Duffy the Donkey Part Two

Duffy hobbled away as fast as he could but that
wasn't very fast at all. 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, his legs kicking furiously.

"Oh, sush your noise," said the man.  "I'm Mumfar, the great animal
trader. Perhaps you've heard of me?"  Duffy shook his head. "Well,
here's my card," said Mumfar, whipping out a card and shoving it into
Duffy's mouth.  Duffy couldn't read since he was a donkey, but the
card was very delicious and he swallowed it in one gulp.  "I'm very
famous, you know. I'm the best animal merchant in the world.   If
you ever want to be put in a zoo or be served up as the main dish at
a wonderful banquet, I'm the man you should call.”
"I'm donkey meat," Duffy gulped.  He brayed loudly because he didn't want to be sold to a zoo or served as a main dish at a banquet.    "Oh do be quiet. I have extra special
plans for you.   I'm going to present you to the king as a birthday
gift.  He's always wanted a creature like you. You'll live in a fine
palace and have a wonderful life. And I shall be well-rewarded."

"Hmmm," Duffy thought.  "Why has the king always wanted a donkey
like me? Maybe I'm meant to do something wonder  So Duffy agreed to be the king’s birthday gift and Mumfar stuffed him in a cage, covered it with a thin linen cloth, and then brought him to the palace for the King's birthday party.

ful at the palace. Mum did say I was extra special."
Duffy peered through the small holes in the linen and was amazed at the scene before
him - hundreds of people, lining up to present the King with
magnificent birthday presents.

They carried platters of gold and silver and precious stones. Mumfar
huffed. "Ha the king has hundreds of jewels and piles of gold and
silver.  You will be the best gift by far."
Finally, it was timefor Mumfar to present Duffy to the king.  The King was not in a very good mood as he had not gotten the one thing he wanted the most for his birthday.
"Your Majesty, let me present this wonderful gift for you.” “It better not be jewels, or gold or silver,” the King snapped. “Or else!””Mumfar laughed…. “Haahaaa, I, Mumfar the great animal trader wouldn’t even consider that.  It's an animal you've always wanted.”
The King's face lit up with excitement and he clapped his hands with glee. “Yes, Yes, you shall be well rewarded for this,” he told Mumfar. “Where is it? Where is it?” he asked looking around with great excitement.

"Voila," said Mumfar, unveiling Duffy with  dramatic flourish.  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!"   "I'm not a rat, I'm a donkey," Duffy
protested, but no one listened.  "Take this man to away" bellowed the king. “How Dare he give me a scrawny rodent for my birthday.”
The guards dragged Mumfar away to the dungeons and Duffy was thrown out with the garbage.

To be Continued....