THERE was once a man who thought he was a grain of rice. And as if this were not strange enough, he thought he was a grain of rice and imagined he was chased by a huge chicken wanting to peck at him.

Day and night he was worried and fearful. He kept his doors and windows constantly locked. He didn’t want to know what was happening on the street or in the house next door. He covered his ears whenever he heard the scratching and clucking of hens