SLOTH IN A RACE

SLOTH IN A RACE

Once upon a time, the Lion, King of the animals held a feast. At the feast, he challenged all animals to a contest.

“Every year we have a competition for the fastest animal, the most hard working animal and the bravest animal which is me. This year let us have for the slowest and laziest animal”

The animals look surprised, the tortoise felt clever, ‘atleast I get to win this one without tricks’ he muttered in his heart. The snail looks at the tortoise and smirked ‘I am probably slower than this crook’ he said in his heart. The lion continued “Mr Tortoise and Mr Snail, now we will see who is slower among you two, tricks are not allowed, the winner must win fair and square. Whoever wins will marry one of the princess’ maidens” Now all animals began to grumble.

The princess had about five maidens with all being far more beautiful than her, but no animal is permitted to say that because a princess is believed to be the most beautiful in the kingdom. Tortoise had eyes for one of her maidens and had tried wooing her without getting any positive response.

The bell ringer rang the bell to commence the contest. Tortoise and Snail moved to the field and slowly started moving. Mr Tortoise noticed no matter how he slowed his pace, he was still faster than the snail.

The tortoise devised a means to be slower than the snail but his plan failed.

The other animals were getting bored watching and started leaving one after the other. The sloth who heard about the contest decided to join but before he could get to the feast ground, the animals contesting had started and even moved quater way. Then the sloth moved to the king’s guard and asked to join the contest, the guard told King Lion but he refused, when he saw the animals leaving slowly and the feast becoming so boring. He immediately made an announcement, ‘a third animal will be joining’, he didn’t mention the sloth’s name as he didn’t know what kind of animal it was.

The sloth was placed with the other contestant and all three animals continued. Day turned into night and all animals had left and the king too had to retire for the day but promised to be out following day to award the winner. Well that didn’t happen because the Tortoise and Snail continued playing smart and spent three days on the field. The sloth on the other hand didn’t care, when he was tired of moving, he would sleep almost all day.

On the fourth day, the tortoise got so tired, he was hungry and starving as they were not allowed to eat or drink anything, he almost collapsed and had to start moving faster so he can lose and go home to eat. The snail had fainted twice already and started moving at his own pace too. They both looked back and saw the Sloth sleeping. They finally gave up on the fifth day and both reached finishing lines at about 5hrs in between with tortoise reaching first.

The sloth was finally able to reach finishing line on the seventh day at the twenty-first hour and won the SLOWEST ANIMAL ON EARTH. King Lion kept his promise and offered Sloth the most beautiful of the Princess’ maidens. The one the tortoise and snail had eyes on.

The End.

Written by Chidera Cynthia Osita

#litlish