Mussa and Nagib
Adapted from a story by Malba Tahan (pen name for Julio Cesar de Mello e
Once, two friends named Mussa and Nagib made a journey through themountains of Persia on camel back. (Leader – If you have fashioned clay camels,
you can start with the characters on camel back outside of the theater.)
They came after a time to a place where a stream flowed by a sandy bank and
trees gave shade. (Leader – Walk the characters down to the river’s edge.)
There they had a discussion, which turned into an argument. Nagib grew angry,
and for the first time ever, he slapped Mussa across the face. (Leader – You may
wish to act this out with the characters explicitly or less so.)
Mussa was stunned. He felt angry. He wanted to slap Nagib back. But then he
thought, “I cannot be too mad at my friend because I could have done the same
thing. We are alike, and I care about him, and I don’t want to fight with him
anymore.” So he walked over to the trees instead and picked up a stick. (Leader –
Show this with the character.) With the stick he wrote in the sand, “Today my
best friend slapped me.” (Leader – Use the toothpick to write this in the sand for
all to see.)
Then he and his friend stood in silence and watched as the desert wind blew the
words in the sand away. (Leader – Blow the sand gently, until the writing
disappears.)
By the time the writing had disappeared Nagib had said that he was sorry. The
friends got back on their camels and rode to their destination in a distant city. On
their trip back through the mountain pass they stopped again at the same river.
(Leader – You can show this with the characters leaving the stage and then
returning.)
This time the two friends decided to take a swim. Since their first visit, the rains
had made the current stronger and river much deeper. Mussa, the friend who
had been slapped, stepped into the water first. Right away, he slipped on a rock,
was dragged under by the current, and began to drown. Nagib jumped in
without a second thought and pulled his friend to safety. (Leader – Show these
actions with the clay figures.)
The two friends again sat in silence for some time until Mussa had regained his
breath. Then he rose and went to his saddlebags. There he found a carving knife.
This time he went to a rock near the river. (Leader – Show the character moving
off and back.)
Into the rock he carved these words, “Today my best friend saved me.” (Leader –
Use the toothpick or other sharper object to write the words in the clay.)
Again the two friends sat in silence. Finally Nagib spoke, “My friend, after I hurt
you, you wrote the words in sand. Now after I saved you, you wrote the words
in stone, why?” (Leader – Demonstrate this dialogue, using the characters.)
Mussa replied, “When someone hurts us, we should write it down in sand where
the winds of forgiveness can erase it away. This way our hearts are free from
bitterness, and we can renew our friendships. But, when someone does
something kind for us, we must engrave it in stone and in our hearts so that we
will never forget.”
“Thank you my friend” said Nagib. “I am very grateful for our friendship. I
don’t ever want to hurt you again.”
The two friends embraced and continued on their journey together. (Leader –
Have the two characters embrace. You can have them continue their journey, if
you made camels, or just say, “The End.”)
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Last updated on Friday, April 18, 2008.
