The River of Compassion
A Donkey’s Journey
Once upon a time, there lived in the old-fashioned village of Zanyville, a washerman named Doby.
He lived a quiet life in his modest wooden house, nestled not far away from a swift-flowing river.
The old washerman was as old-school as his village. He was a man deeply rooted in tradition. His only companion was Gadaa, his faithful and helpful donkey.
Doby’s hands were weathered, and his face was wrinkled. But his wise eyes spoke a lot about his years of dedication to his work and his community.
Gadaa lived a lonesome life as he had no other companion than his master. His free time was always filled with monotony. But he faithfully did whatever his master required him to do.
Each day, Doby would load two large wicker baskets with dirty clothes coming from the villagers. He would then place the heavy baskets on Gadaa’s back and the two would make their way to their place of work. The river served as their washing haven. It was there that Doby would meticulously attend to each piece of clothing to restore its freshness. This had been a timeless routine in Doby’s family that had been passed down through generations.
This is how Gadaa carried dirty clothes to the river every morning and returned with the washed load in the late afternoon with his master.
On the bank of the river, Doby worked hard. He carefully sorted the clothes first. Then he separated the whites from the colored to ensure that no color would bleed into the white clothes. Then, with a bar of homemade soap, Doby lathered each garment, his hands working tirelessly on the flat slab of stone to remove the stains of everyday life.
Gadaa spent the day by the side of the river grazing and roaming around. His master fed him well, so he never went hungry. But wherever he went, he never strayed too far from his master. He always kept a steady presence by his side. He would often look at his hard-working master with his watchful eyes as if offering him silent encouragement.
Once the clothes were thoroughly cleansed, Doby would rinse them in the cool river waters to remove all traces of soap suds. He would then spread them out on the smooth rocks lining the riverbank. There, the warm sun would aid in the drying process.
As the clothes swayed gently in the breeze, Doby would sit by the river and engage in conversation with Gadaa. He would share stories of days gone by and impart wisdom and life lessons to his loyal companion. Gadaa would listen attentively by flicking his ears softly. He would often show his affection by giving the old man love nips and nuzzles and letting out soft sounds and brays.
Together, Gadaa and Doby formed an affectionate pair. Together, they seemed to appreciate the simplicity of their life and work.
Once the clothes were dry, Doby would carefully fold them. He would then ensure that each crease was aligned perfectly. Placing them back into the wicker basket, he would place them back on Gadaa’s back. Then they would both bid farewell to the river.
Their task would be completed for the day.
Back at his humble abode, Doby would set up his old ironing board and coal-heated iron. With careful precision, he would press each garment and smooth out any lingering wrinkles. This is how Doby, the washerman, breathed new life into every fabric.
Through his steadfast dedication and adherence to traditional methods, Doby revived the villagers’ clothes. And he was proud of his craftsmanship.
Gadaa, the donkey, was a kind-hearted creature. But, very few people in the village regarded him as such. Gadaa felt lonely and endured a harsh reality in the village whenever he gadded about away from his master’s house.
There was a group of adolescents in the village that spent their free time making fun of him. They nicknamed him Gad-Gad. Unaware of the pain they caused the donkey, the children would taunt him mercilessly. They would gather around him, jeering and pointing fingers, laughing at his long ears and peculiar braying. Some took it further, throwing stones or sticks at him, inflicting pain on his already burdened spirit.
The unkindness didn’t stop there. Gadaa, with his gentle nature, often became the target of their spiteful pranks. They would sneak up on him, yanking his tail or tugging at his ears, relishing in the power they felt over the defenseless creature.
The children’s hurtful words and cruel actions left Gadaa feeling lost. He never understood why the humans hated him so much. He felt isolated, wounded, and miserable because he wanted to be friends with the children. But their hurtful words and cruel deeds would leave Gadaa feeling confused and dejected.
Had he not had his master to protect him, Gadaa’s trust in human beings would have slowly worn away.
And yet, Gadaa never reacted to the children’s mistreatment. He knew deep inside that he possessed a strength beyond their comprehension. But, in the face of this relentless injustice, the donkey chose not to respond with aggression or anger. He never retaliated, never lashed out at those who caused him harm. Instead, he would bow his head, enduring the pain silently, his eyes reflecting the sadness that permeated his soul.
The villagers, oblivious to the torment Gadaa endured, were focused on their daily lives. They had become so accustomed to the village washerman’s routine that they didn’t spare a second thought for the donkey who faithfully carried out his tasks. The weight of the clothes on his back was a familiar sight for the villagers. How were they to know that it mirrored the emotional burden Gadaa carried with him, weighed down by the unkindness he faced?
It was in this atmosphere of cruelty and indifference in the village that Gadaa’s true strength began to shine.
***
It was a fine sunlit afternoon when Doby and Gadaa retired from the river after a hard day’s work.
The children were on the other side of the riverbank. They spent the whole afternoon having a great time bathing and catching up with each other. They did not dare approach Gadaa whenever his master was around. Gadaa had spent the entire afternoon watching them frolicking in the water and having fun.
On his way home, Doby observed the sky.
“Do you see that large white cloud in the sky, Gad?” Doby told his companion. “It is a sure sign that a nasty storm is approaching.”
Gadaa flicked his long ears.
“Looks like we will not be able to work tomorrow, boy. The riverbank would be overflowing. I hope the children there will go back home soon”.
Gadaa walked quietly, listening to his master’s usual talk.
Once Doby was cozily settled in his house and Gadaa in his well-secured shed, the rains started.
The sky suddenly became dark and menacing. It was as if night had spread over the horizon. Suddenly, a loud crack of thunder echoed through the air. It was immediately followed by lightning and a torrential downpour of rain. The raindrops were so heavy and dense that they seemed to pummel the ground with force. Gadaa felt as if the whole village would soon be flooded.
Gadaa slowly moved forward and, with his wide field of vision, looked out of his shed.
In the meantime, the old washerman was watching the torrential rain through the window as he prepared dinner in the kitchen.
“It will be a nasty flash flood,” he mumbled to himself. “There is no escape from Mother Nature’s wrath.”
On the riverbank, the scene had changed into a nightmare!
The earlier calm façade of the river had now given way to the raging chaos. The usual swift currents had now surged with a frightening force.
The group of adventurous adolescents of the village, lost in their merriment throughout the afternoon, suddenly found themselves trapped in the middle of the rising and swirling river. They suddenly became panic-stricken and disoriented. Their joyous laughter turned to terrified screams as they desperately clung to the big river stones within reach. They were struggling to stay afloat in the tumultuous waters.
The river’s currents, like wild horses, tossed and turned. They threatened to consume the young boys. The force of the water mercilessly pulled them under, only to toss them back to the surface.
They gasped for air.
Their cries for help echoed through the wild surroundings, but there was no one to answer their desperate calls.
As each passing moment intensified the gravity of their situation, Gadaa suddenly appeared on the tempestuous horizon.
One of the boys (the one who used to hurt Gadaa the most), caught sight of him even as exhaustion was beginning to take hold of him, and he was losing all hope.
“Gad-Gad!” he screamed even as he swallowed a lot of water. The other boys saw the donkey too.
“Gadaa! Gadaa! Save us! Save us, please!” They shouted and pleaded.
Before the river, like a tempestuous enemy, decided to pull the boys downstream and claim them as its own, Gadaa charged towards the raging river with fearless determination. His heart pounded in his chest. But he ignored his safety and plunged into the water. His strong hooves gripped the slippery riverbed and fought against the relentless torrents.
Through the chaos and without hesitation, Gadaa swam towards the five desperate faces struggling to stay above the surface. His powerful strokes sliced through the currents. With each valiant effort, the donkey reached out his sturdy hooves, grabbing hold of the boys one by one. Once they had a grip on Gadaa’s hooves, he slowly and with great effort, guided them toward safety. The boys clung onto Gadaa’s sturdy back. Their strength was waning but their trust in the donkey’s bravery had become their only lifeline.
Against all odds, Gadaa battled the unyielding currents. He navigated through treacherous whirlpools and debris and fought with every ounce of his being. His determination was fueled by the knowledge that innocent lives depended on his heroism.
Inch by inch, he slowly made progress, inching closer to the safety of the riverbank.
Finally, with an indomitable spirit, Gadaa emerged from the raging waters, carrying the weary boys to solid ground.
Exhausted but triumphant, Gadaa collapsed onto the riverbank. His chest was heaving. His body was worn from the arduous rescue.
The boys were filled with gratitude. They slowly rose to their still trembling feet and gathered around Gadaa.
“Oh, Gadaa!” they said, giving voice to their regrets. “How could we have been so cruel to you?”
They showered Gadaa with words of awe and appreciation and helped him stand up. Then they accompanied him to his master’s house where they hugged him and promised to become his playmates.
Gadaa, the once snubbed and neglected donkey, had, overnight, become the savior of the village. His selfless act of bravery not only saved the lives of five trapped boys but also united the community in admiration and respect.
From that day forward, Gadaa was no longer regarded as an outcast. He had become a symbol of courage and compassion. His noble deed reminded everyone in the village of the extraordinary strength that can lie within even the gentlest of souls.
Little did anyone know that Gadaa, often a target of ridicule, would one day rise above his circumstances and become a hero.
The very children who had once ridiculed and hurt him had become his mates. The children had witnessed Gadaa’s remarkable transformation and learned through the donkey the profound lesson of empathy and compassion. They discovered that an extraordinary strength could lie within even the gentlest of souls.
