Duffy the Donkey: A Palm Sunday Story.

Duffy the Donkey
written with His Grace

A long time ago, there lived a famous donkey farmer, who bred the biggest, strongest and finest donkeys anyone had ever seen. People would travel for miles around just to buy one of his magnificent animals, but no one ever wanted to buy Duffy.

Duffy was the scruffiest donkey on his farm.  He had a shaggy coat, an unruly mane and a tangled tail.  He was also crossed-eyed and bow-legged. So this meant that Duffy was terribly clumsy and terribly clumsy donkeys were not very useful at all.

"Why can't I be like the other donkeys?” asked Duffy as tears streamed down his furry cheeks.  "Now, now,” said his mother as she gently nuzzled him."Why do you want to be like those others?They are all the same but you are extra special. You're going to do something wonderful some day. You'll see."  

But Duffy didn't think he was special or that he would ever do anything wonderful. So that night, when everyone was asleep, he decided to run away. Being crossed eyed and bow legged, he kept bumping into and breaking things before he managed to leave the farm.

After walking for on a long dark scary road, he met a big strapping donkey named Darwin.“You're the sorriest donkey I've ever met.  Please don't walk too close too me.  I don't want to be seen with something like you,”  Darwin said. He was about to trot off when suddenly a pack of hungry wolves surrounded them.

"Eat him," said Darwin, prodding Duffy with his hoof. "He's far tastier than I am. Just look at how soft he is." He said, poking Duffy's stomach.  "He's nice, soft and so delicious....”

The wolves looked at Darwin and then Duffy and they all rolled on the ground with laughter.  "He won't do at all," they said. "If we eat him, he'll give us a stomach ache." 

“But…but…” Darwin protested, but it was no use.  Before he could utter another word, the wolves pounced on Darwin, gobbling him up within minutes.

Duffy hobbled away as fast as he could. And when he could walk no farther, he stopped at a large meadow and fell fast asleep.   He awoke to find a fat man grabbing him by the neck and saying, "I've got you!" Duffy brayed in panic as the man lifted him up. 

"Oh Sush your noise. I'm Mumfar, the great animal trader and I've special plans for you.  I'm going to present you to the king as a birthday gift."  Mumfar stuffed him in a cage, and then brought him to the palace as the king's birthday present. 

Maybe I am going to do something wonderful at the palace, Duffy he thought. At the palace, hundreds of people  were lining up to present the king with  magnificent birthday gifts. He didn't seem to like any of them. Finally, it was time for Mumfar to present Duffy to the king.

"Your Majesty,  I have something you really want.” 

The King's face lit up with excitement and he clapped his hands with glee. "Give me. Give me!" 

"Voila," said Mumfar, presenting Duffy to the king. 
The king blinked once and twice, just to make sure that he wasn't seeing things.  Then he leapt up on his throne and screamed. "I wanted a monkey, not a rat. Take this man to away" bellowed the king. 

His guards dragged Mumfar  kicking and screaming all the way to
dungeons.  As for poor Duffy, he was thrown out
of the palace with the day's garbage. 

Since no one wanted him, Duffy sadly hobbled all the way back to the farm. When the farmer saw him, he was FURIOUS.  He tied Duffy to a fence and left him there for many days and nights.

One day two men untied Duffy from the fence. 

The farmer said, "Excuse me, what are you doing?"
 "The Lord needs him and he will send it back to you when he is done," the men replied. 

So the farmer shrugged, and agreed to let the men take
him.  Duffy wondered who wanted him.  Why didn't he want the other donkeys?  Who is this Lord? 

The men brought Duffy to a man who had the kindest eyes he had ever seen.  “I wonder why he asked for me?” Duffy said to himself.  “You’re a very special donkey and that’s why I chose you,” said the man, as he petted Duffy on the head.  Duffy immediately felt a warm glow spread all over him.   Then 'Dwing' His eyes uncrossed; 'Boing' his legs unbuckled, and ‘Twing’ all the fleas dropped off his fur. It was the first time that Duffy could see straight and his legs felt stronger than they ever had.

The two men laid blankets on Duffy's back and the man with
the kind eyes and gentle smile sat on him.  "Come, my little friend,
we ride to the city." Duffy began the journey feeling happier than he ever had– and for the first time in his young life he didn’t bump into as anything at all.  People rushed around the man and Duffy, crying with great excitement. 

 Lots of people placed their cloaks on the road and spread branches that they had cut in the field. Everyone shouted "Hosanna, Hosanna", Hosanna in the Highest. Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord!"  

A King is sitting on my back, thought Duffy in amazement.  

When they arrived at the temple, the man got off and petted him on the head. "Thank you.  You’ve done well, my little friend." 

Before Duffy could thank him, the man went into the temple. Later,
some people brought Duffy back to his farm, and everyone was
surprised to see how much Duffy had changed. "Duffy is that you?"
Everyone asked.  "What happened?"  So Duffy told them all about the kind man with the gentle eyes, and how they had ridden into the city with all the people cheering. 

"See, I knew you were special and would so something wonderful," said his mother.

Now Duffy lived for many years after that.  He never forgot the man with the kind eyes and gentle smile and told animals on the farm all about him. In time, Duffy became the wisest and most loved donkey around and he treated everyone with kindness, especially the donkeys that were crossed eyed, bow legged and clumsy.

Then one cold winter night when he was very old and very tired, Duffy snuggled up by a bale of hay for the night.  Just, as he started to fall sleep, he felt a hand on his shoulder—it was the man with the kind eyes and the gentle smile. He was glowing like an angel.  "Hello again,  my little friend.”

 Suddenly Duffy didn’t feel so old and tired.  “It's time to come with me,” he said, cradling Duffy in his arms.  

"Where are we going?" Duffy asked.  

"Home,” smiled the man. “Home.”

The End