Baldy Boy (Keloğlan) and the Red Stone

Once upon a time, in a far-off country, Keloğlan (Baldy Boy) and his mother lived. His mother loved him very much and often said: "My bald, clever boy, grow up and take care of your mother, for your mother is getting old."

When his mother said this, Keloğlan would jump and skip playfully: "My dear mother, my eye's light, you just grow old, and your Keloğlan will take care of you!" he would answer.

One day, Keloğlan's mother left home to visit a neighbor. As she left, she warned Keloğlan: "Be sure not to go outside! And do not play with the red stone or any things like that! Otherwise, the wind will take you, and you will cry for your mother there!" "Okay, my dear mother, I won't go anywhere," said our Keloğlan. He even waved goodbye to his mother.

Just then, a Bird came to Keloğlan's window and called out to him.

"Keloğlan, my clever boy, Why all this worry, boy? Your mother told you to stay, But you must come and move away!"

Keloğlan was surprised at first. He couldn't figure out how the Bird was talking. Then, he ran toward the Bird, saying, "How are you talking like that?" and tried to catch it by the wing. The Bird flew away so fast that no one could ever catch it.

Keloğlan started to cry: "Oh, my bald head, my clever head! Oh, my dearest bird!" Then he didn't even know why he was crying or what he was saying.

Just then, the Bird flew close to the window again: "Look at the red stone, quickly get up from where you are, find the Sultan, and quickly get away from there," the Bird said, and then it flew away for good.

Keloğlan tried to understand what the Bird was trying to say, but he couldn't figure out the puzzle. However, a voice inside Keloğlan told him he would burst with curiosity!

Keloğlan left the house. He walked for hours and hours. When he turned around and looked, he realized he was very far from home. He had also lost his way. He was so lost that it felt like he had arrived in another country.

Everywhere he looked, there were red stones! As Keloğlan bent down to touch the stones, they started to run away from him. Keloğlan chased the stones, the stones ran; Keloğlan chased, the stones ran.

Finally, the wind his mother had talked about grabbed Keloğlan and carried him away. As Keloğlan flew, he remembered his mother's words.

He finally found himself in a dark hole. It was pitch black! Keloğlan didn't know what to do in the darkness.

Suddenly, a Bird flew down. It was the same little Bird! The Bird held out one of its wings to Keloğlan. Just as Keloğlan was about to grab the wing, the Bird dropped a red stone into his hand and flew away.

Keloğlan wandered for days with this red stone in his hand. Once, a dragon almost ate Keloğlan, but he barely managed to escape.

A few days later, a Dwarf (Cüce) blocked Keloğlan's path. He said to him: "What do you want with these red stones? Leave it and go!"

Keloğlan chased the Dwarf for a long time, but finally, the Dwarf disappeared. At the end of the chase, Keloğlan turned his head and saw a giant palace standing right next to him.

At the palace gate was the Bird who had given Keloğlan the red stone. Keloğlan threw the red stone towards the Bird. He cried out: "What trouble you have caused me! Because of you, I have come to this place. How will I find my mother now? Tell me, how will I return to my village?"

The stone hit the Bird's head. As the stone hit, red jewels rained everywhere, and the Bird suddenly turned into a beautiful Sultan (Princess)!

Keloğlan fell in love with this Sultan. They loved each other very much.

Keloğlan and the Sultan first went to the palace. The Sultan told her father everything that had happened. The Sultan (King) had thought his daughter was lost and was overjoyed. He loved Keloğlan and wanted to hold a wedding for them.

Keloğlan said to the King: "My King, I want to go to my village and bring my mother here."

The King gave permission. Keloğlan went to his mother and told her everything that had happened. Then he said to her: "Your bald boy, your clever boy, look, your boy has grown up. I have come to make you live in palaces; your bald boy has become the King's son-in-law!"

Keloğlan's mother was overjoyed with what she heard and went to the palace with her son. Keloğlan took care of his mother when she was old. He never hurt the feelings of his mother, the King, or his wife. They all lived happily ever after.

They got their wish, and we can climb onto the couch (start a new story). 🥳