a wealthy kentuckian family acquires some frozen sperm from the legendary race horse "secretariate." seizing their chance, they use the sperm to breed a mare and produce an excellent quarterhorse of unprecedented stature.
the family knows that they have a winner on their hands, but they also love the horse very much. so much, they purchase a donkey to be the quarterhorse's playmate as he grows up. the donkey and the horse become fast friends.
soon it comes time for the quarterhorse's racing career, and it is spectacular. the quarterhorse wins every race he enters...even capturing the famed triple crown.
the family, grateful to the horse, reunites him with his old pal, the donkey. the two are then sent off to a beautiful meadow where they frollic and play all day. a perfect life for the two of them.
then, one day, the donkey feels the cold clutches of death approaching and he calls his old friend over to him.
"old friend horse, before i die, i have one small request of you." he says, "i have been your friend for many years, and i think it is something within your power to grant me."
"dear sweet donkey," the horse replies, "whatever it is with in this world, and i have the power to grant it to you, name it...and i shall give it to you."
the donkey clears his throat and solemnly asks horse his one last request. "horse, i want you to run a race with me and i want you to let me win."
"it shall be done." the horse says, and they trot off down to a practice track that had been set up years before on the kentucky farm.
the two friends walk up to the starting line and as the horse says "GO!" the race begins. the donkey leapt out in front of the horse, running as fast as his donkey legs could carry his old frame. the horse took a more leisurely pace; trotting along behind.
they round the first corner. the donkey is about two lengths in front of the horse. he feels a small twinge in his heart.
they round the second corner. the donkey is running faster than he has ever run before, and manages to pull ahead of the horse by four lengths. the twinge is now a painful tightness in his donkey chest.
they round the third corner. in a miracle of events, the donkey has pulled ahead by an astounding six lengths and the tightness in his chest is gone--replaced by a throbbing fire of agony.
they round the forth corner. the donkey is running so fast that blood is now mixing with the froth at his lips. he is a full eight lengths in front of his old pal, the horse.
as they round that final turn, the horse starts thinking. he starts feeling the old proudness of his racing career. he realizes that he has never lost, and that it would be a total embarassment to lose to a pitiful donkey. he quickens his pace and zooms past the struggling donkey, beating him at the finish line.
the donkey crosses the finish line and hits the turf with a resounding thud. his last words are "WHY?" and his eyes close forever.
the horse is saddened and shakes his head in both sorrow and shame for what he has done. nearby, two cows are standing at a fence, chewing their cud. they call to the horse in utter disgust.
"you bastard!" they cry out. "he was your best friend in this whole world. he would have done anything for you...and you couldnt give him his last request. you are truly the most shameful horse we have ever seen. you should be ashamed of yourself."
the horse glances over at the fence and the two cows. his face is a mask of shame and agony. his voice is shrill as he says "oh my god....talking cows."
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
