One morning, Hare hopped down to the lake, to rest in the warm sunshine. Fox was lying on the rocks, cleaning her soft sandy coat, and Tortoise was munching the sweet grass near the water’s edge. Hare stopped and watched them for a while.
Soon Fox yawned and drifted off to sleep, but Tortoise carried on waddling around slowly, her little pink tongue pulling in each mouthful of grass. Hare flicked his long ears and hopped over to her. Tortoise stopped chewing, and stared up at him.
“You look funny when you eat, Your feet are short and stumpy, and you move so slowly. No wonder you spend so much time eating – it takes you forever to get enough grass.” Hare was annoyed. He wanted everyone to talk to him. “I’m the fastest animal,” he shouted. “When I run at full speed, no-one can beat me.” He looked across at Fox “I challenge anyone to a race,” said Hare, flicking his ears proudly.
Then Tortoise swallowed her mouthful of grass. “I accept, even if you are as fast as the wind, I can still beat you in a race. ”Hare laughed loudly. “I accept the challenge,”. Tortoise suggested that Fox should choose when they would race, where they would start and the finish point. Fox thought it was all very amusing, and suggested the day after tomorrow as race day.
The Hare and the Tortoise lined up at the flat rock, which was Fox’s designated starting point. Hare bounded off at top speed and soon rounded a bend and was out of sight. Tortoise moved at a slow, steady pace – never stopping to rest or eat. Running by the side of the lake, Hare felt the warm sun on his back and slowed a little. Then he stopped. “Umm,” he said, stretching. “It’ll take Tortoise forever to catch up. I’ve got time for a nap.” And he burrowed into the grass and dozed off.Hare stirred as he felt the temperature drop, then remembering the race. In the distance he saw Fox and the other animals gathered near the fallen tree finish point.
“Good. They’re waiting to cheer me when I win,” he laughed as he ran. Then he saw Tortoise on a grassy mound right next to the tree. Fox was talking to her. Hare bounded up as quickly as he could. He couldn’t believe he had lost. Fox nodded to him and asked everyone to be quiet. Then he congratulated Tortoise on winning the race. Tortoise was tired, and drifted off to sleep.
Some of the other animals crowded round Hare to ask him what happened. He should have won, shouldn’t he? His legs were much longer than tortoise’s and he’d won other races in the past. Hare was angry with himself and felt very silly.