A talking-animal fable about competition, a questionable trick and fair play.
Kimi liked to race. Terry liked to float. Sharing a pond had not convinced either of them that the other had chosen the better pastime.
One sunny day, as Kimi was darting around the pond, she noticed Terry just floating along, minding his own business. "Hey, Terry!" called Kimi. "You look bored! How about we have a race?"
Terry chuckled. "You want to race me, Kimi? I don't think you stand a chance."
Kimi was taken aback. "What? Are you saying I can't beat a slowpoke like you?"
Terry grinned. "I'm not saying that, but you're a koi and I'm a turtle. It's not exactly a fair fight."
But Kimi was determined to prove Terry wrong. "I don't care about fairness! Let's race, and I'll show you what a koi can do!"
So the race began, with Kimi darting through the water as fast as she could, and Terry slowly paddling along. Kimi was so focused on winning that she didn't notice when Terry suddenly stopped in the middle of the pond.
As Kimi zoomed past, Terry caught the very tip of her tail and held her for a moment. “Gotcha!” he said. Kimi twisted around, more annoyed than impressed.
“That is not racing,” Kimi said. “That is catching.” Terry released her tail. Looking at it that way, he had to admit she had a point.
“You were so focused on winning that you never noticed me stop,” Terry said. “And you were so focused on a trick that you forgot the finish line,” Kimi replied. They both looked toward the far lily pad, which neither had reached.
They started again, this time with clear rules and no tail-catching. Kimi won the sprint; Terry suggested a longer course for next time. Before long, racing and floating had both become much more entertaining.
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