On the way home, one of the thieves untied the donkey so carefully that Nasreddin did not know about it. As the change, the thief put the tie around his friend’s neck. And he ran away with the donkey.
When Nasreddin arrived home, he was surprised to see that his donkey changed itself into a man.
“Who are you? Where is my donkey?” asked Nasreddin to the man angrily.
“I’m sorry, Sir,” said the thief, “I was the donkey.”
“I don’t believe you. How can a donkey change itself into a man?” said Nasreddin.
“Once I hurt my mother. And then she cursed me into a donkey. And I was sold at the market by my uncle. Now I become a man again because the person that bought me is a wise and good man like you,” the thief said.
Nasreddin said to the thief, “Now, go home. Don’t hurt your mother again.”
The thief thanked Nasreddin. He went away quickly.
Several days later, Nasreddin went to the market again to buy a donkey. And Nasreddin saw his lost donkey was being sold at the market among the other donkeys with the high price. Yes, the other thief sold the donkey again. Nasreddin came to the thief who sold the donkey. He did not speak to him, but did speak to the donkey.
He said, “Hey, young man, you never listen to good advice and never learn from experience. Now, you become a donkey again. But I don’t want to buy you.”
