Another hour of just standing in this trailer, hoping, praying for a car wreck to end his life; unable to ever fight his destiny. The sun had already finally began to rise. It must have been REALLY early when they came to collect him. The trailer finally stopped moving. The engine turn off. Silence. Pure, deep silence. Except for the horse next to him blowing. And it's hooves lightly clopping on the floor. Dan did the same. Clopping his hooves on the floor. Mainly to remind himself this isn't just a mere nightmare. He's now an animal with two front and two rear legs and four hooves. His own hooves mimicking the sound of the horse's, only lighter.
He heard the trailer door open, and started antsing around. Then he heard more clopping! And yet another braying donkey! He tried backing up, but his way was blocked! He tried swinging his head to the side, but he had limited mobility. He heard one, then two more braying donkeys!
"Eergg hhaaww eerrgghh hhaaw eeerrrrrgghh Hhhaaww," Dan joined in on that cacophany, trying despraretly to speak. To ask for help. The men ignored him. He was, afterall, just another braying ass donkey! They don't have anything to say to humans.
He picked up the distinct scent of two more animals. One was immediately behind him. He suddenly got self-conscious, knowing that animal is now stating straight at his anus, and his own wobbling balls just as he was staring at the donkeys ahead of him. And just like how he realized the significance of feeling jealous about a mere horse hours ago, he realized the significance of his self-consciousness about being exposed to others of his new social standing: other donkeys!
"Eeerrggh hhhaaw eerrrgghh hhhaaww," he tried again. It was useless. His inability to speak, alone, made him feel trapped. The sound he makes in place of speaking was pure humiliation. "Eerrrgghh hhhaawww!"
He tried telling himself that these men didn't know he was once a human like them. And that other farm animals were just mindless beasts. But he was humiliated nonetheless.
The men were talking, but poor Dan couldn't understand the words. "Eerrgghh Hhhaaww." And they couldn't understand he was trying to say words. So ignoring his pleading, they closed up the trailer again, and started back up.
"How LONG is this trip, anyways?," Thought Dan. "Are we not there yet?"
As much as he was anticipating the end of this blasted journey, he would come to wish it never ended. He's going to be a work animal for an Amish family. And he's going to find out just how NOT fun that can be.