A man prepared his donkey and his dog for a long journey over a mountain.
He loaded the donkey with heavy packs until it was carrying as much as it could.
To keep the donkey from getting too tired, the man decided to walk beside it and lead it up the mountain.
The man, the donkey, and the dog quietly made their way up the steep trail.
After several hours, the man became exhausted.
He stopped, looked at the donkey, and decided it was time to ride instead of walk.
Just as he was about to climb onto the donkey, the donkey suddenly shouted,
“STOP! I’m sick of being your mule! I hate carrying you around! Leave me alone!”
The man froze in shock.
He had never heard an animal speak before.
Terrified, he turned and ran as fast as he could back down the mountain, with the dog racing behind him.
When he finally reached the bottom, he stopped to catch his breath.
Still shaking, he gasped,
“I… I can’t believe it! I’ve never heard a donkey talk before!”
The dog looked at him and said,
“Me neither.”