Nikolai and his brother were riding along through the rain on a muddy path. “See how well he pulls this cart?” asked Nikolai.

“Yes, he’s very strong,” responded the brother.

“Strong, yes, but that’s not why he pulls so well. Yours is just as strong, and look at what he does. He complains at half the weight Gregor is pulling now.”

“But that’s just normal. I’m sure your ox is stronger.”

“No, no, listen to me. I’ve seen that beast of yours pull heavier weight than this when he wanted to. His old master worked him hard, made him strong. Now that you have him, he’s lazy.”

“Lazy? Pyotr is a perfectly fine ox. You just overwork yours.”

“Overwork Gregor? Nonsense! Look at him. He is so calm. He moves with such controlled power. Sometimes, I think he actually enjoys this.”

“He enjoys bearing such a heavy burden?”

“It’s more than that. He wants to please his master. He works in order to get my praise.”

“In all the times I’ve visited you, I’ve seen you praise him only once.”

“Praise is valuable only if it’s seldom given. When I praise Gregor, it’s worth the world to him because he knows how difficult it is to get.”

As his master carried on with conversation, Gregor lumbered down the path, pulling the cart and thinking to himself. “Where are all the birds today? They’re usually here. Why aren’t they here now? Maybe they went someplace warm. Yes, someplace where the sun is shining. I’m sure they’ll come back and sing about it tomorrow. Oh, this mud! I wish there was another path. Well, I guess there’s no sense thinking about it. I have to finish my job. Stay focused, Gregor. One, two, three, four, one, two, three, four. . . keep moving, keep moving. You can rest once you get there. What? There’s the old lake! That’s strange. It feels like we should have passed that hours ago. Oh, we’re not even half done! Why are my legs so tired? What a dreary day. I wish the birds were here.”

Nikolai and his brother continued with their discussion. Gregor listened to them, trying to pick out any familiar sounds or tones of voice. “What are they saying?” he thought. “I heard my name. Is master praising me? Oh no! What if he thinks I’m going too slowly? He’ll give me another beating!” At this thought, Gregor tried his best to increase the pace of his steps. “One, two, three, four, one, two, thr. . . Master, it’s hard to concentrate when you talk and laugh so loudly back there. I’m losing count. Oh, my legs. Can’t we stop? Just for a moment? One, two, three, four, one, two. . . When will this road end? It just keeps going and going! Listen to those two back there. They just won’t stop talking! Is it too much to ask for a few moments of silence? It’s just my luck. The singing of the birds has been replaced by obnoxious chatter. Luck, that’s a funny thing. I wonder why mine isn’t any better than it is. I work so hard. I’m so well-behaved. Why doesn’t Master give me a break? I deserve a break.”

The cart began to move faster. Gregor soon lost awareness of the two passengers. He was lost in his own thoughts. “If I was my own master, I’d give myself a break. Now, there’s a thought. Yes, my own master. Why am I not my own master? Look at me. What am I doing? Day after day, it’s the same thing. I pull the cart, I eat, I sleep. Is this all there is to my life? Why? Why is it like this? If I have to do something, why can’t it be something I love? Oh, if there was only a way to escape. How, Gregor? How can you set yourself free? Think. Just think for a moment.”

Gregor marched on. The cart moved with even greater power than before. “Yes. Yes, I’ve got it! I know what I have to do! I’ll pick up speed at the next curve. Then, as we approach the left edge, I’ll make a sudden stop. If I do it hard enough, Master will be sent flying into the river. I’ll gain control of my own life! Do you hear me? I will be my own master!   You are the cause of my pain. You have been my trap all these years. Just you wait, you ungrateful beast!”

The cart moved faster and faster. For the first time, Gregor felt totally in control. The weight no longer bothered him. It was nothing more than a feeble obstacle in his way. “That’s right, you lousy cart! You can’t stop me either! I will have my freedom!” Soon, Gregor was able to see the upcoming curve in the path. He trampled onward through the rain. The thunder echoed throughout the sky and within his heart. It was like the pounding of a drum leading him on a battle march, driven by the force of all the anger and indomitable pride ever experienced by any creature who had risen up to fight oppression. He drew closer. The moment was almost at hand. “All right, Gregor, it’s almost time. Almost time to make your life worthwhile.” The cart moved with such force that it became rather unstable. “That’s it. That’s it! Now, Gregor, now! What are you waiting for? Do it!”

At that moment, Gregor heard the sound of all his fear, doubt, and hopelessness. It came from the one thing against which he was truly powerless, Master, always and forever, the true ruler of his life. By instinct, he obeyed. He had no choice but to slow down. With each step, Gregor could feel his heart sink a little deeper into the inescapable void of his existence. The moment was gone. It was too late.

“My goodness!” exclaimed Nikolai. “I wonder what got into him.”

“It was probably the thunder,” explained his brother.

“Afraid of thunder? Gregor? He’s never acted like this before.”

“Well, it was quite heavy. It’s just natural for animals to get startled by a storm like that. Just be glad it’s over.”

“I have to make sure this kind of thing never happens again. He almost got us killed! We could have been flung into that river.”

“What are you going to do?”

“I have to take him out on stormy days more often. I’ll train him to get used to it. A grown ox shouldn’t be afraid of a little thunder.”

Gregor slowly began to accept his circumstances. “Freedom. Freedom. I don’t know what I was thinking. I suppose. . . , I suppose pulling this cart really isn’t so bad. Master isn’t oppressing me. He’s just doing what’s good for me. After all, he may not show it often, but in his heart, I know he loves me. Oh, Gregor, just forget this day ever happened. I’m sure I won’t have to deal with too many more days like this one. All this rain and wind, oh, and this awful mud. Well, the sun will shine again soon. Maybe the birds are on their way back right now. Maybe I’ll see a rainbow.”