Once upon a time, under a sky full of stars, lived a kind old woman with one son: a round, bald boy called Hassan. Everyone called him Hassan Kachal, Bald Hassan. He was lazy from the tips of his toes to the top of his head.
All day Hassan lay beside the warm clay oven. He ate a little, laughed a little, and went back to snoring. "Hassan dear, bring me a glass of water," his mother would call. "Yes, Mother, after this nap," he would say, and hide his bald head under the colourful blanket.
One day his mother was very tired. Since morning she had swept, baked bread and carried water, while Hassan stared at the flame. "My son," she said, "it is time to see the world." At last Hassan left the house and set off for the city with a bald-headed grin.
He walked and walked, singing under his breath. He climbed a tall mountain and jumped over a river, and his tummy rumbled and grumbled. "Oh dear, how hungry I am."
At the end of the road rose a huge castle with a golden door and a garden full of red roses. From the window came the smell of kebab and fresh sweets. "Oh my, what is this place?" said Hassan, and he crept in on tiptoe.
In the middle of the castle sat an enormous black div with two horns and a mouthful of big teeth. To tell the truth, he was not very clever. He saw Hassan and let out a great shout: "Haaay!" Hassan was not one bit afraid. He just laughed.
"Div dear, let's be friends," said Hassan. The div was stunned; nobody had ever been kind to him. "Really and truly?" he asked, and slowly smiled. Hassan scratched his bald head. "Of course."
"I am very lonely here," the div sighed. Hassan sat beside him and told him a story of a warm oven, a kind mother and hot bread. The div laughed so hard the whole castle shook. "You are my first friend in the world."
"This castle, this garden, all of it is yours," said the div. "The gold and jewels too, though they are nothing next to you." "Then I'll bring my mother," said Hassan. The div set him on his shoulder and off they went to the small old house.
Mother opened the door and gave a little shriek. A huge div stood there, next to Hassan. "Don't be afraid, Mother, this is my kindest friend." The div bowed and held out a bunch of red roses. Mother laughed until she cried, and all three hugged.
From that day the big castle was full of voices and laughter. Mother baked bread and the div blew on the oven fire. Hassan still took his little naps, as always, but now he helped a little too. In the evenings they all told stories until they fell asleep.