John P Cilia

The Story of Monsieur John and Mister Camel John P Cilia

THIS IS THE STORY OF AN OLD MAN LIVING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE DESERT OF MOROCCO MAKING TOYS AND CHILDREN FURNITURE FOR THE KIDS IN THE NEAR-BY CITY. EACH MONTH MONSIEUR JOHN TRAVELS TO TOWN WITH MISTER CAMEL, AN EVEN-TOED ANIMAL HE CALLS HIS FRIEND. ONE DAY HIS DAUGHTER MARIE CALLS HIM TO TELL HIM HE IS A GRAND-FATHER OF TWIN GIRLS. DELIGHTED HE GOES TO TOWN WITH MISTER CAMEL TO GET SOME CLOTHES FOR THE BABIES. ON THE WAY BACK HOME HE REALIZES IN THE MIDDLE OF THE SAHARA DESERT THAT HE DOES NOT KNOW HOW TO GET TO SEE THEM IN MARRAKESH. HE IS TALKING TO HIMSELF VERY LOUDLY AND GETTING MORE AND MORE SAD. AFTER MARCHING FEW MILES IN THE COLD NIGHT IN THE DESERT, HE THOUGHT HE HEARD A VOICE SAYING "I KNOW HOW TO GET TO MARRAKESH." HE THINKS HE IS DELIRIOUS. HE LOOKS AROUND HIM AND HE HEARS THE SAME VOICE "I TELL YOU, I KNOW HOW TO GET TO MARRAKESH." HE JUMPS IN THE AIR AND LANDS ON THE COLD SAND, HIS FACE DOWN NEAR THE FRONT OF THE BIG TOES OF HIS FRIEND. HE LOOKS UP AND SEES A BIG HEAD WITH A SMILE SHOWING LARGE TEETH AND UNATTRACTIVE LIPS SAYING "WHY ARE YOU FRIGHTENED?" MONSIEUR JOHN SHOOKS HIS HEAD TO REMOVE SOME SAND FROM HIS HEAD, TAKES A BIG BREATH AND SAYS "BUT, BUT, I DID NOT KNOW YOU COULD TALK. WHY DID YOU NOT TALK BEFORE?" HIS FRIEND ANSWERED "BECAUSE I HAD NOTHING WORTHWHILE TO SAY." THEY FINALLY GET HOME AND FEW DAYS LATER THEY WALK TWO DAYS IN THE DESERT TO MARRAKESH TO SEE HIS DAUGHTER AND TO MEET HIS TWIN GRAND-DAUGHTERS.