Hong Kong Young Writers Anthologies Fiction 2020complete | Page 515

The Donkeys and the Mules
Carmel School - Elsa High School, Greenstein, Benjamin - 16
Donkey, a donkey, lived on a farm with other donkeys and horses.
The farm was relatively peaceful, every donkey and horse got along with each other and everyone helped
each other out at times. Overall, the donkeys and horses shared great relationships between themselves.
There were also a few mules on the farm. However, due to their aggressive behavior, arrogance, and greed,
they weren’t a joy for the donkeys to live with. The horses didn't mind, as they had a great skill of ignoring
them and minding their own businesses. Another thing that the donkeys didn't like about the mules were
their ideologies and philosophies. The mules believed that this farm should join and combine with other
nearby farms. In this farm, donkeys outnumbered both the horses and mules, whereas in all the farms
nearby, mules significantly outnumbered the donkeys and horses. Combing the farms would mean a
significant increase in mules, resulting in the mules becoming more populous and superior animal. The
mules said they wanted to do this as everyone would benefit from this idea. They said that by joining other
farms, there would be more opportunities,, and freedom to grow and develop.
The farm had changed and developed over the past one hundred years. The farm used to be dominated by
specific type of horse called the Shire. The Shire took over in the mid-19th century and turned it over in
the late 20th century. The agreement said that the mules would completely take over the farm in a few
decades. The donkeys and horses knew that there was more to what the mules said, and completely
disagreed with the fact that it could ‘benefit everyone’. The mules were always greedy, selfish and sneaky,
and definitely had something else up their hooves.
Donkey was a young, smart and sociable creature with a promising future who had a lot of pride in the farm
he lived in. Donkey’s family had lived on this farm for many centuries. Donkey felt it was his responsibility
to care for the farm, all the donkeys and all the horses, and made sure nothing bad ever happened to them.
Donkey was not a fan of most mules due to their arrogant and greedy personalities. The mules have been
slowly taking over the farm, which created many issues for the donkeys. The first real issue happened when
Donkey was too young to act, when the mules had informed the donkeys and horses that they had a choice
of ten candidates to govern over this farm. The problem was that those ten candidates were all mules who
were obviously going to inform rules and laws based on their ideologies. Donkey, and the other donkeys,
thought this was extremely unfair and selfish. Some donkeys even took to the fields, peacefully protesting for
a change to happen.
Donkey had many donkey and horse friends. His best friend was a horse, who went by the name ‘Horse’.
The two often got together to eat apples.
“I don't understand how a farm dominated by donkeys doesn't have a donkey to govern it,'' said Donkey
before he took a bite of an apple.
“It won't be that bad” Horse joked around before demolishing three quarters of an apple.
“This farm is going to be be ruled by mules. Bye Bye freedom”, Donkey added.
“Relax”, Horse responded, chowing down two more apples.
“Easy for you to say, all you have to do is pick up your hay and and leave!” Donkey said.
Unlike horses, donkeys didn't have the speed to run away. And besides, donkeys like Donkey wanted to stay
and fight for their home.
“The grass is always greener on the other side,'' Horse said getting bored of Donkey’s complaints.
“I'm not sure it is” Donkey said looking in the direction of the other farms.