Let's Kick It

It’s interesting how stories are often used to teach moral lessons to children. That is why this story is so interesting, because the obvious moral doesn’t seem like something I want to instill in my children. Maybe I’m missing it.

 

One day a donkey was walking along with his master when a hyena came to attack the donkey. The master hit the hyena with his walking stick so hard that he fell to the ground dead! Later that night, the donkey told his family of the tragic event on the road that day and so the whole donkey family prepared to go to the lekso (once again, this literally means ‘crying’ and it is the traditional funeral service that happens for several days). So, on the appointed day of the lekso, the whole donkey family got dressed up and went to the hyena’s cave. They entered and, all in a line, they sat along the wall. The hyena family sat along the opposite wall and they just stared at each other for a while (that’s how they go). Finally, one of the hyenas thanked the donkey family for coming and asked where their gift was. You see, it is characteristic for visitors to bring snacks or coffee or something to share with the grieving family. The donkeys nervously started looking at each other and they excused themselves to go outside, for they had brought nothing. Amongst themselves, the leaders of the donkey family said “how stupid we are and what a great insult it is that we brought nothing. Maybe we should give one of these little donkeys as a snack for them to eat. The little donkeys, overhearing their fate being discussed, piped up “Hey, we are so small, we would not be a very good gift for so many hyenas, we should give one of you fat old-timers for them to have a feast!” The leaders weren’t having anything to do with that suggestion and continued to talk about who to offer. Finally, one of the clever young donkeys said to the others “follow me.” He stuck his head in the doorway of the hyena house and said “our generous snack offering is whichever of us runs the slowest!” and with that the young donkeys took off running! The fat old-timers got only a few steps from the house and the hyenas ate very well that day.