Carnival
Once upon a time, there lived a husband and wife. They didn’t get along at all: the husband would call his wife a fool, and the wife would call her husband a fool. That’s how they lived—constantly in quarrels and scandals.One day, the husband bought a hundred pounds of butter and rice and brought them home. The wife flew into a rage:
- Didn’t I tell you you’re a fool, you simpleton? Why did you buy so much butter and rice? Are you planning for our son’s wedding or your father’s funeral?
- What are you talking about? What funeral, what wedding? Just stash it away properly. Let it sit until Carnival comes.
The wife calmed down, took the groceries, and hid them in the house. Time passed. The wife kept waiting and waiting for Carnival to arrive. One day, she was sitting on a bench in front of the house. She saw a stranger walking down the street. She raised her hand and called out to him:
- Hey, brother, come here for a moment.
The young man stopped.
- Listen, brother, by any chance, is your name Carnival? she asked.
The young man immediately realized the woman was out of her mind and thought, “Ah! I’ll tell her I’m Carnival. Let’s see what happens.”
- Of course, sister. My name is Carnival. What’s the matter?
- You know what, Carnival. All I want to say is that we didn’t sign up to store your rice and butter for you. Aren’t you ashamed to take advantage of our kindness like this? Why didn’t you show up sooner to take your groceries?
- Don’t be angry, sister. I was just on my way here. I spent a lot of time looking for your house. Finally found it.
- Alright, come in and take it.
The young man went into the house, took the butter and rice, loaded the sacks onto his shoulders, and left the village. When the husband returned home in the evening, the wife told him:
- Finally, that Carnival of yours showed up. I gave him his groceries and sent him on his way.
- What Carnival? What are you talking about, wife? What groceries?
- The butter and rice… I saw this Carnival walking down the street, looking for our house. I called out to him. Gave him a good scolding. Let him carry his stuff on his back all the way now.
- You’ve amazed me with your stupidity. What a fool you are! Didn’t I tell you how foolish you are? Which way did he go?
The wife pointed. The husband saddled his horse and rushed after “Carnival.” Meanwhile, the “Carnival” who had slipped out of the village looked back. He saw a rider chasing after him. “Carnival” quickly figured it must be the woman’s husband and hid the sacks in the bushes by the roadside.
The rider caught up to him and asked:
- Hey, friend! Have you seen a traveler going this way?
- Yes, I saw one.
- Was he carrying anything on his back?
- Butter and rice.
- Aha! That’s the one I’m looking for. How long ago did you see him?
- Quite a while ago.
- Do you think I can catch him if I ride faster?
- Unlikely, said “Carnival.” Look: you’re on a horse, and he’s on foot. While your horse moves its legs—one, two, three, four—the one you’re chasing only has two legs. He just needs to go—one, two! Faster than you on your horse going one-two-three-four!
- What should I do then?
- If you want, I’ll help. Leave your horse with me, and chase him on foot: one, two, one, two! If you go fast, you’ll surely catch him.
- Yes, yes! Wise words! agreed the foolish husband.
He jumped off the horse, left it with “Carnival,” and rushed after the traveler on foot. As he walked, he muttered:
- One, two, one, two, one, two, one, two!..
As soon as he was out of sight, “Carnival” retrieved the sacks of rice and butter, loaded them onto the horse, and rode off on a different path.
Meanwhile, the foolish husband wandered and wandered, met no one, and returned to the spot where he had left the stranger and his horse. Naturally, by then, they were long gone. When he returned home, another scandal erupted: the husband blamed the wife for losing the rice and butter, and the wife blamed the husband for losing the horse. To this day, they still quarrel: he calls her a fool, and she calls him a fool. And “Carnival” knows all about it and just chuckles.
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