RACE

Jilda was a young cheetah cub who lived in Africa. Ever since she was born she loved running. As time passed she grew to be lightest and fastest in the jungle. Her skills also helped her to hunt any prey she wanted. If she set her eyes on an antelope it was hers. She liked it more when they gave a good sporty chase.

You see every year at the start of the spring season the animals got together amiably and participated in various sporting events like running, jumping, swimming and many others. Jilda had won the sprint races by several strides since the first time she entered the race. Because of her great skills and talent all the animals in the forest revered her. Even the king of the jungle acknowledged her for her speed and awarded her the title ‘Lightning Queen’.

This spring she will be celebrating her eighth birthday. She decided to participate in the race for one last time and retire. One the day of the race when she entered the arena there was huge cheer for her. Alongside her were other cheetahs, gazelles, impalas, lions and what? A couple of goat kids?

JIlda broke into a huge laughter when she saw those kids. She had never seen goat kids at the sprint race before. She had no idea why they would want to enter this race. When the race began, all the animals launched from the sprint line. Jilda was quick too. Her curiosity made her turn and look back at the kids. The kids were doing fine but they were far behind the other animals. Constantly observing the kids reduced Jilda’s pace a lot yet when the finish line came she was the winner. The two kids finished after a long time. They were a bit disappointed. Jilda decided to interrogate them.

“Did you expect to beat me?” Jilda asked the kids.

The kids looked at each other.

“Sort of.” The kids replied in unison.

“What made you think you can beat me? Don’t you know I am the fastest in the jungle?” asked Jilda

“Well. Back home, we are quite fast.” said the first kid.

“I think to our home and race us you will lose.” said the second kid.

JIlda was never challenged like this for a long time.

“Ok I will come to your home and we will race.” agreed Jilda.

A few weeks later Jilda and the kids met at the top of a beautiful waterfall.
“Where is the race arena?” asked Jilda.

“This is. We are going to race to the bottom of the falls.” replied the kids.

Jilda looked at the steep descent from the standing point. There was no way she could climb down that without risking a fall. Making the conditions worse were the gushing water. One wrong step and she would be splattered. Her legs began to turn into jelly.

“I cannot do this.” whispered Jilda.

“You said you are the fastest. What happened now?” asked one of the kid.

“Let’s go.” said the other.

The two kids began to descend from the top of the falls. Their hooves were able to find invisible ledges and mould on whatever contours the rocky surface had. They made it look so easy Jilda almost made an attempt but fear gripped her heart. She was ashamed of her pride. She set back home contemplating what it means to be the fastest in the jungle.

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