Aesop’s Fables The man, the boy & the donkey

A man and his son were taking their donkey to market when a passerby scoffed, “You fools! What’s a donkey for if not riding?”

Taking the hint, the man let his son hop on. But soon, a group of men sneered, “Look at that spoiled brat, making his poor father walk!”

Feeling judged, the man swapped places with his son. Not long after, two women clucked, “Shame on that lazy oaf! Letting his little boy trudge along like that.”

Now thoroughly confused, the man hoisted his son up onto the donkey with him. By the time they reached town, people pointed and laughed, “Have some mercy! That poor donkey is carrying both of you!”

At their wit’s end, the man and his son devised a brilliant solution: tie the donkey’s legs to a pole and carry it instead!

This, of course, drew even more laughter. But as they crossed a bridge, the donkey — understandably unimpressed — kicked free, sending itself tumbling into the river, where it drowned.

An old man, shaking his head, chuckled, “Well, let that be a lesson: try to please everyone, and you’ll lose your donkey.”