The fable of Kabisa the Dog and Kidogo the Donkey

 ( Personal writing challenge, write a story based on this image)

A donkey and a dog belonged to the same master.

The donkey, called Kidogo*, had only one job to do:

Pull the cart full of empty containers to the river.

Then, when his master had filled them with water, bring the cart home.

It wasn't much, but it was all his master expected of him.

The dog was a coquettish little poodle

Who loved pirouetting around and playing with children,

barking and chasing the neighborhood chickens.

He could be seen or heard almost everywhere, all the time.

Kabisa* was his name.

 

One day, seeing Kidogo quietly grazing, Kabisa said to him:

“You're not much use. You spend all day lazing around in the garden.

If you continue like this, the master will get rid of you very soon.”

The startled donkey cried out: “But I pull the water cart every morning!”

“What's one single action in a whole day?” retorted the dog.

Look at me, all day long I keep my master company.

I entertain the children with my pirouettes, so they don't get bored.

I take them for a walk every afternoon and look after them.

And I protect the whole house from any stranger,

with my threatening barks.

 

Kidogo said:

“I learned from my parents only to do

What the master asks me to do, even if it's only one task.

Like my ancestor who carried on his back a king

On his way to accomplish an important task.

That's all my ancestor is remembered for to this day.

I will obey and do anything else, if the master asked me to.”

 

But Kabisa wasn't short of ideas.

“Be creative, donkey! He said.

Surprise the master by doing something he didn't ask you to do.

Find something to do with your ears, your voice, your legs.

He'll be proud of you, and you'll grow in his esteem!

 

And so, the next day, as he pulled the cart filled with water cans,

Kidogo suddenly began to caper about, spilling all the water!

He mistook his master's cries for amazement,

And pirouetted some more, to the point where the cart finally broke.

And he didn't stop there, he set about driving the strangers from the house

Braying: hee-haw! hee-haw! hee-haw!

Every time he saw a movement in the courtyard

Whether it was a cat, a child playing too close or even a bee.

Fed up, the master finally locked him up in the stable

And found himself another donkey.

Seeing his successor grazing peacefully in the yard,

Kidogo realized a little too late that obeying is better than showing off.

 

Ivanova N. Fotso

 

* Kidogo in Swahili means a little. Kabisa means entirely.