A Donkey in Human clothing C4

There were so many donkeys; so many boys fooled by the Coachman. What Lampwick saw before him was only the beginning. Countless other donkeys that used to be boys were still out there. That for some it could be too late and that any humanity they’d retained had long since vanished saddened Lampwick.

The donkeys before Lampwick weren’t changing back into boys. However, amidst the brays, Lampwick heard a few words that soon grew into several words and expanded.

The words were a beacon in a world shrouded by fog.

“How do we help them? Does this mean that Stevie is still a donkey?” Lampwick asked.

“It will take time. My people and I need to change them all back but there is an issue,” The Fairy said. “It will only work on those that are human in spirit. The lifting of the curse will allow their brays to become words once again. However some might not have the will to speak.”

Lampwick looked at the donkeys. The Coachman’s words rang in Lampwick’s mind.

They were just taking advantage of an opportunity, as indeed am I.

“Was he right about me?” Lampwick asked.

“Was who right?”

“I was doing bad things because he gave me the chance to do them and I thought I could get away with it,” Lampwick said.

The Fairy shook her head. “No, Lampwick, you were not hurting people for your gain.”

“I want to go home and be with my mamma again,” Lampwick said. “But I don’t want to be a boy; I haven’t for a long time. I just don’t wana do the things boys do.”

“I understand Lampwick. I will not force you to be something you are not. But, please be certain this is the life you want,” The Fairy said.

Lampwick looked at the sea of crates filled with donkeys that were boys only a day before. Asking Lampwick to behave as a society felt a decent human should behave would be like turning a donkey into a human and asking the same. It would perhaps be the morale thing to do but sometimes the morale thing was not the right thing to do.

The sea of brays was now more words with some brays. Bystanders were gathering and starting to ask questions. When the donkeys themselves were replying and asking for help, it became clear that this was not something anyone was going to be able to keep secret.

“You can help them right?” Lampwick asked.

The Fairy nodded. “I will do my best. But please understand that they must want help.”

Lampwick understood that restoring boys that had been donkeys for years would be perhaps more traumatic for those boys then turning into donkeys. Learning to be less was indeed, far easier then learning to be more.

“What about Stevie?”

“I will help him as well,” The Fairy said.

“Are you certain that you wish to remain a donkey?” The Fairy asked.

Lampwick nodded. “I just wana be a donkey now. I can’t be a boy when I’m not a boy. At least I can work hard as a donkey and contribute that way.”

The Fairy patted Lampwick on the head and nodded. “All right honey. Like I said, I won’t force you to be what you’re not.”

She summoned a mirror so Lampwick could see his reflection. He’d returned to his smaller size, his wound had healed and his glow had faded. However, there was one noteable difference from his former donkey form. This time, Lampwick’s mane was red.

“You may return to the farm. You’ll find your friend Stevie able to speak. I must stay to help everyone here. You did well today Lampwick. Perhaps you have earned a rest.”

Lampwick nodded and started walking.  “Thank you.”

When he saw the crowd was growing with some people freeing the donkeys from the crates, Lampwick knew it was time to leave. The other boys were free or at least would soon be free – Stevie would soon be free. That was what mattered. The last thing Lampwick wanted was to have to answer questions. Despite his role in helping those boys, Lampwick didn’t want fame or fortune; at this point, he just wanted to be a donkey.

* * *

“Let me get this straight, you used to be a boy and you went to a magical island that turned you into a donkey,” the Farmer said to Stevie.

“Yes Sir,” Stevie said.

Stevie was happy that as of two hours ago, he could speak. It had taken him that long to figure it out and to get the other workers to believe that his speaking wasn’t someone’s ventriloquist act. It was then that Stevie learned that he’d been a donkey for eight months.

The Farmer scratched his head.

“Well, whatever magic this place used to turn you into a donkey did a good job. If I didn’t know better, I’d swear you were as a natural of a donkey as the others,” the Farmer said.

“It doesn’t bug you that this can happen to people?” Stevie asked.

“Of course it bothers me. Before you started talking, I had no reason to think a donkey could have been born as anything but,” The Farmer said. “But to be honest kid, you’ve made a great donkey. I might worry that using the product of such magic would bring misfortune on my land or me. But if it was going to, it would have by now.”

“But mister, you gotta tell my momma that I’m okay,” Stevie said.

“I can try to find her but do you want her to know that her son is a donkey?”

“I’m not a donkey, I’m a boy,” Stevie said.

The farmer walked around Stevie, looking him over.

“Look kid, you’re a donkey. You need to accept that,” The Farmer said. “As you’ve shown me today, that doesn’t mean you’re a foolish or ignorant animal that cares little for beyond food, water and sleep. It also doesn’t mean that you’re selfish or don’t care about the future,” The Farmer said.

“But if I’m a donkey, doesn’t that mean I’m a bad person?” Stevie asked.

“No, you’ve shown me that it doesn’t,” The Farmer said. “There’s being a donkey and there’s being a donkey. To say you’re bad or must be bad because you’re a donkey is just as wrong as saying someone is bad because of the color of their hair.”

“But I used to be a boy,” Stevie asked.

The Farmer smiled then sighed.

“Look kid, I used to be a boy, Fred and Gabe here used to be boys,” The Farmer said as he pointed to two of his men. “We’re men now and men work. Just like donkeys work.”

“But you guys weren’t boys only eight months ago,” Stevie said.

“You know what, it isn’t right. But here’s the problem. I paid good money for you and I need you to work. God made donkeys for this sort of work.”

“But, I…”

“If it makes you feel better, now that we know you’re not just some stupid, ignorant animal, we will be interested in your opinions and my wife can read to you in the evening,” The Farmer said. “But, once you start playin’ games with my Rose, I’ll have to start thinking of you as a donkey and not some kid in the body of a donkey.”

“What sort of games do you mean mister? Like tag or hide and go seek?” Stevie said.

The Farmer smiled and patted Stevie.

“Are the games fun?” Stevie asked.

The Farmer looked at Gabe and Fred who both chuckled.

“They’re fun all right.”

“But mister, I wana go home. I don’t wana be a donkey,” Stevie said.

“Look kid, I don’t know how to change you back. Now, if you’re momma or poppa come looking for you, you can go home. If it were up to me, I’d treat you like a king – I’d treat all of you donkeys like kings. But, we can’t afford that. The fact is that we need a donkey. You are a donkey in the same way my men are men. I’m not asking you to do this work because of who you are. It's because being a donkey makes you strong enough. We need your strength.”

“I’m scared. What if they can’t change me back?” Stevie asked.

The Farmer knelt down and patted Stevie. The sensation calmed Stevie somewhat. Some part of Stevie felt it was wrong to enjoy it but it felt so comforting that he couldn’t say no. Some of the human workers were starting to laugh at the Farmer and question his sanity for treating a donkey as close to an equal if not an equal.

“You know guys, I see Stevie here, a boy that made mistakes,” the Farmer said, “You know what I also see? I see myself had some of my mistakes had this sort of consequence. I see you guys laughing at Stevie and it makes me ask questions I don’t want to ask. Stevie here may be a donkey yet he’s shown me that he’s just as human as any of us – perhaps more.”

The workers, whether agreeing or perhaps realizing the folly of angering someone responsible for paying them, stopped laughing.

“What do you say Stevie? I promise we won’t work you too hard. All I ask is an honest days work.”

“I guess so,” Stevie said.

“I would like to know where your friend went off to,” The Farmer said.

“Maybe he beat that bad man and that’s why I can talk now! Maybe I can be a boy again soon.”

“Maybe he did. But until then, we need to get back to work,” The Farmer asked. “Don’t worry; I’ll try my best to find your mother.”

Stevie nodded.


* * *


Lampwick arrived at the farm after almost two hours of walking. He was dirty, hot and sweaty – he was home.

He felt happy that he could see Jen. Lampwick now felt more comfortable around other donkeys then humans.

He brayed when he arrived at the front gate and could see Stevie, Jen, Rose and Butch working. The farmer came running when he heard Lampwick.

“And who are you?” the Farmer said. “Look at me; I’m expecting a donkey to respond to me.”

“I’m Lampwick. I’m the other donkey you bought. Is my friend Stevie all right?” Lampwick asked.

The Farmer almost fainted.

“I know I look a bit different. The Fairy made my mane red.”

“Young man, I think you’d better start explaining.”

Lampwick did his best to explain.

“So let me get this straight, you enjoy being a donkey?” The Farmer asked. “You want to stay this way and you like my Jen?”

Lampwick nodded.

“Well boy, if you want to be one of my donkeys, I’ll allow it.”

“Wait a second. I like workin’ hard and all but I still wana go home to my Momma,” Lampwick said.

“I understand that but we have work that we need to do. If you tell me where your family lives, I can try to contact them,” The Farmer said. “But do you want me to? Do you want your momma to know her son is a donkey and is staying that way?”

Lampwick hung his head. It was true that the image he’d kept around her meant something to Lampwick. However, in accepting the truth about himself, he knew that others would need to know this truth if Lampwick was to achieve any level of inner peace.

“I was always a good boy around my momma but I’ve been actin’ like a good boy around her for a long time when I was a really a donkey.”

“I won’t tell you how to live your life kid. If you want to be a donkey, that’s your prerogative. If it means anything, you certainly have done good work for us these past eight months,” The Farmer said. “I can’t afford to lose you right now. Your friend wants to be a boy. I can understand that but think of it from my point of view. I bought two donkeys in good faith. Losing you two would be hard for us.”

“I understand mister. That man lied to me and Stevie too,” Lampwick said. “You’re not going to make us stay are you?”

The Farmer sighed, folded his arms behind his back and turned around. Lampwick knew this wasn’t any fairer to the Farmer then it was to any of the donkeys that used to be boys. Lampwick walked around the farmer and faced him. The Farmer smiled and petted Lampwick.

“Damn it kid, I want to let you both play all day without any worries,” the Farmer said. “But I can’t afford that.”

“I understand. You gotta do stuff that only we can do,” Lampwick said.

The Farmer nodded. “Maybe it isn’t fair that we’re allowed to own animals, make decisions for them and to use them like this. I guess we consider animals to be children that never really grow up. We need to make decisions for them because we think they can’t. Some of them might not be able to live on their own without us. Is this what you want in life Lampwick? You would basically be a pet.”

“My momma said that sometimes she knew what was best for me if I didn’t,” Lampwick said. “I hope she doesn’t make me become a boy. I like bein’ a donkey. But please, can I be my Momma’s donkey?”

“All right kid. If that will make you happy then I won't stop you. However, until we find your mother, I need you to work. Before that, let’s go see your friends, I’m sure they’ll be happy to see you.”

Lampwick reunited with Stevie and the others before they spent the rest of the day working. When it was time for bed, The Farmer’s wife read Stevie a bedtime story. She felt it a little strange but it made Stevie feel much better.

When they woke up the next morning, Stevie felt better then he had in years.

“So, I can go home soon?” Stevie asked.

“It looks that way. I think you’ll even be able to be a boy again. As long as you want to be,” Lampwick said.

“Of course I wana be a boy!” Stevie said with a stamp of his right forehoof. “I want to go back to school and wear clothes and stuff again.”

“That’s great Stevie. But I’m going to be staying a donkey,” Lampwick said.

“What do you mean?” Stevie asked.

“Stevie, I’m a donkey. I’ve been a donkeyon the inside for a long time. Maybe the Fairy can let Rose be human.”

Rose stepped forward. “I appreciate the offer honey but this is my home and this is what I am. I'll admit that some aspects of being human sound almost like a dream. But I’m happy with what I am.”

“You’re not going to ask me to be human are you?” Jen asked.

“Do you want to?” Lampwick asked.

“No way, being a donkey is great. I’m glad you see that,” Jen said.

Stevie looked at Lampwick. “You really wana stay this way?”

Lampwick nodded. “You can still visit me once I go home. Maybe I can give you donkey back rides. That would be fun. You and my sister could be friends if you want.”

Stevie looked at Rose. “But what about you; you were so nice to me. I don’t want to leave you here.”

Lampwick saw tears forming in Stevie’s eyes.

Rose walked up to Stevie and nuzzled him. “I know it’s hard. However, your family needs you just as mine needs me. You have a life back home and I have a life here. I still don’t really know what it is to be human but from what you’ve told me, our lives are much simpler. This is who I am. I can’t be what I’m not. Just like I can’t expect you to be what you’re not. Even if that means we need to say goodbye.”

Stevie looked at Lampwick. “Is this what being a real boy means?”

Lampwick nodded. “That’s how it goes sometimes squirt. You gotta do what’s best for someone if it makes you sad.”

Rose smiled. “If I insisted on you staying here to be my mate, I’d be just as bad as the man that made you this way.”

A glimmer in the sky had everyone looking up. Lampwick saw that it was the Fairy. She landed beside Lampwick, smiled and petted him.

“You’re real! You’ve come to save me!” Stevie said.

The Fairy smiled a smile that could brighten anyone’s day before she walked over to Stevie and petted him.

“Yes Stevie, I have. But I sense sadness from you,” The Fairy said.

“Rose wants to stay here as donkey and Lampwick wants to go home but as a donkey,” Stevie said.

“I understand that it’s difficult for you. Lampwick was right when he said that part of being a boy is doing what’s best for others even when it pains us,” the Fairy said.

The Farmer, possibly started by the light, ran outside.

“What’s going on out here? Oh my God,” The Farmer said. He gasped and fell to his knees.

The Fairy smiled. “There is no need for that.”

“If I did wrong by having them work, I’m sorry. If am to be become a donkey for that then I will accept that as judgment.”

“Wait no, that’s not fair,” Lampwick said.

“Please Ms Fairy, don’t do that to him. It wasn’t so hard to pull that stuff. At least we were doing stuff. Better then being bored I guess,” Stevie said.

“I am not here to judge you. Please stand, there is no need to bow.”

The Farmer stood.

“Are those other boys okay?” Lampwick asked.

“Most are boys once again. Some have chosen to remain in their donkey forms,” The fairy said.

“I don’t understand. Why would they do that?” Rose asked.

“Some have little to go back to. While it may seem sad, their donkey forms are perhaps a refuge from a human life that was unkind to them.”

“Can you make Stevie a boy again?” Rose asked.

The Fairy nodded. “I can.”

“But what about you, will you be okay without us?” Stevie asked to the Farmer.

“I’ll find a way to manage Stevie. What’s important is that we get you home. You too Lampwick, I’m sure your family misses you.”

“I may have an equitable solution to the issue of losing two donkeys,” The Fairy said to the Farmer. “I have three donkeys that used to be boys. They have nothing to go back to. In a twist of fate, becoming donkeys was perhaps an act of mercy. I can bring them here for you once Stevie and Lampwick are on their way.”

“I’ll treat them well, you have my word,” The Farmer said.

“So, what do I gotta do?” Stevie asked.

“Just close your eyes and metamorphosise,” Lampwick said.

“More or less,” The Fairy said with a smirk.

Stevie looked at the Farmer, Lampwick and then at Rose before he nuzzled her.

“Go on honey, be Stevie again,” Rose said. “Think of it this way, the longer you stay here, the harder it’ll be to be a boy.”

Stevie nodded, walked over to and stood before the Fairy.

“I’m ready.”

Stevie closed his eyes and felt the Fairy’s magic surrounded him. It was like a loving embrace. Stevie knew everything was going to be all right. He was going to all right; the others were going to be all right. If the Coachman’s magic and presence gave a feeling of despair, the Fairy’s magic and presence gave a feeling hope and peace.

He first felt his body hover over the ground. His posture went to an upright one as his proportions changed from that of quadruped to a biped. Hooves became hands and feet, fur and rough donkey skin became soft human skin. Ears went from long to short and his tail vanished.

Any worry over being naked faded when after a quick cleaning, his sweater, pants, socks and shoes reappeared on his body. When he felt the magic lower him to the ground, Stevie opened his eyes. He looked at his hands to see hands.

“I’m a boy again!” Stevie said.

He ran over to the Fairy and hugged her as he thanked her several times. The Fairy petted Stevie’s head. “You’re welcome Stevie.”

Stevie let go, walked over to Rose and hugged her. She’d helped him to maintain his sanity though those months he’d spent as a donkey.

“I wish you could come home with me,” Stevie said.

“You can still visit right?”

Stevie smiled when he realized that he could still understand Rose.

“Sure,” Stevie said.

“If you’re leaving, you gotta visit too Lampwick,” Jen said.

“In the meantime, you two should be going. Your families no doubt are eager to see you,” The Fairy said.

Stevie hugged Rose. “Don’t worry, I’ll visit.”

Everyone said their goodbyes before Lampwick and Stevie headed out toward the road that lead back to the town. Stevie was overjoyed at the being able to be a boy again. He felt like himself. While he would miss Rose, he knew he had to accept that this was her home and her life. Taking her away from that would be as unfair as keeping Stevie from his life, family and humanity.

“How am I going to explain this?” Stevie asked.

“I dunno Stevie but at last you can explain it,” Lampwick said.

Stevie took one last look at the farm that was almost Lampwick and Stevie’s permanent home.

“Let’s go home,” Stevie said.