodja's old donkey before the little group of buyers. "I have watched this donkey many a time and wished it was mine. See that wise look in its eyes! See the gentle way it holds its head! One look at this donkey shows that it would obey your orders before you gave them!"

<span style="display: block; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 30px; text-align: left;">Nasr-ed-Din Hodja looked at the donkey's eyes. There was a wise look he had never noticed.

<span style="display: block; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 30px; text-align: left;">"And look at the muscles," the auctioneer droned on. "What loads it could carry! What hills it could climb! Those slim legs mean speed. I wager this donkey could run faster than any donkey in Ak Shehir!"

<span style="display: block; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 30px; text-align: left;">The Hodja looked at the donkey's legs. He had never noticed how strong and slim they were.

<span style="display: block; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 30px; text-align: left;">"See how smooth this donkey's coat is!" said the auctioneer. "That shows good care. What a pretty shade of gray! What perfectly matching white boots on its feet!"

<span style="display: block; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 30px; text-align: left;">The Hodja squinted thoughtfully at the donkey. It was prettily marked. Strange he had never noticed.

<span style="display: block; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 30px; text-align: left;">"How much am I offered for the handsomest, strongest, wisest, gentlest, most industrious donkey in all Ak Shehir?"

<span style="display: block; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 30px; text-align: left;">"Fifty ghurush," offered a villager.

<span style="display: block; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 30px; text-align: left;">Nasr-ed-Din Hodja glared at him. Fifty ghurush for the finest donkey in Ak Shehir, indeed!

<span style="display: block; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 30px; text-align: left;">"Two liras," called the Hodja.

<span style="display: block; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 30px; text-align: left;">"Two and a half liras," called a villager

<span style="display: block; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 30px; text-align: left;">"Three!" The Hodja held up three fingers

<span style="display: block; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 30px; text-align: left;">"Four!"

<span style="display: block; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 30px; text-align: left;">"Five!"

<span style="display: block; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 30px; text-align: left;">"Six!"

<span style="display: block; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 30px; text-align: left;">Up and up went the price until a villager bid ten liras.

<span style="display: block; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 30px; text-align: left;">"Wait a minute!" called the excited Hodja. He grabbed his money bag from his belt and counted his money. Just what he thought! Ten liras and eleven ghurush.

<span style="display: block; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 30px; text-align: left;">"Ten liras and five ghurush;" called a villager.

<span style="display: block; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 30px; text-align: left;">"Ten liras and eleven ghurush," shouted the Hodja.

<span style="display: block; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 30px; text-align: left;">He waited. Silence!

<span style="display: block; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 30px; text-align: left;">"Only ten liras and eleven ghurush for this wonderful donkey!" exclaimed the auctioneer who knew perfectly well that was a good price. "Come, someone! Make it eleven liras."

<span style="display: block; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 30px; text-align: left;">Everyone waited. Silence!

<span style="display: block; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 30px; text-align: left;">The auctioneer handed the bridle to Nasred-Din Hodja.

<span style="display: block; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 30px; text-align: left;">The Hodja emptied his money bag into the auctioneer's hand. He threw his long legs over the donkey's back and settled into the familiar saddle.

<span style="display: block; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 30px; text-align: left;">"Ughr-r-r-r," he whirred to the donkey and off they trotted toward home. How proud of his bargaining Fatima would be!

<span style="display: block; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 30px; text-align: left;">Halfway home he began wondering why he had an empty money bag. He had planned, by good bargaining, to bring home a donkey and more money than he carried away. It was puzzling. Perhaps Fatima could explain.

<span style="display: block; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 30px; text-align: left;">And perhaps she did. <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 20px; text-align: left;">[|http://u.cs.biu.ac.il/~schiff/Once/rst10.html]