The Donkey and the Fence (ANECDOTE)

     There lived a heard of donkeys, living on a very, very large ranch.  They all got along with each other very well, grazing on the nice, green pasture in which they were roaming.  Their ranchers, who would supervise where they were to go, were nice fellows-- very caring and very responsible as they would take care of the donkeys.

     Every now and then, some of the donkeys in the ranch were taken out by these ranchers so they would give rides to visiting tourists.  As the donkeys were more or less docile in their countenances, this wasn't a big problem with extremely few incidents of bucking or kicking.  It was a good life for these donkeys.  The work they had to do wasn't at all difficult and they were very well taken care of-- plenty of food, space, and time.

     However, beyond the fences in which they were surrounded by, there lied an unknown world to these donkeys; it wasn't anything like the trails they took their tourists.  The donkeys had no idea what was out past those, bright, white picket fences.  With that in mind, some of the donkeys got very curious.

     "Hey, what do think might be out there?" a donkey asked another donkey.

     "Beats me, Paula, but I bet Josh over there knows!"

     These two donkeys went to Josh-- he was notorious for the injuries caused to the humans-- he was the most extreme case of bucking and kicking the ranch has ever seen.  He would attempt running away many times, only to be found and returned back to where he lived.  He was seldom taken out of the ranch for fear of hurting more people and running away.

     "Hey Josh, have you ever been past the fence before?" Paula asked.

     "Oh plenty," Josh bluffed.  "The trick is, you have to kick off five of the tourists riding on you-- then you'll get strong enough legs to jump the fence over and see it for yourself!"

     "Won't the ranchers see me?"

     "Don't worry about that!  Your legs'll be so strong, they won't even know you leapt the fence!"

     Intrigued, these donkeys were extremely interested in the fact that there was a world out there and there was means to get there!  A rather reasonable task, these donkeys began to talk amongst themselves and with the other donkeys in the ranch-- many thought it was amusing at first.  Time passed, though, and many of the donkeys began feeling unsatisfied of their living conditions, even though they were treated extremely well and with care.  The donkeys looked to Josh, who would frequently run away and thought "maybe he isn't all that crazy."

     Through the months, these donkeys have begun to buck and kick a rather large amount of people as they rode the tourists.  Several deaths amounted, but these donkeys hadn't given much care anymore.  They now were set on wanting out.  Perhaps there lied freedom to do whatever they could-- or even paradise.  As each had accomplished what was told of them, the donkeys began to leap over the fence.  Surprising enough, each donkey that had kicked and injured and killed the five or more tourists had leapt that fence with very little difficulty.  In single file, each would see what the other side had beheld.  Little did these donkeys knew that over that fence was a very steep cliff.