PART 2: DONKEY: ONE. MARINE CORPS: ZERO.
Mason stared at the donkey.
The donkey chewed.
Slowly.
Peacefully.
Almost disrespectfully.
Carter was struggling to breathe from laughing.
“Corporal, I think he used you for food.”
“Quiet, Carter.”
“He accepted the bribe and returned to his position.”
“Carter.”
“That’s advanced negotiation.”
Mason turned.
“Would you like to handle this?”
Carter immediately put his hands up.
“No, Corporal. I recognize superior opposition.”
Sergeant Cole Bennett checked his watch.
“We’ve now lost eleven minutes to livestock.”
Mason pointed toward the donkey.
“He’s unusually stubborn.”
Cole raised an eyebrow.
“So are you.”
A Marine near the vehicle whispered:
“That’s why this is taking so long.”
More laughter.
Mason ignored them.
He tried again.
“Come on.”
The donkey remained still.
Mason clapped his hands once.
Nothing.
He pointed down the road.
Nothing.
Finally, he stood directly in front of the animal.
The donkey looked at him.
Mason looked at the donkey.
Ten Marines watched like spectators at a championship event.
Thirty seconds passed.
Then a minute.
Carter whispered:
“Neither side appears willing to compromise.”
Another Marine answered:
“Historic standoff.”
Mason heard them.
“Both of you are carrying extra gear when we get back.”
Silence.
The donkey suddenly brayed.
Everyone burst out laughing again.
Mason rubbed his forehead.
Then Sergeant Bennett stepped forward.
“Reed.”
“Yes, Sergeant?”
“Stop trying to win.”
Mason looked confused.
“What?”
“You’re treating this like the donkey knows there’s a competition.”
Mason looked at the animal.
The donkey was now scratching its neck against a wooden post.
Clearly, it had no idea that Marine Corps pride was supposedly at stake.
Cole pointed toward a wider patch beside the road.
“Give it space.”
Mason stepped away.
Nothing happened.
They waited.
Twenty seconds.
The donkey looked around.
Then casually wandered toward the roadside by itself.
The path opened.
Mason stared.
Carter immediately shouted:
“ROAD CLEAR!”
The Marines began climbing into their vehicles.
Mason walked toward the lead vehicle.
Carter couldn’t resist.
“Corporal?”
Mason stopped.
“What?”
Carter raised one finger.
“Donkey: one.”
He raised another.
“Marine Corps: zero.”
Everyone laughed.
Even Sergeant Bennett.
Mason stared at Carter for several seconds.
Then he looked back.
The donkey was still beside the road, peacefully eating.
Mason sighed.
“You know what?”
Carter grinned.
“What?”
“Fine.”
Carter blinked.
“Fine?”
“He won.”
That generated the loudest laughter yet.
As the vehicles slowly passed, several Marines looked toward their undefeated opponent.
One gave the donkey a respectful nod.
Another whispered:
“Legend.”
Mason saw him.
“Don’t encourage it.”
The donkey brayed again.
Carter leaned forward.
“I think he’s talking trash now.”
“Carter.”
“Yes, Corporal?”
“Stop talking.”
“Yes, Corporal.”
For the rest of the week, Mason thought the story had died.
He was wrong.
Someone left a small toy donkey on his bunk.
He threw it onto Carter’s bed.
The next morning, it was back.
Someone placed another beside it.
Then another.
By Friday, Mason owned six toy donkeys.
Nobody admitted responsibility.
Sergeant Bennett claimed to know nothing.
Mason didn’t believe him.
A week later, the unit traveled down the same road again.
Carter suddenly leaned forward.
“Contact front!”
Everyone became alert.
Then they saw it.
The donkey.
Standing beside the road.
This time, thankfully, not blocking anything.
Mason looked through the window.
The donkey looked back.
Carter whispered:
“Rematch?”
Mason shook his head.
“Negative.”
“You sure?”
“Absolutely.”
Mason pointed ahead.
“Keep moving.”
The vehicle continued.
Carter smiled.
“Smart decision.”
Mason leaned back.
“I’ve learned something.”
“What?”
“Not every battle needs to be won.”
Sergeant Bennett nodded from the front.
“Finally. Personal growth.”
Then the donkey brayed behind them.
Mason looked back through the window.
Carter immediately announced:
“Donkey: two. Marine Corps: zero.”
This time Mason laughed harder than anyone.