A race to the oak tree
Hare loved the sound of his paws drumming on the woodland path. He could leap a puddle, whisk around a bend, and reach the stream before the ripples had settled. One morning, he stopped beside Tortoise, who was carefully stepping over a root. “At that speed, you’ll miss the whole morning!”
A race to the oak tree
Hare loved the sound of his paws drumming on the woodland path. He could leap a puddle, whisk around a bend, and reach the stream before the ripples had settled. One morning, he stopped beside Tortoise, who was carefully stepping over a root. “At that speed, you’ll miss the whole morning!”
A race to the oak tree
Hare said, laughing. Tortoise put his foot down on the other side. “I’m getting where I want to go,” he replied. “Would you like to race me to the oak on the hill?”
A race to the oak tree
Hare said, laughing. Tortoise put his foot down on the other side. “I’m getting where I want to go,” he replied. “Would you like to race me to the oak on the hill?”
A race to the oak tree
Hare’s long ears sprang up. A race with Tortoise? He was sure he would win. A robin scratched a starting line in the sand and flew ahead to mark the finish with pale pebbles. The path crossed the stone bridge, passed the willow, and climbed to the oak.
A race to the oak tree
Hare’s long ears sprang up. A race with Tortoise? He was sure he would win. A robin scratched a starting line in the sand and flew ahead to mark the finish with pale pebbles. The path crossed the stone bridge, passed the willow, and climbed to the oak.
A race to the oak tree
“Ready?” called Robin. Tortoise nodded. Hare crouched low.
A race to the oak tree
“Ready?” called Robin. Tortoise nodded. Hare crouched low.
A race to the oak tree
“Go!” Hare bounded away in a flutter of dust. Tortoise took his first step, then another. Soon Hare disappeared around the bend, but the oak was still ahead, and Tortoise had started.
A race to the oak tree
“Go!” Hare bounded away in a flutter of dust. Tortoise took his first step, then another. Soon Hare disappeared around the bend, but the oak was still ahead, and Tortoise had started.
One small step, then another
Across the bridge, Hare glanced back. No Tortoise. He stood on tiptoe and looked again. Still no Tortoise.
One small step, then another
Across the bridge, Hare glanced back. No Tortoise. He stood on tiptoe and looked again. Still no Tortoise.
One small step, then another
“There’s plenty of time,” he told himself. Beneath the willow, the moss looked wonderfully soft. He stretched out to wait, certain he could finish whenever he pleased. The stream murmured.
One small step, then another
“There’s plenty of time,” he told himself. Beneath the willow, the moss looked wonderfully soft. He stretched out to wait, certain he could finish whenever he pleased. The stream murmured.
One small step, then another
The leaves rustled. Before long, Hare’s eyes closed. Meanwhile, Tortoise reached the bridge. Its stones felt warm beneath his feet.
One small step, then another
The leaves rustled. Before long, Hare’s eyes closed. Meanwhile, Tortoise reached the bridge. Its stones felt warm beneath his feet.
One small step, then another
The hill beyond looked steeper now, so he chose a small goal: first the bend, then the patch of daisies, then the shady rock. Each time he reached one, he chose the next. Beside the willow, he noticed Hare asleep. For a moment, Tortoise wondered whether he really could win.
One small step, then another
The hill beyond looked steeper now, so he chose a small goal: first the bend, then the patch of daisies, then the shady rock. Each time he reached one, he chose the next. Beside the willow, he noticed Hare asleep. For a moment, Tortoise wondered whether he really could win.
One small step, then another
Then he looked at the path. There was still a hill to climb. He carried on, taking a brief rest when he needed one, and starting again when he was ready. Little by little, the willow fell behind him.
One small step, then another
Then he looked at the path. There was still a hill to climb. He carried on, taking a brief rest when he needed one, and starting again when he was ready. Little by little, the willow fell behind him.
The finish line
A cool breeze tickled Hare’s nose. He woke, stretched, and looked toward the hill. There, almost beneath the oak, was a small green shell. Hare jumped up.
The finish line
A cool breeze tickled Hare’s nose. He woke, stretched, and looked toward the hill. There, almost beneath the oak, was a small green shell. Hare jumped up.
The finish line
He raced around the bend, past the daisies, and up the slope, his ears streaming behind him. Tortoise could hear the quick footsteps. He kept his eyes on the pale pebbles.
The finish line
He raced around the bend, past the daisies, and up the slope, his ears streaming behind him. Tortoise could hear the quick footsteps. He kept his eyes on the pale pebbles.
The finish line
One foot crossed the line. Then the next. “Finished!” Robin sang from the oak.
The finish line
One foot crossed the line. Then the next. “Finished!” Robin sang from the oak.
The finish line
Hare arrived a moment later and stopped, breathing hard. For once, he had nothing clever to say. Tortoise’s legs were tired, but his smile was wide.
The finish line
Hare arrived a moment later and stopped, breathing hard. For once, he had nothing clever to say. Tortoise’s legs were tired, but his smile was wide.
The finish line
“You won,” Hare said at last. “I thought being fast meant I didn’t have to try. And I shouldn’t have laughed at you.” “Thank you for saying that,” Tortoise replied.
The finish line
“You won,” Hare said at last. “I thought being fast meant I didn’t have to try. And I shouldn’t have laughed at you.” “Thank you for saying that,” Tortoise replied.
A different way home
They rested together in the shade. When it was time to leave, Hare glanced down the long path. “Shall we walk back together?” he asked.
A different way home
They rested together in the shade. When it was time to leave, Hare glanced down the long path. “Shall we walk back together?” he asked.
A different way home
This time, he matched his steps to Tortoise’s. They passed the daisies, listened to the stream, and crossed the bridge side by side. Hare noticed things he had raced straight past that morning.
A different way home
This time, he matched his steps to Tortoise’s. They passed the daisies, listened to the stream, and crossed the bridge side by side. Hare noticed things he had raced straight past that morning.