MY WORD OR THE WORD OF MY DONKEY
One day the Hodja answered a knock at his door and found that it was one of his neighbors whom he particularly disliked.
"Hodja Effendi, can I borrow you donkey for the day?" he wanted to know.
"Sorry, neighbor," replied the Hodja. "Of course you could borrow it if I had it here, but it is not in just now."
Just then the donkey started to bray!
"I am surprised at you, Hodja Effendi!" said the disgruntled neighbor. "I can hear your donkey bray, just when you say it's not in!"
"I am the one who is surprised; yes, and outraged, too!" shouted the Hodja. "A neighbor like you I'd rather not have, disbelieving my word but believing that of my donkey!"
