Narrator: In the Sicilian city of Palermo, Italy,
there once lived a poor shoemaker and his young daughter, Carla.
The shoemaker worked with great skill creating fine leather shoes
and sandals, which he sold at a nearby market. Carla helped in
the shop by polishing the finely crafted shoes until they shone.
One day the shoemaker loaded his wagon with goods and hitched
up his only horse.
Shoemaker: Wish me luck, Carla.
Narrator: he said.
Shoemaker: I am going to the market and hope
to return before dark with my pockets filled with coins.
Narrator: Carla wished her father a speedy return,
kissed his cheek for luck, and saw him on his way. The shoemaker
took a route that brought him onto a street filled with stores.
As he passed by a shoe store, a wealthy merchant called to him,
Merchant: Hey! Wait, my good fellow!
Narrator: The shoemaker stopped as the merchant
approached.
Merchant: I see you do fine work.
Narrator: said the merchant, picking up a pair
of leather sandals and admiring them.
Merchant: Very fine indeed!
Narrator: Then he looked at the shoemaker with
a sly grin.
Merchant: How much for everything?
Narrator: The shoemaker thought for a moment
about how much he would have charged for each pair in the market
and named a fair price.
Shoemaker: Twenty copper pieces for everything.
Merchant: It's a deal!
Narrator: said the merchant firmly and handed
the shoemaker the coins. Then the merchant climbed onto the wagon,
seated himself next to the shoemaker, and told him to step down
and be on his way.
Shoemaker: What's this?
Narrator: protested the shoemaker.
Merchant: Come now, my dear fellow, let's not
quibble. You did agree to sell me "everything," didn't you?
Shoemaker: Well, yes… but…
Merchant: I take you at your word. Everything
includes your wagon and your horse. After all, a deal's a deal!
If you wish to dispute my claim, we'll go before the judge. There's
one just down the street!
Narrator: In shock, the shoemaker followed the
merchant to the courthouse. When they were before the judge, the
merchant explained what had been said, and the judge asked the
shoemaker if he had indeed agreed to sell "everything."
Shoemaker: Well… yes…
Narrator: said the shoemaker.
Shoemaker: But…
Judge: Then a deal's a deal.
Narrator: the judge decreed.
Judge: And you must honor it.
Narrator: Dejected-without his horse, his wagon,
or his pride-the shoemaker walked back home, with the cruel merchant's
laugh ringing in his ears. When he got home, he explained everything
to Carla just as it happened.
Carla: What a greedy old buzzard!
Narrator: said Carla, shaking her head.
Carla: But don't worry, Papa, I have an idea.
Narrator: Early the next day, Carla selected
six of the finest pairs of dancing slippers the shoemaker had
ever crafted.
Carla: Let me try my luck at selling these.
Narrator: Carla said. Her father, seeing the
determination in his daughter's eyes, consented. Carla loaded
the beautiful shoes in a wheelbarrow and was on her way. She stopped
to wipe her brow when she was in front of the wealthy merchant's
shop, and in a flash the merchant came running out.
Merchant: Signorina,
Narrator: he purred, as he approached.
Merchant: You look tired. Perhaps I can relieve
you of your burden!
Carla: That would be very nice indeed.
Narrator: smiled Carla. The merchant looked
in the wheelbarrow and studied the dancing slippers.
Merchant: How much for everything?
Narrator: he grinned broadly, thinking he would
make another good deal for himself.
Carla: How much do you offer me?
Narrator: replied Carla. The merchant reached
into his pocket then held out three copper pieces.
Merchant: Times are tough, Signorina. This is
all I can offer.
Carla: Everything in your hand?
Narrator: Carla asked.
Merchant: Yes, certainly.
Carla: Then it's a deal!
Narrator: said Carla firmly and held out her
hand for payment. The merchant grinned slyly and slid the coins
into it.
Carla: Oh thank you.
Narrator: said Carla with her hand still extended.
Carla: And I see that you have three lovely
rings. I will have them as well, thank you. They are very colorful!
Narrator: The merchant was taken aback.
Merchant: What's this?
Narrator: he bellowed.
Carla: Come now, my dear man, let's not quibble.
Narrator: said Carla.
Carla: You did agree to pay me everything in
your hand, didn't you?
Narrator: Now the merchant was fuming, for he
was a man prone to displaying his wealth, and on that hand he
had three very valuable rings that glittered in the sunlight:
a diamond, a star sapphire, and a ruby. They were among his favorite
possessions.
Carla: I take you at your word. Everything in
your hand includes your three rings. After all, a deal's a deal.
Narrator: Carla continued.
Carla: There is a judge just down the street.
If you are not content with our deal, we will go before him.
Narrator: And so they did. The judge listened
patiently as Carla explained what had been said. The judge asked
the merchant if he had indeed agreed to pay "everything in his
hand."
Merchant: Well… yes…bu-, bu-, but…
Narrator: the merchant stammered.
Judge: Then a deal is a deal.
Narrator: the judge decreed.
Judge: And you must honor it.
Narrator: Reluctantly, the merchant slipped
the beautiful rings from his fingers and handed them to Carla.
Carla put two of them in her pocket and held out the ruby ring.
Carla: I am not a heartless person.
Narrator: she said.
Carla: I'll bet this ring means a great deal
to you.
Merchant: Why yes, it does, Signorina.
Narrator: said the merchant sheepishly.
Carla: Well, then, I would be willing to trade
it to you for my papa's horse and wagon, which you have recently
acquired.
Narrator: said Carla with a broad smile. The
merchant, realizing he had been tricked by his own brand of trickery,
agreed. And so Carla returned home to her proud, grateful father
with their horse and wagon, three copper pieces, and the two precious
rings as a bonus. Even today the people of Palermo tell of how
the clever Carla outsmarted the greedy merchant. © 1995 by Robert
Scotellaro.
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