Today Bibi has many visitors from the nearby villages.  Saba is so excited to see  lots of new faces.   She invites everyone into the courtyard, where  something immediately attracts their attention.   Everyone gathers around it.  

"Bibi asked me to take you all inside." said Saba with a friendly smile.  "She's just baked a cake for us.  We can listen to the tale while we eat".  

Everybody stepped into the cosy room and sat around Bibi on the Persian rug.  Bibi started the story of the little donkey.

**The Little Donkey and His Master**

Once upon a time there was an old merchant who was living with his only son and a donkey in a little village.   His donkey had just given birth to her foal.    The little foal was quite cute, but there was something strange about him.   One of his ears was much smaller than the other one, almost the same size as a little mouse’s ear.   Also his front teeth were much larger than usual.   The merchant wanted to sell the foal, but his son insisted that he wants to take care of him.

So the merchant decided to keep the little donkey.   The son used to take his pet everywhere he went, even when he wanted to play with his friends.   Everyone used to laugh at the little donkey because of his ear and teeth.   Of course he didn’t know the reason for their laughter and just thought they were just being friendly.

The son tried so hard to keep his little donkey away from any lake or spring, so that he wouldn’t see his own reflection in the water and feel sad.

One day the son was playing with his friends, while the little donkey was standing by an old cedar tree.    A wicked wolf was passing by when he suddenly saw the donkey.

He quietly walked close to him and said “Good morning my dear friend.  Why are you standing here all alone?”

“I’m watching my master play with his friends.” said the donkey. 

“I have a better idea.   Chasing after big butterflies is so much fun.”  said the wolf.  “They guide us to so many nice places with lots of fresh juicy fruits to eat.”

“Good idea.  I’m also a bit bored and hungry.” said the donkey.

So the wicked wolf started running after the colourful butterflies.  The little donkey followed him without even thinking that his master might be looking for him and get worried. 

Finally they reached a bright blue lake, which was surrounded by lots of fruit trees and flowers.    While the donkey was so busy eating the juicy apples he suddenly saw his own reflection in the water.   He turned his head from left to right and right to left, trying to see both ears.  He was quite puzzled and didn’t know the reason why his ears look different from one another.   His huge front teeth looked so weird that made him open and close his mouth a few times to see if that makes a difference.    

He suddenly realised why everyone laughed when they saw him.    While the donkey was busy trying to find answers, the wicked wolf was thinking of how best he can eat him.    He slowly approached the donkey from behind and got very close to him.   The donkey suddenly saw the wolf’s reflection in the water and realised the wolf’s intentions.   As he started running away to safety, he saw his master running towards the lake, followed by all his friends.   They had all come to his rescue.    

The vicious wolf started running away as soon as he saw them coming.   The boy ran towards his little pet and put his arms around him.   Other children also gathered around the donkey and gave him lots of cuddles. 

The little donkey wasn’t sad anymore when he saw how much everyone loved him.  He then realised that it doesn’t matter how you look on the outside, it’s the inside that counts and makes everyone love and respect you.