"Donkeys are very stupid animals," Maria commented.

Constanza smiled, knowing well enough what her friend thought of donkeys. She nodded agreeably, "They're not very bright."

Maria smiled too. And sighed. She wasn't looking forward to the outing that was planned for the cooler part of the day. She and Constanza had agreed to take Theresa and Joseph on a picnic, to give their pregnant mother some respite.

They would take two of the older donkeys to carry the children. Teresa had been telling Joseph about it all morning, making it harder than usual for their mother to settle to their afternoon nap.

Late in the afternoon, the children were awake and ready. Their father lifted them onto the animals and tied the bag holding fruit and biscuits to the saddle of Joseph's donkey. Maria stood nearby holding a long stick. In a few moments, the two old women led the donkeys out of the yard. Theresa squirmed with excitement, while Joseph, a little younger, hunched forward and held on tightly.

Leading Theresa's donkey, Constanza smiled inwardly wondering whether there was a week in her life that she hadn't led a donkey somewhere. Her mind drifted a little as she thought of the donkey-characters that had populated her life. There were several generations of them. She had known them when they were young and energetic and when they were old and aching. Just as she had known Maria when she turned cartwheels in the playground and now when her hands were too painful to make lace.

She patted her donkey's neck, feeling all his aches and pains in his slow walk. She glanced up at Theresa and told her not to drum her heels so hard into poor Tomas' sides, he couldn't go any faster. Theresa pouted then asked Constanza how old she was when she first rode a donkey. Constanza couldn't remember.

The donkeys clopped along the familiar street then they took a side path towards the hilly fields. Theresa chattered and Joseph's eyes shone, though he kept a tight grip on Tinto's scraggly hair.

Constanza led Tomas from in front, pausing every time he stopped to nibble at a dandelion, then encouraging him on again. Theresa jiggled and wanted to go faster.

"Make him trot, Nonna, make him trot!" she pleaded.

"He's too old to trot," Constanza smiled and shook her head. "And anyway, do you think I can run to keep up?"

But when Tomas dawdled too much, she reached into her pocket then held a carrot stump a little in front of him so that he stretched his neck forward and his old body followed, giving him new momentum. Her bony hands would let him find the carrot and she would give his head a rub.

Theresa held a little tighter as Tomas lurched forward for the carrot or bent to nose at a new smell.

Behind them came Tinto, with Maria at his rear, using her long stick to flick at his legs or rump when he slowed too much. Tinto kept his head down and lifted each hoof with slow deliberation. Each step would go slower, till Maria flicked him again. Then he would shiver and jolt forward to take a few more steps. Before long, Maria's stick was in constant use.

The gap widened between the two donkeys as Tomas, led by Constanza, drew ahead despite his pauses to nibble on fresh greens.

Maria flicked Tinto harder, "Stupid donkey," she muttered.

Tinto stopped abruptly and rolled his head. Joseph cried out in fear, "Aaaah!"

Maria stopped and sighed heavily, patting Joseph on the leg reassuringly. After a moment, Tinto nosed at a clump of grass. Maria waited impatiently while he chewed at it, then tapped him lightly on the rump. He moved off slowly.

Now Maria was more careful with the stick and allowed Tinto to go much slower. But still she tapped and prodded to keep him moving along.

After a while, they came to the spring between the two fields where Theresa had already jumped down to dabble in the water. Maria helped Joseph slip off Tinto. He was glad to be on the ground and stood unsteadily for a moment before padding off to join Theresa.

Constanza untied their provisions and the two old women sat side by side picking at the dried fruit — just as they had done seventy years before on their first day in school together.