Chapter 5

CHAPTER 5 "Welcome to the Donkey Depot, supplying your donkey needs for birthdays, bar mitzvahs, and Bible tours!" the bearded, tunic-and sandal-clad owner, Jacob, said with an enthusiastic smile. "I need to get to Ein Karem," Ruben responded.

"A Bible tour for you and your little companions, then?" Jacob chirped, happy to hear the request, since the trip took over a week and was a good moneymaker. "You're in luck, my friends! My next tour leaves in five days, and there's still availability!" "Five days?" Ruben griped. "I need to leave right away. Can I rent a donkey now?" He pulled out a small handful of cash. Jacob took a look at the pathetic wad of money and shook his head. "Look, I'm not running a charity here, mister! Plus, if my donkeys are traveling that far, I'm going with them." Jacob began to rattle off the complications of the long journey. Ruben rolled his eyes. As they rolled toward the corner of the lot, Ruben caught a glimpse of something. Under the shade of an olive tree, tied to a post alone, stood a scraggly old gray-haired donkey with a droopy back. "Is that one available?" Ruben asked, interrupting Jacob's monologue. Jacob paused and looked in the direction of Ruben's gaze. "Ahh... Dust— Dusty?" he stammered. "Why, that donkey is as..." Jacob paused, then looked back at the cash in Ruben's hand. "We... might be able to... come to an understanding." In truth, Dusty had been retired for a couple of years and pretty much just hung out by the olive

tree and ate. And since a retired, hungry donkey costs more money for its owner than it makes, Jacob was thrilled at the opportunity to unload him. "Can he make the trip?" Ruben asked. "Of course, my friend! Of course!" Jacob replied, returning to salesman mode. "He looks a little... old." "Age is just a number!" Jacob countered. "He's a little on the stubborn side, I'll admit, but he's strong and knows the way!" "So, you'll rent him to me, then?"

"Rent? No. How are you supposed to return him? What am I, Hertz?" Jacob said. "You want Dusty? You buy him!" "I can't afford—" But before Ruben could finish his sentence, Jacob grabbed the bills in his hand. "Sold!" Jacob announced. "Congratulations! You are now the proud owner of a new... old donkey! Happy trails!"