Once upon a time, under a flowerpot, lived a little beetle called Khaleh Suskeh, with her dear father in a warm, soft hole. One day she said, "Daddy, I want to go and see the world." Her father laughed. "Go, my flower, and go safely."
Khaleh Suskeh went to the mirror and made herself pretty: a thin veil of onion skin on her head and a pair of tiny red shoes on her feet. "I'm going to Hamadan to find a kind husband," she said happily, and off she went, hopping and skipping.
On the way the local butcher came up with a cleaver. "Khaleh Suskeh, Khaleh Suskeh, where are you going?" "I'm going to get married. Tell me, what will you hit me with?" The butcher raised his shiny cleaver. "With this."
Khaleh Suskeh stepped back, a tiny bit frightened. "No, no. Your cleaver is far too sharp and scary. I'm a dainty little beetle, not a piece of meat." She laughed, said "Goodbye, Mr Butcher," waved, and walked on.
Further on the plump grocer called to her. "Khaleh Suskeh, Khaleh Suskeh, where are you going?" "I'm going to get married. Tell me, what will you hit me with?" The grocer picked up a rough broom. "With this broom."
Khaleh Suskeh gathered up her veil and laughed. "Oh no. A broom is far too rough and harsh. I'm a little flower, not the dust on the yard floor." Her red shoes went tap, tap, and on she hopped.
Slowly it grew dark, and Khaleh Suskeh grew tired. She sat down on a small stone by the road, gave a little sigh and looked up at the sky. "Where is my kind husband?" she said softly.
Suddenly Mr Mouse came politely out of his hole. "Khaleh Suskeh, Khaleh Suskeh, where are you going?" he asked kindly. "I'm going to get married. Tell me, what will you hit me with?" Mr Mouse showed her his soft, thin tail.
"I never hit anyone," he said shyly. "I would only stroke you gently with this soft tail of mine." Khaleh Suskeh's face lit up like a flower. She clapped her hands. "Hooray, you're the one."
Mr Mouse and Khaleh Suskeh took each other's hands and walked slowly along, laughing. Her onion-skin veil danced in the wind and her red shoes sparkled. Mr Mouse sang a lovely song.
All the little animals gathered round. A sparrow sang and a butterfly danced, and everyone said together, "Congratulations, congratulations." Khaleh Suskeh's cheeks turned pink with happiness.
They went to a small, warm, cosy little house, spread a bright pretty cloth, and sat together with milk and sweets. Khaleh Suskeh put her red shoes by the door. "How warm and lovely it is here," she said.