Stan, the young donkey, was wandering sadly around the barn. He seemed hopeless and wounded and had no desire to speak to any of his fellow donkeys; even talking to his father was not appealing to him that exact moment. In fact, he was feeling ashamed of having a donkey father. He was ashamed of being a donkey altogether.
As the moon and stars scattered across the dark, blue sky, Stan decided he no longer to wander. He needed some solution, he needed reassurance, and only his grandfather seemed appropriate for that particular job.
Grandpa Roger was sleeping peacefully in the barn. He had become such an old donkey, that he only took light tasks around the farm and recently he had been barely able to do that, too. Stan had overheard the other day the farmer discussing killing his grandpa Roger with his wife, but she had told him he could be tolerated a bit longer. However, not so long, Stan guessed, and it made his heart ache for him.
Stan gently tapped Grandpa Roger’s front foot feeling slightly guilty for waking him up. But he had no one else to talk to. Grandpa Roger yawned and stretched thinking that it was time to work. Then his eyes met Stan’s sad gaze
‘Oh my boy!’ he almost gasped ‘that’s a look which I do not like!’ he frowned. Grandpa Roger always liked to see Stan laughing and his eyes sparkling with the youth and happiness.
‘I’m sorry I woke you up’ Stan apologized politely ‘But I need to talk to you’
‘Of course, son. Sit down’
Stan sat silently. He didn’t know where to begin from. Heaving a sigh he started slowly
‘I… I was working today in the farm. The farmer loaded the carriage of which I dragged with so many things, that I could barely move with his extra weight. I struggled to get forward, but my pace was too slow. That upset my master and he stroked me consistently to get forward. That didn’t bother me. I was used to it’ Stan paused searching in his grandpa’s eyes for a reaction. But he was very calm and patient as he listened.
‘Then his sun came’ Stan continued lowering his head ‘and he murmured something to his father that made him angrier which made him thunders in his face that …. That he was “as useless as this donkey”. He was talking about me’
‘Hmm’ Grandpa Roger muttered he could guess where the conversation headed.
‘So grandpa’ Stan almost whispered ‘Are we useless? Are human better than us? Are they the best of all creatures? Because I’m starting to believe that they really are the best of all’
Grandpa Roger smiled gently at Stan.
‘Now why would you think that? Because they walk on two and we walk on four?’ He asked softly ‘Is that what makes the difference?’
‘I don’t know’ Stan said, puzzled ‘Maybe?’
‘No, my boy’ Grandpa Roger said with his deep, wise voice ‘My whole life I have worked with humans. I know them and understand them almost as much as I know and understand donkeys. Indeed they are really bright and intelligent. They are handsome and civilized. They are a moving ball of over-heated emotions. but Stan, my boy, their world is ugly. Their souls are grimy with sins of which we never made and never will. Tell me, son, have you ever seen a donkey stealing, taking what does not belong to him? Have you seen a donkey wishing for his father’s death so he could inherit his money? Have you ever seen a donkey cutting trees? Have you ever seen a donkey leading young ones to drugs and selling them what would kill them? Have you ever seen a donkey killing and sabotaging just for the sake of doing so? Have you ever seen a donkey who’s unfaithful or a coward? Have you ever seen a donkey killing children and women so cruelly? Have you ever see donkeys that lost their language and knew only violence as a way of communication? Tell me, my boy Stan, have you seen such an act in donkeys’ behavior? Because I have not seen it in donkeys’ behavior, I saw them only in humans’ behavior’
Stan felt warm deep inside. His heart fluttered. He had never looked at it this way.
‘Humans are full of flaws. They could be disgusting liars. Donkeys never act against well-behavior. Even when we die, when they kill u, we die proudly for we had earned our time in life with sweat and hard work. We never cheated to be doctors or engineers’ Grandpa Roger said proudly “Stan, my boy, be proud. You are a donkey.’