Editor’s Note: Normally in the translation section the original piece is also presented alongside the translated one. Owing to the nature and volume of this translation, the original is not presented here. Interested reader can read the original from this link.
Jalolbek, a first-year pupil, was an open-hearted and pure boy. Perhaps it was because his grandmother always told him fairy tales, but he was kind, clever, and different from other children. He truly disliked seeing people fight and use bad language in the street. Whenever he saw children his own age doing such things, he immediately pictured the villainous characters from fairy tales. That was how he had been raised at home.
The good upbringing he received at home was the complete opposite of what he sometimes witnessed outside. And that affected him greatly…
But do not assume the worst and ask, "So what happened next? Did he begin to go bad?" Never! That would never happen!
Now let us get to the real story.
One day, whilst walking home from school, Jalolbek saw two boys his age fighting. He ran towards them.
"Stop! That's enough!"
But the boys continued insulting each other and pulling at each other's clothes.
"I'll kick you and break your leg!" shouted one boy angrily.
"If I can't beat you, I'm not fit to be alive!" the other threatened loudly.
"I said stop!" Jalolbek shouted, and pushed himself between them.
"Move away, Jalol! Let go of me! Let him see how strong I am!" said the first boy.
"I'm not scared of you!" shouted the second boy as he tried to lunge forward again.
Holding both of them by their arms, Jalolbek finally lost his patience:
"Are you really that strong? So very powerful, are you?" he yelled at the first boy.
"Yes, I am! I'm the strongest!" the boy shouted like a wild horse.
"And you? Are YOU also 'strong'?" Jalolbek asked the second boy.
"Yes! I'm stronger than him! I could easily beat ten boys like him!" the second one boasted.
"That's enough!" Jalolbek said firmly. "Why are you bragging so much? Have you never heard the proverb: 'Don't boast like a goose — your skills are few'?"
He turned to the first boy:
"We finished learning the alphabet two months ago. Can you even read properly yet?" he asked sharply.
The boy flushed red and stared down at the ground.
"You still can't even recognise the letters!" Jalolbek added.
Then he turned to the second boy:
"And you? Are you strong enough to stop using bad language? Can you control your mouth? What about becoming the best pupil in the class — can you manage that?" said Jalolbek, speaking with the seriousness of an adult.
The second boy also turned red and looked at the ground.
"Let's see if you have the strength to become the BEST, the KINDEST person in the world! At this rate… impossible. Now go home, both of you!" he ordered boldly.
Both boys fell silent and slowly walked away.
Whenever I come from Tashkent to Khorezm to visit my family — especially my dear mother — I witness many similar situations involving both children and adults. But that day, I was struck by the boldness of my neighbour's son, Jalolbek. I saw everything with my own eyes. I was just about to go and separate the boys myself when Jalolbek ran ahead of me.
Realising that I had seen and heard everything, Jalolbek walked past me, placed his hand on his chest politely, and said:
"Assalomu alaykum!" — smiling warmly.
I returned his greeting and, on an impulse, decided to test him with a question. I learnt that he had memorised countless poems. He even knew verses from Navoi, Babur, and Mashrab — quite remarkable for his age. Then, suddenly, he started testing me! What a clever boy.
"Tell me," he asked, "I am tall when I am young and short when I am old. What am I?"
I thought for a long time, but honestly could not answer.
"You don't know THAT?!" he laughed at me.
This clever boy put me to shame even more thoroughly than the two fighting boys had.
"And here is another one," he said proudly. "Its bottom is a swimming pool, its top is a restaurant. What is it?"
I guessed one thing — he laughed. I guessed another — he laughed again.
"The whole school is puzzling over these riddles. Let them think a bit. If they can't work them out, I'll tell them later. But it's rather embarrassing that even someone from Tashkent couldn't guess."
He winked mischievously.
"All right, I'll tell you the answer. But don't tell anyone, will you?" he whispered into my ear.
When I heard the answer, I accidentally exclaimed, "Oh!"
Jalolbek puffed up proudly like a small hero and walked towards his home. I stood watching him go…
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