Once upon a time there were Broom and Beep — two little cars, two best mates.
Broom was a nimble blue sedan with big bright headlights. He could quickly dodge any obstacles. He also loved to race, but only when there were no other cars on the road, so he wouldn't crash into anyone.
Beep was his best mate. Her body was orange with a black roof, and her model was called a 'three-door hatchback'. She was very small, but a clever little car.
The mates were cruising down the street one day and saw a colourful notice: 'All the fastest and bravest cars are invited to the main race of the week! Come to the central arena and win the prize!'.
Excited Broom even jumped up:
Brilliant! I'm really fast and I'll definitely win the prize!
Yeah, I reckon so too. Let's head to the race.
The cars arrived at the arena, and there was a really long queue of other cars who'd also come to compete. And what a variety! Big four-wheel drives with wheels the size of Broom. Tiny racing formulas, lower than Beep. Even a dump truck turned up, can you believe it?
The cars were bragging to each other about how strong and manoeuvrable they were. One had a powerful engine to accelerate quickly. Another had a really light body so nothing would slow it down. A third had smooth tyres to glide easily over the bitumen. A fourth had a wide spoiler to manoeuvre better.
Beep said:
Crikey. This is going to be a ripper of a race! Look at all these different cars. By the way, Broom, what's your advantage?
Oh... Dunno. I've always been pretty nimble. But there are such souped-up cars here that I'm actually a bit lost...
No worries, I've got an idea. Let's check out this race's website and see what upgrades we can get so you'll definitely win. We can buy tickets at the same time, 'cause the queue is so-o-o-o long, it's ridiculous.
Good thinking! You're brilliant for coming up with that!
The mates left the crowd, pulled out a smartphone and went to the website. There they read that the racing shop still had an upgrade available in the form of nitro-speed, which gets installed next to the engine. Just press the button and the car makes a big surge forward. Broom really wanted one! But it was very expensive.
Beep, what should we do? If we buy the nitro-speed, we won't have enough money for a front row ticket. And you'll have to sit way back where you can barely see the race track.
His mate replied:
But if we buy the upgrade, you'll definitely win! You're so nimble, and I know for sure you deserve to take the prize.
Broom thought about it. He really wanted his best mate to have a good view. But he also really wanted the trophy for fastest car.
You sure you won't be upset about having bad seats?
Of course I won't be upset! Let's buy it.
They bought the nitro-speed and a ticket for the back row, and also registered Broom as a race participant. Then they drove to the racing arena. Broom went through the gate for racers, and Beep went off to find her seat.
The race began. The little orange car couldn't see anything because she was low and there were lots of other cars sitting in front of her. They were shouting and jumping, cheering for their favourites, so she couldn't understand what was happening on the track. But then the announcer declared over the whole stadium: 'The title of fastest car of the week goes to Broom!', the spectators stood up and honked joyfully. Beep honked with all her might too, but she couldn't even be heard.
While our new champion stood on the podium receiving his prize, he tried to spot the orange hatchback but couldn't see her. He was happy he'd won, but he would have been even happier if his mate had shared the thrill of the chase with him.
Later the mates met up and Beep warmly congratulated Broom on his victory. But he said:
We should've bought a front row ticket so you could see the race, not other cars' boots. And it wouldn't matter whether I won or lost, at least I would've enjoyed the race, and you would've enjoyed seeing and hearing us race! Next week there'll be other champions, and then more and more, and hardly anyone will remember that I won here once. But we both would've remembered how this race went and could've talked about it!
And the cars decided that next time they'd always choose friendship.
