the spacious shed was more security than anyone might have dreamed possible for someone in his station .
It was said that his mother gave him the name “ Allah Ditha ”, which means “ Given by God ”, but people soon left off the “ Allah ” and called him “ Ditha ”. He was forgotten by God as well .
We lived in a small village at the foothills of the hot , dry Black Mountains . Only one ancient well provided water for the town ; all of the houses crowded around it . Everybody knew how precious it was . Ditha worked hard for us . Each morning he drew water from the village well . His strong arms brought up bucketful after bucketful without ever seeming to tire .
He would take the animals out to graze , patiently leading the slow , scattered herd to the pastureland beyond the houses . Ditha remained with them all day long , ever-watchful for predators and danger , caring for them as his own children . After returning them to their pens at the end of the day , he would reappear in the village , riding on the slow , old donkey , his weathered face and wind-whipped clothes hanging on his thin frame . As he rode through the streets , the young boys taunted him for their own wicked pleasure .
“ Hey , Ditha ," someone would shout . “ Your girlfriend , the ass , moves like you put her to better use today .”
“ No , don ' t say that !” someone else would shout . “ The donkey is really Ditha ’ s sister ! Can ' t you see the resemblance ?”
Their laughter echoed down the street . Once , some young guy , not yet fifteen , took a small stone and threw it at Ditha . Whether Ditha ’ s feelings were hurt by the ridicule of the villagers , he never said , and it took many years to cross my mind that it might have .
As I grew into a young boy , I began to watch Ditha a little more closely . Every evening , he made his way down the Black Mountains with his sluggish animals following him like a tattered line of withdrawing troops . I began to wait for him , standing at the big front door of our courtyard . He would appear with his animals accompanied by the sounds of chimes reminiscent of tragic music in an old film .
Then came the stories — oh , what wonderful stories they were , featuring wolves , lions , and other fantastic creatures ! He began to bring me gifts — wild fruits , beautiful flowers , and tasty
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