Tortoise and the Forest Ribbon

Once upon a sunny morning in the Great Green Forest, Tortoise woke beside a bed of daisies. The air smelled of rain and leaves. Tortoise was a small child who loved nature and carried a round green backpack that looked a little like a shell. Hare hopped by and said, 'I can reach the old oak in three hops!' Tortoise smiled. 'I like to notice the ferns and the stream. I will walk to the old oak too.' Hare said, 'Let's have a friendly race to the oak.'

The forest path curled past mossy stones and tall ferns. Dappled sunlight danced on the ground. A red ribbon was tied across two birch trees near the old oak. The ribbon was the finish line, the place where the race would end. Hare called, 'Ready, set, go!' Hare zoomed away. Tortoise began with a steady pace. Steady means moving at the same gentle speed, step by step.