By the end of the story, the merchant and the camel have experienced a change in their relationship. The reader sees how the merchant’s behavior reflects his new attitude. For example, at the beginning of the story, the merchant “always yelled at the camel to run, so he could reach the place where he’d sell his goods as fast as possible.” After his encounter with the Prophet, the merchant changes his behavior towards his camel. The story concludes with the merchant saying, “We will rest a while before we go on … There is no need to hurry.” Work with the class to identify other things the merchant does that make the camel’s life miserable and lonely. Have students write a new passage of the story showing how the merchant’s behaviors will change. Break students into small groups and have them share their first drafts. Based on peer feedback, have students revise and present their work to the class.
