Section 1
In former days, there existed a diminutive personage named Mukrah, however, he was commonly called Little Mouk. The moniker suited him accurately since, despite being an elderly gentleman, he stood at a mere three feet tall. Despite his diminutive stature, his head was comparatively bigger and rounder than most of the folks in his community.
Little Mouk resided in a spacious residence all by himself, however, his behavior was so eccentric that it would have been difficult to tell whether he was dead or alive, except for the fact that he always ventured out on a specific day every month. This was a happy occasion for the boys in the street! They would consistently gather near his residence and wait eagerly to welcome him.
As soon as the door opened, the first thing to emerge was his enormous head adorned with an even bigger turban, followed by his small figure, dressed in a worn-out colored coat and baggy knickerbockers held together by a broad sash through which he carried a large dagger. It was difficult for anyone to determine whether the dagger belonged to Mouk or if it was the other way around. When the little dwarf made his grand entrance, the street boys would cheer and tease him with their raucous shouts. A few of them would toss their caps up high into the air, while others would dance in a circle around him, singing joyfully.
"Little Mouk, Little Mouk,
Come seize us, Little Mouk!
Just one day a month you stray,
At home you hide and stay.
Although your body's tiny and petite,
Your head is large enough to meet.
Little Mouk, Little Mouk,
Come seize us, Little Mouk!"
Little Mouk didn't take offense at the boys' teasing behavior, nor did he pursue them as they would have preferred. Instead, he greeted them with good-natured nods of his head as he ambled past them in his large slippers. Once his walk was over, he returned home and remained indoors for another month.
Despite the fact that Little Mouk was thought to be financially comfortable, he was never spotted wearing anything other than the attire previously mentioned. Do you want to know why? Then, listen closely, and I will explain.
These garments were the sole inheritance Little Mouk received from his father when he passed away, which occurred when Mouk was roughly sixteen years of age.Due to the fact that his father was a tall and stately man, his attire did not fit Little Mouk's dwarfish frame appropriately. However, Mouk was not easily discouraged. He simply cut off the parts that were too lengthy, discarded his old rags, donned his deceased father's clothing, placed the renowned dagger in his waist-scarf like a sword, took a stick in hand, and set out to search for his fortune.
Little Mouk continued on his way with a joyful spirit. Although many of the people he encountered found his comical appearance to be quite amusing, he paid them no mind. This was likely due to the fact that Mouk's father was ashamed of his small son and, as a result, Mouk was typically confined to his home. However, now Little Mouk was overjoyed with his newfound freedom and the radiant sunlight. Whenever the sunlight illuminated the far-off dome of a mosque or created a glistening effect on the lake's waves, Little Mouk was filled with a sense of wonder, as he believed that he was drawing closer to a magical realm. Sadly, this joy was fleeting, as his exhaustion and hunger pangs soon returned to bring him back to the harsh reality.
Little Mouk roamed around for two days, subsisting on wild fruits from the fields and sleeping on the hard ground. On the third day, he caught sight of a big town in the distance. Little Mouk, come in and have some food and drink, and rest your tired body! But no one showed him any hospitality. After wandering for some time, he stood in front of a grand house, hoping to find help there. However, to his dismay, nobody came out. Eventually, he heard a window opening, and an old woman's voice singing out to him:
"But come in, my dear little man, and rest yourself," the old woman said in a sing-song voice, as she leaned out of the window of the fine, large house that Mouk was looking at anxiously.
"Enter, enter, don't be shy,
A guest like you, we won't deny;
Our feast is ready, just for thee,
Don't be tardy, come and see."
As the house door swung open, a group of dogs and cats scampered inside, putting Mouk at ease. He trailed after them and upon entering the house, the elderly woman who had peered out the window inquired about his purpose.
Little Mouk told the old woman, "Since you invited everyone to your feast, I came too, as I am hungry."
The old woman chuckled and asked, "And where do you hail from, you amusing little chap? The entire town is aware that I only cook for my feline friends and occasionally invite their companions."
Little Mouk explained to Ahavzi, the old woman, how he had become homeless due to his father's death and expressed his unhappiness. Moved by his story, Ahavzi offered to employ him.
Mouk's tasks in Ahavzi's service were easy, but they lacked variety. He had to groom the fur of her six cats every morning and apply expensive ointment on them. In the evening, he would place them on soft silk cushions and cover them with exquisite embroideries. In addition to the cats, he also had to take care of a small dog, but it was not as pampered as the cats.
