Hurray! The start of a new year. =) I hope everyone had a happy holiday.

Franky and Chopper take center stage for this one. I kinda pulled a reversal in this chapter, since most of these has the SH crew as animals, now Chopper is a human. I figured it'd be even this way. Anywho, there's only one left after this, and I think you could probably guess which one it is since I told you in the first chapter I'd include it.

Disclaimer: Aesop/ OP aren't mine

The Man, The Boy, and the Donkey

One fine, brisk, spring morning a carpenter pulled one of his young friends out of bed extra early in order to help with a special assignment. The task both had for the day was to take the old cart mule that had helped pull the lumber wagon for many years and finally retire him to the countryside.

"Come on, lil bro." The older workman said as he ushered in the boy to the breakfast table. "It's a super morning and we gotta lot to do today." Franky, the carpenter, was a large man. His arms were muscular and strong and his slicked up blue hair only added to his height. This morning he had decided to wear his black sunglasses, though he didn't always, and with his flashy green work shirt he looked like he was about to visit the beach instead.

"I hope it's nothing like it was yesterday when you wanted to build a whole house by yourself." The younger of the two yawned and grumbled sleepily to his older friend. Chopper, the youngster who had been recruited by Franky, was only a teenager compared to the carpenter's much older age. He was rather on the short and thin side with light brown hair that always seemed to find its way into his wide brown eyes. The young boy had pulled on a faded red shirt with a white X in the middle of it, the fabric was so faded it almost looked pink, and a pair of maroon shorts.

Laughing even though Chopper hadn't meant to be funny, Franky merely shook his head and stuffed a stack of pancakes into his mouth. "Nah, nothing like that. We're going by old Kokoro's place." The blue haired carpenter explained after he washed his food down with a mug of some drink, Chopper wasn't even gonna ask about.

After the two friends finished their breakfast they set off with the old mule tagging along behind and tied with a simple rope. As they were setting off down the street of the village a man that owned a farm just on the outskirts of town spotted them and scoffed. "You two are idiots. Why are you walking when there's a perfectly good animal to ride on?" He asked and only shook his head at Franky and Chopper before chuckling again and going on his way.

Franky scratched his head as he stared off after the farmer. "I guess the guy's got a point. How 'bout one last ride, Chopper?" He asked his young friend with a grin and a shrug. He patted the back of the old mule in fondness.

"Yeah, okay." Chopper excitedly accepted the offer and clambered onto the back of the mule. So, with that issue settled happily, the two friends and the animal once more made their way through the village again.

Things were going along fine until the pair passed by the village tavern. This was where all the older men usually gathered to trade stories and drink. It just so happened that a group was relaxing outside the doors when Franky and Chopper walked past. "You see that, boys? That lazy boy doesn't have any respect for his elders. He has two good legs to walk on and yet he won't use them. That's what's wrong with kids these days, no respect." One of the gray haired old men called out to his buddies, loud enough for the whole street to hear.

Poor Chopper blushed in shame and embarrassment as many of the people nearby turned to look at him and Franky. Hurriedly the young boy dismounted the mule even before Franky could stop. "That old man has a point, Franky." Chopper said, still ashamed, as the blue haired man turned to see what was up. "I can't ride while you walk, it wouldn't be right. You should be the one with the last ride, he was your mule anyway."

Franky looked about ready to argue but knew it was probably useless. Chopper most likely wouldn't get back on the mule with what that old man said running through his head. "Alright, lil' bro, I'll go ahead and ride him then." Franky agreed, if only so his little friend wouldn't feel so ashamed.

So, with the carpenter now riding the old mule, and his young friend leading the animal the group went on their way. Both were happy with this arrangement for some time. That is until they reached the small village schoolyard.

A few young children were outside playing at recess when Franky and Chopper passed by. Two boys and two little girls were playing with a ball, they couldn't have been more than ten years old, but they stopped what they were doing when the saw the blue haired man riding and Chopper being forced to walk. "Hey, meanie," one of the girls called and stuck her tongue out at Franky when he looked over. "Why are making that kid walk and you get to ride everywhere?"

"Yeah, you're nothing but a mean old man." The boy holding the ball yelled with a scowl.

Suddenly the school bell rang and it forced the kids to give up on their name-calling of the blue haired carpenter. After the children ran inside Franky looked down at Chopper and the brown haired boy looked right back. This was turning into a big problem. "Well, those kiddos make a good argument." Franky muttered, he was almost pouting. "I don't wanna be a mean old man."

After a few minutes of thought on the matter it seemed neither Chopper or Franky could come up with a solution but then Franky hit his palm with his fist. "Aha, I got it, Chopper bro. It's a really super idea. We can both ride on this old mule here. He's still strong enough to carry us."

Honestly Chopper wasn't sure about that, but he couldn't see any other way, so with a shrug of his shoulders he climbed up behind Franky. The old mule shook a bit with the added weight and Chopper was thankful he wasn't very big. When the animal was sure of his footing once more the three started off again for the outskirts of the village where Kokoro's farm was.

Franky and Chopper were nearly to the river, which ran on the borders of the village, and which they would have to cross over to reach old lady Kokoro's place. It was on the road leading to the bridge where they passed by a pair of women coming back from collecting water, judging from the water jugs they carried. At seeing the poor animal having to carry both the carpenter and the young man on his back the women began to whisper and point, not so inconspicuously, at the group.

Noticing the women doing this Franky got a bad feeling of déjà vu and sighed.

The woman closest to them frowned deeply and placed her hands on her hips. "You big strong men should be ashamed of yourselves. Are your legs so weak you have to overload that poor creature with the hulking body of yourself and your friend?"

"Shame on the both of you." The other woman agreed. Her arms were crossed across her chest and she looked on in disapproval. "That poor mule certainly is mistreated."

Silently Chopper agreed with the women but also he was annoyed that they would have to think of something else to do. All Franky could do was run his hand over his face in exasperation. "Alright. Alright." He said to quickly appease the angry women as they hurriedly climbed off the animal and tried to think of something else.

They couldn't walk alongside the mule. It would displease the farmer.

They couldn't allow Chopper to ride and Franky to walk. It would displease the old men.

They couldn't allow Franky to ride and Chopper to walk. It would displease the children.

They also couldn't ride the mule together. It would displease the women.

Finally with a snap of his fingers Franky hit on an idea. He handed the rope to Chopper to hold onto while the carpenter disappeared down a space between two houses. Only a few moments later did Franky reappear. This time he had in his hands a long, stout, wooden pole.

"Uh, Franky, what're you gonna do with that?" Chopper asked curiously. He looked at the pole with confusion in his brown eyes but his older friend didn't answer. Instead Franky only took the leading rope and untied it from the mule. With some difficulty he managed to tie the animal's hooves to the pole, leaving Chopper really confused by this point.

When it seemed that the carpenter was finished tying up the mule he motioned Chopper over. "So what do think of my super plan, lil' bro?" He waved a hand toward the decidedly annoyed animal. "Now all we gotta do is carry him the rest of the way. I dare anyone to find something wrong with this idea." Feeling really proud of himself Franky patted Chopper on the back and moved to pick up the front of the pole.

Not having a good feeling about this at all Chopper followed Franky's example and picked up the back end of the pole. Both together the two friends began to carry the now even more ticked off mule towards the bridge that was just around the corner.

As the two made their way over the low plank bridge there were a few stifled giggles from the women who were gathered at the riverside to collect water or just to visit among friends. Chopper tried to ignore them like Franky seemed to be doing. Instead the brown haired boy concentrated on not dropping his end of the pole. That was becoming increasingly difficult as the mule decided enough was enough and began to struggle against his bindings.

When they had nearly reached the other side of the bridge, all of a sudden, the rope became loose enough for the mule to get somewhat free. Neither Chopper nor Franky noticed this until it was too late.

The mule pulled one of his back hooves free and struck out at Chopper with it. Luckily it missed the surprised youngster but it did cause him to drop his end of the pole and stumble over the edge of the bridge. With a small splash the brown haired boy landed in the shallow end of the river.

With his balance off kilter Franky couldn't stay upright either. Thanks to the struggling animal and the missing help of Chopper, both the mule and the carpenter followed the younger boy into the water, with a much bigger splash.

Luckily now freed of the rope and pole the mule didn't drown. With a bray that sounded convincingly like a laugh, the animal plowed through the river water, and once it made its way onto dry land, swiftly ran away as fast as its legs could carry it. The only thing Franky and Chopper could do was watch as they sat, chest deep, in the water and listen to the laughter of the women across the river. They would never live this one down.

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Moral- Please all and you will please none. (AKA- You can't please everyone)