Donkey Learning to Read

In a quaint village, a curious man named Juha stood before the ruler, who had just received a unique gift—a strong donkey. Juha, known for his wild ideas, declared, " - I see that this creature has the readiness and hope to learn to read." The ruler chuckled, " - If you teach him something like that, I'll shower you with gifts, but fail, and I'll accuse you of foolishness." With a heart full of courage, Juha accepted the challenge. The stakes were high, but Juha was determined.

Juha faced his first obstacle: how to begin teaching a donkey. " - How do you teach letters to an animal?" he muttered to himself. He spent days puzzling over different methods, trying to devise a plan. The donkey simply stared back, chewing hay, unbothered by Juha's predicament. Juha's curiosity kept him going, yet doubt began to creep in. He had promised the ruler a reading donkey, and failure was not an option.

Days turned into weeks, and Juha's frustration grew. " - The donkey won't even look at the letters!" he exclaimed to his friend, who only shrugged. Juha tried various tricks, but nothing seemed to work. He even attempted to draw the letters on the ground, hoping the donkey would show interest. " - Maybe it's impossible," he thought, feeling despair. Juha was running out of time and ideas.

Juha felt defeated and considered giving up. " - Perhaps I was foolish to think this could work," he sighed, sitting alone in his small home. The weight of failure loomed over him, and he imagined the ruler's mocking laughter. Juha's dreams of success seemed to crumble. The donkey, oblivious to Juha's plight, continued its calm routine. Juha wondered if he should admit defeat and face the consequences.

One night, as Juha sat pondering, inspiration struck. " - What if I entice the donkey with something it loves?" he mused aloud. Juha decided to use barley, the donkey's favorite treat, as motivation. Carefully, he placed barley between the pages of a book, hoping the donkey would associate turning pages with finding food. " - It's worth a try," Juha resolved, feeling a spark of hope reignite within him.

To Juha's delight, the donkey began turning pages to find the barley. " - It's working!" Juha cheered, clapping his hands. Each successful turn of the page filled Juha with renewed confidence. The donkey, eager for its treat, seemed to understand the task at hand. Juha marveled at how persistence and creativity could open new doors. He realized that courage was about finding solutions, no matter how unconventional.

With the donkey turning pages like a pro, Juha prepared for the final test. " - Time to show the ruler," he said, dressing the donkey in a decorated saddle. At the ruler's court, a curious crowd gathered, eager to see the spectacle. Juha placed the book before the donkey, who began turning pages, occasionally braying. The audience gasped in amazement, and the ruler smiled, impressed by Juha's ingenuity.

The ruler, pleased with the display, asked, " - How did you teach this donkey?" Juha explained his clever method, and the crowd erupted in applause. " - A donkey can only recite this much, or it wouldn't be a donkey!" Juha joked, earning laughter from all around. The ruler praised Juha's courage and rewarded him with gifts. Juha realized that true bravery lay in never giving up, even when faced with the impossible.