By Mariam Mohammed Shaikhan Al Manthari
One bright morning by a beautiful shore, an old woman screamed, “My chickens have been stolen.” She put on her abaya and walked past the other houses looking for her chickens until she arrived at an arish house. It was built from old dark palm fronds and had a wooden door.
The old woman knocked. When a hunchback man with a bulging eye appeared, she quickly ran away. Saber the hunchback felt sad, and went to get ready to go diving.
In the sea, Saber collected lots of seashells. As he swam back to the boat, a shark attacked him and cut his rope. He dropped all the seashells and swam for his life. That day, Saber returned home with nothing so decided to leave the village and go somewhere else.
Saber walked through the desert under a burning sun for two weeks. Suddenly, he saw an oasis surrounded by palm trees. Saber noticed that the water tasted different and made him feel strange. He cupped his hands in the water, and noticed it was pure and clear. Then, he turned his hands over and the water fell down onto the sand. After a moment, the sand changed into a shiny Dana (a beautiful pearl). “Am I daydreaming?” he thought. Suddenly, a pretty voice said, “Marhaba, Essa Saber. I know that you have had many troubles in your life. You have faced them with strength and patience. Saber, you are a nice man with a kind heart. That special pearl is yours. You deserve it.” Then, the oasis began to glow like the sun and suddenly disappeared.
The next morning, Saber went back to the village and was happy that nobody had taken or damaged his arish. He went to the souq and sold the Dana for lots of money. From his good fortune, he bought a Dukkan (market). Slowly, children started to visit Saber’s shop. Every day they came with their parents to buy sweets. Soon, the villagers began to love Saber and were no longer afraid. From that day forward, Saber lived happily in acceptance by his community in the seaside village.
