6th Jan 2025
One sunny day, a speedy rabbit named Benny was bragging to his friends. "I am the fastest in the whole forest!" he declared proudly. He hopped around excitedly, showing off his shiny, white fur. His best friend, Tilly the turtle, laughed gently, "Benny, speed is fun, but sometimes slow and steady wins the race!" The rabbit snorted, "A race? You think you can beat me? Let’s go then!"
The next day, all the animals gathered to watch the big race. Benny stood tall, wiggling his ears, while Tilly slowly got into position. "Ready, set, go!" shouted the wise old owl. Benny dashed forward, leaving Tilly behind. But after a while, Benny grew tired. "I’ll take a quick nap," he thought, curling up under a shady tree. Meanwhile, Tilly kept moving, one slow step at a time, determined to reach the finish line.
The forest was filled with anticipation as the animals watched the race unfold. Benny dozed blissfully, dreaming of victory, while Tilly trudged along the winding path. She never paused, except to nod kindly at the cheering squirrels and chipmunks lining the way. Her steady pace was like the gentle flow of the river, calm and unwavering. "Go, Tilly, go!" cheered a chorus of frogs from their lily pads.
As the sun dipped lower in the sky, Benny awoke with a start. He rubbed his eyes, realizing that Tilly might be closer to the finish line than he thought. With a burst of energy, he shot off like an arrow, zipping past the trees. His heart raced, but so did his legs, faster and faster. "I must win," he repeated to himself, determined to regain his lead.
When Benny finally approached the finish line, he was met with a surprising sight. There was Tilly, just a few steps away from crossing the line. With a final burst of determination, the turtle stretched her neck forward and crossed first, as the forest erupted in cheers. Benny stopped in his tracks, panting and wide-eyed. Tilly smiled warmly at him, "You see, Benny, slow and steady really does win the race." Benny laughed, "You were right, Tilly! Congratulations!" His heart softened, knowing he'd learned a valuable lesson from his dear friend.
