CHAPTER THREE

CHAPTER THREE THE SON

Section Four The Youngest Son

In fairy tales, the youngest heroes are given a special privilege: luck comes to them, their affairs go well, they slay dragons, and so on. Among the people there is an expression, “supraqoqdi” — the shaking-out of the tablecloth — the name for the youngest child born to parents of advanced age. The youngest has several qualities that are not found in his elders: first of all, by the time the parents bring the youngest into the world, their life experience has grown considerably; they have become skilled at raising and caring for a child; often, when the youngest is born, the older children have grown up and gone off to school, university and work, and the courtyard stands empty. At that time the youngest is very useful: he keeps his parents company, and until the eldest brother marries and grandchildren arrive, the youngest is the light of their lives. This bears its fruit: in the youngest one sees extraordinary playfulness, extraordinary boldness, extraordinary intelligence, kindness, closeness to his parents, and in many cases a special handsomeness as well. As the youngest grows up under the protection of his older brothers in a large family, there is also the opportunity for the best of characters to develop in him. Whether they want to or not, parents care for the youngest more. They put up with his antics. They forgive him. The older brothers should not be surprised by this: they were born when their parents were young, while the youngest was born when the parents had matured; at that time parents acquire a generous, forgiving, calm nature that is not quick to anger. If there is one darling in the family, so be it: it is fitting for the youngest to be given such a privilege; they bring warmth and cheer to the family circle; their independence, boldness, wit, memory and closeness to their parents serve as the blessing of the whole family.

Akrom MALIK