FIRE IN THE MOUTH
In a moment the sun would set in the west. Nasreddin counted his money.
"It's only ten silver coins left" he said to himself. "I have to get the cheapest hotel in town".
Then he walked through. Every time he met a person, he asked if he knew
the cheapest hotel in town. After considering some hotel, he decided to spend the night
at the hotel in the corner.
"What can I do for you, Sir?" asked a woman behind the counter.
"I want the cheapest room here" answered Nasreddin.
The woman, who was also the hotel owner, said, "You make the wisest decision, Sir.
We have the cheapest room with the best service in town" bragged the woman. "How long
will you stay?" she asked.
"Just one night" answered Nasreddin.
"Just one night? All right, one night is okay" said the woman apologetically. "It will cost eight silver coins"
Nasreddin was relieved. it meant he still could get some breakfast the next morning. So he took
the key and went to his room.
when he was about to take off his clothes, somebody knocked at the door. He put on his clothes back
and opened the door. "What's wrong?" he asked the hotel owner, the person who knocked at his door.
"Excuse me, you forget to pay the bill" said the woman.
"Usually people pay the bill when they check out" said Nasreddin.
"In other hotels they do, but here they have to pay in advance" urged the hotel owner.
Then Nasreddin paid his bill.
The woman smiled and added, "Sir, anytime you need our service, just knock at the counter outside,
the servant will come out and help you willingly".
It was a very hot night. It was going to rain soon. Nasreddin was very thirsty. Then he walked outside
to the lobby and knocked at the counter. He waited for the servant to help him. But nobody came out.
He knocked at the counter loudly once again. Only silence followed it. He knocked again and again but no person came.
Nasreddin could not stand his thirst. He felt as if there was fire in his throat. He shouted, "fire, fire! fire, fire!"
All the sleeping guests woke up to hear his loud cry and ran out in their various nightgowns and pajamas.
And the last person to come was the hotel owner. She came with a kettle in her right hand.
"Where is the fire?" she anxiously asked.
"Here!" said Nasreddin, pointing to his mouth.
KEBAKARAN DI DALAM MULUT
Pada saat matahari akan terbenam di barat. Nasreddin menghitung uangnya.
"Uangnya hanya tersisa koin perak" dia berkata pada dirinya sendiri. "Aku harus mendapatkan hotel termurah di kota".
Lalu ia berjalan. Setiap kali ia bertemu dengan seseorang, dia bertanya apakah dia tahu
hotel termurah di kota. Setelah mempertimbangkan beberapa hotel, ia memutuskan untuk menghabiskan malam
di hotel yang ada di sudut.
"Apa yang bisa saya lakukan untuk Anda, Tuan?" tanya seorang wanita di belakang konter.
"Saya mau kamar yang paling murah di sini" jawab Nasreddin.
Wanita tersebut, yang juga pemilik hotel, berkata, "Anda membuat keputusan paling bijaksana, Tuan.
Kami memiliki kamar termurah dengan pelayanan terbaik di kota " bual wanita itu " Berapa lama.
Anda akan tinggal?" tanyanya.
"Hanya satu malam" jawab Nasreddin.
"Hanya satu malam? Baik, satu malam gak apa-apa" kata perempuan itu dengan sopannya. "Biayanya delapan koin perak"
Nasreddin merasa lega. itu berarti ia masih bisa mendapatkan sarapan keesokan paginya. Jadi ia mengambil
kunci dan pergi ke kamarnya.
Ketika ia hendak melepas pakaiannya, seseorang mengetuk pintu. Ia mengenakan pakaian kembali
dan membuka pintu. "Ada apa?" ia bertanya pada pemilik hotel, orang yang mengetuk pintu.
"Maaf, Anda lupa untuk membayar billnya" kata perempuan itu.
"Biasanya orang membayar tagihan ketika mereka pulang" kata Nasreddin.
"Di hotel lain mereka lakukannya, tapi disini mereka harus membayar di muka" desak pemilik hotel.
Lalu Nasreddin membayar tagihannya.
Wanita itu tersenyum dan menambahkan, "Tuan, kapan saja Anda membutuhkan jasa kami, ketukan saja konter diluar,
pelayan akan keluar dan membantu Anda dengan sukarela ".
Malam itu sangat panas. Hari akan segera turun hujan. Nasreddin merasa sangat haus. Lalu ia berjalan keluar
ke lobi dan mengetuk meja. Dia menunggu pelayan untuk membantunya. Tapi tak seorang pun keluar.
Dia mengetuk meja lagi dengan keras sekali. Hanya kesunyian mengikutinya. Dia mengetuk lagi dan lagi, tapi tidak ada orang datang.
Nasreddin tidak tahan rasa hausnya. Dia merasa seolah-olah ada api di tenggorokannya. Dia berteriak, "api, api! Api, api!"
Semua tamu yang sedang tertidur terbangun mendengar teriakan kerasnya dan berlari keluar dengan berbagai baju tidur dan piyama.
Dan orang terakhir yang datang adalah pemilik hotel. Dia datang dengan ceret di tangan kanannya.
"Di mana apinya?" ia bertanya dengancemasnya.
"Di sini!" kata Nasreddin, sambil menunjuk ke mulutnya.
Taken from Nasreddin a man who never gives up (Sugeng Hariyanto) Kanisius
