Arabic Stories for Language Learners. Hezi Brosh

      Juha and His Donkey

      One day Juha was riding his donkey, his son was riding behind him, and the donkey took them where they wanted. A man who was walking in the road saw them riding the donkey and said: What a cruel man! How is it possible for a weak donkey to carry two?

      Juha heard the man’s words and agreed with him. He got down from the donkey’s back and left his son to ride, while he walked alongside.

      Another man saw them and said: This boy is not polite! He rides the donkey and leaves his old father walking.

      Juha’s son was ashamed. He got down from the donkey and bid his father to ride.

      A third man passed by and said: What a cruel heart this father has! He rides a donkey and makes his young son walk!

      So Juha got down from the donkey and walked next to his son.

      After a short while, Juha turned to his son and asked him: What should we do, my son, to please people?

      The boy said: All has been done, except if we carry the donkey and walk with it. And Juha said: You’re right.

      And then they carried the donkey on their backs and walked with it. The people laughed, mocking them, when they saw this sight, so Juha became angry, and he resumed riding the donkey with his son riding behind him.