Duffy the Donkey pt 2

"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. I'm too strong and have too many muscles. Just look at this," he said, flexing his leg muscles.   "I'd be too tough to eat. My muscles would get stuck in
your teeth and then you'd get cavities and all your teeth would fall
out.  And you wouldn't want that, would you?" 
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 for days."
“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 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 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 wonderful at the palace. Mum did say I was extra special."  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.
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'll be the best gift by far."Finally, it was time for 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.


To be continued....