Are you a donkey?

I was in the eighth grade and we were having our computer class in school. The teacher had taught a concept around html coding and gave us an assignment to apply it. Every student got busy in hitting the keys on their computers while I sat staring at my computer screen. I was not the brightest of students and did not know where to begin.

The teacher noticed this and shouted “Mudit!”

I sprang up from my seat “Yes ma’am”

“Did you understand the concept?”

I stared at the floor as I said “No ma’am”

“Why; are you a donkey?”

I looked back at the teacher and exclaimed “Yes ma’am!”

The class burst out laughing and I was expelled from the computer room for that day for “back-answering” to a teacher.

However, I did not mean to insult the teacher but really meant to answer yes to that question.

Few months before the incident, I had visited the Indian hill-station, Manali. On the way to our hotel, we stopped by a farm-house which had hundreds of sheep on the property, and a donkey.

I curiously walked up to the old man who was rearing the sheep and asked the reason to have a donkey among the sheep.

He smiled through his crooked teeth and gave me the following reasons:

1. They are aggressive against wild dogs and others predators that come to hunt on the sheep.

2. They have large ears and can easily pick up sounds of approaching predators.

3. They, by nature, are protective of the family and the sheep.

4. They do not make friends with anyone easily. However, when they do, they are warm and protective towards them.

Despite donkeys being commonly equated with fools, they have historically been good partners to humankind in transport, agriculture, and protection. Essentially, despite their appearance, they are focussed and good at what they do.

The next time someone calls you out as a "donkey", smile humbly and accept the compliment.