An old man and a boy were travelling with a donkey. They arrived at a village. As they were walking with the animal, children at the school laughed at having seen them and said, “look at these idiots, they have a strong beast of burden but they are walking.At least the old man might ride on it! ". They thought that they should follow their advice. So the old man was riding on the donkey as the boy walked.
Soon they came to another community where the people were laughing at them and said, "Look! The old man is riding on the donkey and the poor boy walking.” So they changed positions, the old man began to walk while the boy was riding the donkey.
Soon they came upon another village. As they entered the people gathered around them and said, “Look at that arrogant boy riding the donkey. The man must be his grandfather or his teacher and he walks while the child rides in comfort. This is the opposite of what should happen.” Now what could the travellers do? Both decided to try to only possibility left. The old man and the boy got on the donkey and began to leave the village. As they were leaving, another crowd surrounded them and said, “Look at this violent pair! The poor animal is almost dead. It would be better if they carried the donkey.” So after much argument, they decided to carry the animal on their shoulders.
They cut a bamboo, hung to the donkey by the legs and loaded it on their shoulders. The poor animal struggled to free itself as any donkey would do. It tried to escape since it was not a people pleaser and didn’t believe in the opinion of others. But the travellers were strong and forced it so the donkey was stuck. Precisely at that moment they crossed a bridge and entered another village and a multitude of people came to gawk at them. They exclaimed, " Look at these idiots! There never existed such a stupid pair. Instead of riding the donkey they take it piggyback. Have they gone mad?" Meanwhile, the donkey got very anxious, so anxious that it freed itself from the bamboo, jumped and fell from the bridge into the river, killing itself immediately. The old man and the boy went down to the river close to the dead animal. The old man spoke to the boy: “Boy, just like the donkey, you will be dead if you pay too much attention to the opinion of others.”
