13th Apr 2025
In a peaceful green forest lived a hare named Samy. He was very fast and proud of his speed. "Look at me!" Samy would say, jumping around as he laughed at the slower animals. The tortoise, Layla, walked slowly but steadily. One bright morning, Samy challenged her to a race. "You’ll never win!" he teased, feeling sure of himself. But Layla just smiled and said, "Let’s see who finishes first!"
The race began and Samy zoomed off, leaving Layla far behind. He felt so confident that he thought, "I’ll take a nap under this tree. The tortoise is too slow to catch up!" Soon, he drifted off to sleep. Meanwhile, Layla kept moving, step by step, her eyes on the prize. When Samy finally woke up, his eyes grew wide in shock. Layla was almost at the finish line! He dashed as fast as he could, but it was too late. With a steady smile, Layla crossed the finish line first, winning the race! All the animals cheered for her! Samy felt embarrassed and learned that being too proud and careless can lead to failure. Patience and perseverance win the day.
Feeling a bit sheepish, Samy approached Layla at the finish line. "Congratulations, Layla," he said softly, his ears drooping. "You taught me a lesson today. Speed isn't everything." Layla smiled gently. "Thank you, Samy," she replied. "Remember, every step counts, no matter how small." Samy nodded, realizing the wisdom in her words.
The other animals gathered around, buzzing with excitement. "Three cheers for Layla!" chirped a small bird, flapping its wings with delight. Everyone joined in, celebrating Layla's victory with laughter and joy. Samy, no longer feeling embarrassed, joined the cheering too. He was proud to have learned something important.
From that day on, Samy and Layla became the best of friends. They often raced together, but now, Samy never underestimated Layla or anyone else. He learned to appreciate each animal's unique strengths. The forest felt more peaceful than ever, with Samy and Layla showing everyone that true friends and true victories are found in the journey, not just the finish line.
