The Donkey in the Lion's Skin: the full story
Part One · A Fine Costume
A donkey was walking home along a dusty path. In a ditch he saw something big and golden.
It was a lion costume, like the ones players wear. Somebody had dropped it from a cart.
The donkey had an idea. He wriggled into the costume. It was a bit tight, but it fit.
He pulled the mask over his head. Only his long ears stuck out. He tucked them in as best he could.
Then he set off for the village. He walked slow and tall, just like a lion.
The hens saw him first. They squawked and ran off, flapping, in all directions.
A dog yelped and hid under a cart. The pig dashed into the mud. The goats jumped right over the fence.
"Ha!" thought the donkey. "Everyone is afraid of me!" He felt as grand as a king.
He strutted into the market square. A fox sat in the shade by the well, watching.
The donkey wanted to roar. He opened his mouth, and out came a "Hee-haw!"
Everyone stopped and stared. Then the old fox began to laugh and laugh.
"I might have run away, too," he said. "But then I heard you bray."
The animals crept out. A hen pecked at the mask and tugged it off. There stood a donkey with long, long ears.
The whole village laughed. The donkey folded up the costume. He trotted home, braying loudly, and no one ran.