Two turtles entered into a race. At the end lay a golden shell, a prize any turtle would enjoy.
As soon as the race official shouted, "Go!" the first turtle, Milfred, started plodding toward the finish line.
The second turtle, Manny, shook his head in disgust. Everybody knew turtles were slow. It would take her all day to reach the finish line like that. It would be hard work too.
Many took out a map he had snuck into the race. He looked for shortcuts, spotted a couple of likely routes, and chose the best looking one.
That route took him up a hill. He huffed and puffed, telling himself it would be easier in the end. But he eventually came to a spot where a rock avalanche had buried the path.
Manny reluctantly turned back and tried another shortcut. This time, he came to a ten-foot high cliff. A human or a monkey might have been able to climb it, but a turtle certainly couldn't.
Grumbling, Manny retraced his path and headed for the third shortcut. It seemed a likely route, and he would surely shave hours off his race time if it continued to the end. But he came to a spot where a river had changed course and now ran right over the trail. The water was too swift and wide for a turtle to cross.
Manny had to turn back again.
By now, the sun hung low in the western sky. Then things got worse.
The official returned with the news. Slow, plodding Milfred had finished the race and won the golden shell.
Manny was still at the start line. Not only that, but in recounting all his steps, he realized he had walked farther than Milfred.
As soon as the race official shouted, "Go!" the first turtle, Milfred, started plodding toward the finish line.
The second turtle, Manny, shook his head in disgust. Everybody knew turtles were slow. It would take her all day to reach the finish line like that. It would be hard work too.
Many took out a map he had snuck into the race. He looked for shortcuts, spotted a couple of likely routes, and chose the best looking one.
That route took him up a hill. He huffed and puffed, telling himself it would be easier in the end. But he eventually came to a spot where a rock avalanche had buried the path.
Manny reluctantly turned back and tried another shortcut. This time, he came to a ten-foot high cliff. A human or a monkey might have been able to climb it, but a turtle certainly couldn't.
Grumbling, Manny retraced his path and headed for the third shortcut. It seemed a likely route, and he would surely shave hours off his race time if it continued to the end. But he came to a spot where a river had changed course and now ran right over the trail. The water was too swift and wide for a turtle to cross.
Manny had to turn back again.
By now, the sun hung low in the western sky. Then things got worse.
The official returned with the news. Slow, plodding Milfred had finished the race and won the golden shell.
Manny was still at the start line. Not only that, but in recounting all his steps, he realized he had walked farther than Milfred.
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