Casamira’s Corner: The Pun is Mightier Than the Sword!
His Majesty Ibrahim Al-Dimashqi and his brother, Da’oud al-Dimashqi were stranded in the arid desert. Their camels were gone, the water had run out, and they were crawling towards a palm tree that might be a mirage. As they got closer, three different booths appeared in the shade of the palm tree. Withered with thirst, they crawled to the first booth and asked, “Do you have any water?”
The rotund proprietor with a smile and one gold tooth said, “Good Knights, welcome to my fruit stand. Unfortunately, I do not have water.”
Disappointed, they crawled to the next booth and asked, “Do you have any water?”
“Ah, Sahib. Welcome to my humble booth,” the ruddy faced proprietor said addressing his Majesty. “I do not have water, but please, enjoy the most delicious custard in all of the land.”
“Custard? I need water not custard! I need water.”
Still parched, they crawled the 15 paces to the final booth, and barely articulated their question, “Do you have any water?” The jovial man in a turban and striped caftan said, “I am sorry, but I have only Sponge Cake. No water.”
In disbelief, the two cotton-mouthed Knights, continued their crawl. Ibrahim said to Da’oud, “That was a trifle bizarre!”
(Trifle is an English dessert dish made from thick custard, diced fruit interwoven with sponge fingers or more delicate sponge cake thin layer and/or fruit juice/syrup and almost always topped with whipped cream. )