a man and a boy riding donkeys down a dirt road

A man bought a donkey from a fair. After buying the donkey, both the father and son were returning to the village. Along the way, some people saw them and said, "How foolish they are! They have a donkey, yet both are walking on foot." Hearing this, the father sat on the donkey, and the son started walking. A little further ahead, some people saw them and said, "What a cruel father! He has made his son walk while he sits comfortably on the donkey." Upon hearing this, the father got off the donkey, and the son sat on it instead. After walking a few more steps, some people saw them and said, "What a heartless son! His father is walking while he rides the donkey." Hearing this, the son made his father sit on the donkey as well. They hadn’t gone far when some people saw them and said, "Poor innocent donkey! Both of them are riding on it without any concern for its condition." After hearing this, both the father and son got frustrated, tied the donkey up, and carried it on their shoulders. When they reached the vil