Alexi, The Dog and The Mule
By Valerie L. Egar
A
long time ago, a boy named Alexi walked to the village market to sell two bags
of wheat. His family was so poor they didn’t own a horse and cart to haul the
wheat. He strapped the bags on his back and his knees buckled under the burden.
“Get
the best price you can,” his mother said. “Buy three laying hens with the money
and we will have eggs to feed the family and not be hungry.”
On
his way to the market, Alexi met a man dragging a large dog tied to a rope. The
dog was thin and grey around its muzzle. Alexi noticed the man’s cruel eyes and
how the dog shied away from him.
“Boy,”
the stranger said, “Let me lighten your burden by trading this fine dog for
whatever you are carrying on your back.”
Alexi
stopped. The dog looked at him hopefully and Alexi’s heart was touched. He
remembered what his mother had told him. They needed laying hens, but perhaps
not three. He would eat less, so they could get by with two. “One bag for the
dog,” he said.
The
stranger agreed and was soon on his way with a bag of wheat. The dog pranced
happily next to Alexi.
Soon Alexi came
upon a woman driving a cart hitched
to an old mule. She whipped the mule to go
faster, but the mule stumbled. She
looked at Alexi. “Boy, today’s your lucky day.
I will give you this fine mule and the cart for what you’re carrying on
your back. You and that dog will ride like kings.”
Alexi
saw the mule was old and lame. The cart was little better than a plank with
wobbly wheels, but Alexi felt sorry for the abused mule. He cut the bag of
wheat from his back and handed it over.
Surely his mother
would be angry. He had nothing to bring his family except a thin dog, a lame
mule, and a rickety cart. Alexi decided
to spend the night in the woods to think about what he should do. He made a camp
near a stream and gathered grass for the mule to eat. He shared his thin slice
of bread and cheese with the dog. Alexi lay
on the cart, wishing the dog or mule would have magical powers like the animals
in fairy tales. In those stories, animals always discovered treasures or gave
good advice and the person who helped them was richly rewarded. Alexi sighed
and patted the dog snuggled next to him. “It’s OK, boy,” he said. “Saving both
of you from harm is reward enough.”
In
the middle of the night, Alexi woke with a start. He heard voices. “Stop cryin’
if you know what’s good for you.” By the
light of the moon, Alexi saw two men with a young boy.
“Ha,”
said the other. “ The King will pay a good ransom for you!” The scoundrels had kidnapped the Prince! Alexi
tried to think what to do.
His dog howled, a mournful
howl that sounded like a ghost.
The
men stopped. “What was that?”
The
mule brayed, and sounded like a host of demons.
“These woods are
haunted!”
The
frightened men looked around and the dog ran to one and bit him hard on the
leg. The mule galloped to the other and kicked him so hard he fell over. Alexi grabbed his rope and tied the two
scoundrels up. He threw them on the cart and rode them into town with the frightened
Prince sitting on his lap.
When
the King and Queen asked Alexi what he wanted, he asked for three good laying
hens. They laughed and gave the dog,
mule and Alexi gold medals for bravery. Alexi
received rich farmland, a house large enough for his family and gold to keep
them comfortable for many years.
Alexi continued to
rescue animals that had hard lives. He never expected them to have magical
powers or speak to him, even when the moon was full. That he made their lives
easier with his kindness was reward enough for him.
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Copyright 2017 by Valerie L. Egar. May not be copied, reproduced or distributed without permission from the author.
Published October 1, 2017 Biddeford Journal Tribune (Biddeford, ME)
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