Fred the donkey was always being told what to do by Farmer Phil.

“Get your ass on the road!” he would scream, “Move it!”

All his life Fred was told how much of an ass he was and quite frankly, he was sick of it. But still, he did what Farmer Phil told him to do because that was all he ever knew.

One day Fred hauled a sled full of barrels tied behind him. He quickly grew tired, for he was also treading up-hill with the farmer on his back - as if he could carry much more. Still, Fred rode for as long as he could in the hot summer's sun, but finally had to stop and take a breath. Farmer Phil did not like this one bit. He took a whip and slapped it right across Fred’s already sore behind. Fred, tired and thirsty, carried on without a choice. He did not want to get slapped again.

Alas, they made it to their destination. A ranch; one where bulls were rode and teased with red blankets. Fred did not understand this, but had little time to ponder because Farmer Phil again slapped his behind and made him move into the barn.

A little opening shown through the barn where Fred could see the open range where the bulls were ridden. Curious, Fred peered through this hole and saw the farmer. He was shaking another man’s hand as he was shown a large, angry-looking bull.

Fred watched in awe as the farmer mounted the bull. He was tossed and jolted around, until finally the farmer dismounted the bull, landing gracefully on his hands and knees, ducking as the bull kicked. He then rushed over and climbed over the nearest fence before the bull could catch him. Fred watched with relief, for he was a fair-hearted donkey and this was his farmer.

The farmer then turned around and Fred saw a glimpse of the farmer's whip. Fred's eyes widened as the bull was directed back into his cage and the farmer started whipping the bull on the behind. This made the bull crazy, and Fred watched with pain in his eyes, for he knew what that felt like.

As this was going on, a goat with horns the size of large bananas walked across Fred's view. His attention went immediately to the goat, who looked kind of angry. Fred stood there a moment thinking, "well, maybe the goat is just hungry", when all of the sudden the goat ran up and knocked the farmer right on the ground, bruising his behind so badly that he cursed a name Fred would never forget.

And on the way home, Farmer Phil had to walk alongside Fred, his heavy load lessened by his farmer's newfound lesson learned.

What goes around comes around ;-)