Interlude for a Donkey

Aesop told lots of fables. Or, well, I guess he did. We don't know. He lived so long ago (620-560 BC) and the writings are so mixed up that we really don't have any idea.
I don't know where I heard the this piece either, so if no one else claims it, give up for Aesop. But honestly, I think its an old rabbi's yarn.
Anywho, on with the Donkey's Tale:

There lived a farmer who had a donkey. The donkey was a real smart Ass. (ahem) But the donkey was curious as well, curious about the farmer's well, that is.

On the old man's property was a deep, deep, dark and usually dry well. Its wide walls were laid in stone at the top and crumbled with age. A bucket ran down a rope from the wooden pulley above. It had been there since his grandfather's time. Perhaps his grandfather had dug it. The farmer didn't know.

But the donkey, always thirsty, liked to go to the well and drink from the bucket when the farmer had his back turned. One Saturday, the bucket was too low and the donkey couldn't drink. Being curious, he peered into the well and wondered how far down the bucket was. Could he reach it by stretching a bit more? He tried. Nope. A bit more? He tried again.

He fell in!

The farmer heard the donkey's cries as they echoed out of the well and across the yard. Loud and mournful they came, one after the other. The well was deep indeed and the farmer knew the donkey would not be able to get out - he, in fact, marveled that the donkey still lived! But living or not, he would never be able to raise the donkey from the well. He knew this, though he called his neighbors to consult. All the men and women looked over the well, thinking as best they could how to rescue the farmer's poor donkey. The pulley was too old to use, the wooden beams to weak for the donkey's weight. The old stones too loose.

At last, it was given up. They could think of nothing but to bury it. They could not use the well anymore, for the donkey's body would surely bring disease and turn the water foul. They all helped the old farmer as he began to fill the well. It didn't give much water anyway, but the farmer would surely miss his donkey.

Load after load of dirt was brought and shoveled down the hole. Load after load, load after load. Heavy dirt. Dirty dirt. Black dirt. Load after load.

At the bottom of the well, the donkey was dazed at first. He had been looking for water, stretching for the bucket and then... darkness. And an awful headache. He didn't know where he was, or what would happen next. After some time, a long time in fact, when he didn't think it could get any worse or he could be any more alone, he felt something trickle on his head. Then, quite suddenly, the tickle became a rain. Not of water but of dirt! Wait! No! More came down, hard and fast, landing on the donkey's back. What was happening?!

The donkey would not be done in like this! No, it couldn't end like this. He shook it off. He shook off the dirt that landed on his back and on his head. Another pile of blackness landed. He shook it off. Another load. And another. He shook them each off. He stamped his feet, pounding the dirt beneath him each time, load after heavy load.

The farmer, quite firm faced, sad, but resolute, filled in the hole with his neighbor's help. Load after heavy load. After several hours of work, quite by surprise, the donkey stuck his head out of the hole. All the neighbors stepped back in shock, but everyone, especially the farmer, erupted into laughter and clapping, cheering and shouting!

The donkey had climbed his own way out on top of all the dirt that had been shoveled onto his strong back and head. He blinked, blinded by the bright sunlight, now late in the day and staring him right in the very dirty face. He blinked and looked around at the crowd wondering what was happening. He looked right into the face of the old farmer and saw a big smile, wide, just for him. He smiled back the best his donkey grin he could give. The farmer grabbed him around the neck and hugged him. He would have hugged back but he had no arms. Besides, he was very very dirty.