Wiles of Women

Arabic words used in the story: tawa: frying-pan, in standard Arabic miqlat khala: aunt, on the mother’s side; khalti ‘my aunt’

They tell of a beautiful playful wife who had a lover, and wanted to enjoy the forbidden fruits of the affair in her own house. She suggested to the lover that he visit her in the house, wearing women’s clothes, pretending to be her khala. The lover started visiting her thus dressed. He would be ushered to the wife’s room, and the husband had no right to intrude. When the visit was over, the husband, with all due respect, would usher the khala back to her donkey, and escort her home. One day while the husband was on such a mission, he struck the donkey with his stick, a little bit harder than usual, urging it to speed up. The poor animal made a sudden lurch that threw the khala overboard, on her back, her legs flailing in the air, and wide apart. The husband caught sight of something that made him suspicious, so he immediately turned back home.