Attention, attention!
Competitions are being announced!
Competitions, contests!
Recognition for the fastest runner!
A prize for the speediest,
Fame and a cruise ticket
Across the seas to distant lands.
Hurry up: the competitions start soon!
That's the announcement the cat Vasily read in the local newspaper. His eyes lit up: "They'll recognise the best, and the best is obviously me!"
The cat bolted out onto the street and ran as fast as his legs could carry him. His mate, the dog Buddy, saw him:
Vasily, what's wrong with you? Where are you rushing off to like that?
Can't you see, I'm training, — said the cat breathlessly, — they've announced a running competition, they're calling for the best runners, and who's the best we've got?
Who?
Me, of course! My owner tells me every day: "You're our most handsome, chubbiest, fluffiest, very best!"
You silly thing, they're calling for the best runners, the fastest and strongest ones, — Buddy laughed.
Never mind, I'll train a bit and you'll see, I'll become famous, you'll hear about me yet!
And Vasily dashed off.
For a whole month Vasily trained: he did exercises in the mornings, then went for a run, after lunch he'd race against Buddy. And in the evenings and nights Vasily, hunting, would chase after mice. The poor thing barely had time to sleep, he could only manage to doze between training sessions.
And then the day of the competition arrived. Vasily asked Buddy to come along with him. Athletes from different countries had come to compete: cheetahs from Africa, tigers from India, Amur tigers from Russia, jaguars from North America, pumas from South America.
Buddy was speechless; he'd never seen such big and strong cats before.
Vasily, let's go home, — the dog pleaded with a trembling voice.
Never mind, I'm no slouch either, — Vasily tried not to show his amazement.
I'll show these cats a thing or two! — the little cat boasted and hissed as menacingly as he could, but no one paid him any attention.
And then the moment came: all the runners lined up at the starting line. One thought kept running through Buddy's head: "Vasily's done for".
Vasily was indeed hard to spot amongst the graceful predators. The cat ran with all his might. At first the tails of his rival runners flickered in front of Vasily's nose, but soon they were far ahead, further and further still. The little tails waved goodbye to Vasily and disappeared completely.
Vasily collapsed on the track from exhaustion, and through a haze he heard his friend's voice:
Get up, don't give up, come on!
I can't…
Buddy hoisted the cat onto his back and raced forward with him.
Vasily, wake up, we'll catch them now!
The rivals' tails appeared ahead again.
Vasily, you're the best! — Buddy shouted.
Then Vasily came to, jumped off his friend's back and ran forward. He caught up with the little tails and even overtook one.
Vasily crossed the finish line last, but he wasn't upset at all. Vasily congratulated the gold medallist — the cheetah from Africa, the silver medallist — the jaguar from North America, and the bronze medallists — the tiger and the puma.
In competitions there are always winners and, unfortunately, losers. Vasily considered it an honour to compete with such strong athletes.
Besides, he now knows that the best thing is a mate who supports you when things get tough.
