BEARDO

Let me tell you about Mr. Hadi, the elderly gentleman who lives down the street from me. Mr. Hadi has a beard, but it’s not like most men. He has a beard that would put Santa Claus to shame! His beard is so long that it goes all the way down to his belly button. It’s quite a sight. But here comes the funny part: when Mr. Hadi gets carried away in a conversation, especially if he is relating a story from his younger days, his mammoth beard seems to start a life of its own. It starts wiggling and jiggling unpredictably, as if slyly competing for attention with its owner. It never fails to crack up everyone within sight! Some of the boys in the neighbourhood have even organised the nights so that whenever they see Mr. Hadi coming, they avail themselves of their own opportunities to watch the beard because, as one put it, ‘we never know what it is going to do next!