Joseph and Mary arrived at Crazy Mustapha’s Roadside Inn. A tattered wrapper from a large order of locust beans, imprinted with the Ancient-World-renowned logo of Herod's Hotels, blew past Joseph’s foot. Joseph walked in to find Mustapha, a large man, eating homas and counting gold coins. "Can I help you?’ he asked, rising to his feet and stashing the homas safely out of reach of the counter and the hopeful dog at his feet.

Joseph asked, for the 15^th time that day, if there was a room available. Mustapha gave him a wearied look. "I wish you had come in about an hour ago. I just gave the last room out to a couple who came in late for the Kemelman wedding." Mustapha shuffled through a pile of scrolls on the desk behind the counter. "Tell ya what I'm going to do," he said, his bass voice booming out of the office, "I'll let you use the stable. At least you'll be off the streets. Let me get my wife and we'll sweep ya out a stall real quick." Mustapha shrugged at Joseph. "Sorry, pal, it's the best I can do."

Joseph let out a sigh. Mary wasn't going to like this! But at least there was a place to stop and take a load off for a while. "OK, we'll take it. May the Lord bless you, you're the only one who offered an alternative solution." Joseph reached into his satchel to get Mustapha his gold.

Mustapha put up his hand. "No, my friend, there is no charge for the stable. If you wish, you may water the animals in the morning. As for now, the cattle are lowing themselves to sleep. We'll let you have the stall next to the sheep, where they layÖ and before you know it, you and your charming bride will be asleep on the hay!" Mustapha indicated the menorah in the window. All the candles were lit. "It's the least I can do at the Holiday!"

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