Jed, a poor hillbilly farmer, lived a hard but familiar life with his nagging wife Myrtle and his loyal mule, Bessie. While Myrtle constantly complained—from dawn to dusk—Jed found peace only in the fields, working beside Bessie.
One hot day, Myrtle brought him lunch, only to resume her usual nagging. Suddenly, without warning, Bessie kicked Myrtle in the head, killing her instantly. Jed was stunned. The farm, once filled with Myrtle’s voice, was now silent.
At the funeral, neighbors offered condolences, but Jed noticed something odd. The women praised Myrtle’s appearance, and Jed nodded politely. But the men all asked the same question: “Is the mule for sale?”
Later, the preacher asked Jed why he reacted differently. Jed replied, “The women said kind things, and I agreed. But I couldn’t agree with the men—because Bessie’s not for sale.”
Jed chuckled, finally finding some peace. In a strange twist of fate, the mule that ended one chapter had helped start a quieter, freer one.
