On a bright and breezy farm, lived a hardworking donkey named Desmond and a little, fluffy dog named Pip. Desmond spent his days carrying heavy sacks of grain to the mill. It was important work, and he was very strong. Pip, on the other hand, spent his days wagging his tail, barking playfully, and jumping onto the farmer's lap for cuddles and tasty treats.

Desmond would watch Pip from his field. He saw Pip get head scratches and yummy biscuits just for being cute and bouncy. "Hmm," thought Desmond one afternoon, as he munched on some plain hay. "Pip doesn't carry any sacks. He just wiggles and yaps, and the farmer loves it! Maybe if I act like Pip, I'll get biscuits too!"

So, the next time the farmer came out to relax on his porch, Desmond decided to try. First, he tried to wag his tail. It wasn't a quick, happy wag like Pip's, more like a slow swish. Then, he tried to bark. Instead of a "woof woof," out came a very loud "HEE-HAW! HEE-HAW!" that made the chickens jump.

The farmer looked up, surprised.

"Now for the best part!" thought Desmond. He trotted over to the farmer, kicked up his back legs a little (he thought it looked playful), and tried to jump onto the farmer's lap, just like Pip did.

But Desmond was much, much bigger than Pip!

"WHOA there, Desmond!" cried the farmer, nearly falling off his chair. Desmond, with his big hooves and strong body, was not quite a lap animal. The farmer quickly called his farmhands. "Help me get Desmond back to his stable, please! I think he's a bit confused today."

The farmhands gently led a very puzzled Desmond back to his stable. He didn't get any biscuits. He didn't get any cuddles. He just got more hay.

Later, Pip trotted into the stable, wagging his tail. Desmond looked at him sadly. "It didn't work, Pip. I tried to be like you, but the farmer didn't give me any treats."

The farmer, who had followed Pip, overheard. He smiled kindly at Desmond and gave his long ears a scratch. "Desmond," he said softly, "you are a wonderful donkey. You are strong and help me so much by carrying the heavy grain. That's your special job, and I appreciate you for it. Pip is small and playful, and that's his way of being a good companion."

Desmond thought about this. He might not be a lap animal, but he was very good at being a strong, helpful donkey. And that, he realized, was pretty special too. From then on, he was happy to do his important work, and he still enjoyed watching Pip play, knowing they were both loved for being themselves.

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