Once upon a time, the insects in a park decided to hold a sports race called the "Cockroach Derby." The grand prize was nectar from a sunflower that had just bloomed. Nearly all the park's residents wanted to take part, since everyone wanted to taste this wonderful honey drink.
It was agreed that the race would start as soon as the first ray of sunshine touched the big leaf of the sunflower. Many could not sleep: the hive buzzed with hundreds of bee voices as they chose the most worthy candidate for the contest.
The beetles argued too, and even had a small quarrel. The butterflies, after their evening exercises, went to bed to gather strength. The ladybugs polished their wings.
Only two caterpillars were not worried at all, because they had decided to cheat: one would stay at the starting line, while the other would creep under cover of night to the sunflower and hide beneath its leaves. When everyone rushed to the finish, she would crawl out and say:
I was already here.
They looked alike, and they figured nobody would notice the trick.
And then the long-awaited morning arrived. The spiders spun a light web for the spectators and fans, and also stretched a thread that the racers were supposed to break at the finish line.
On your marks! Get set! Go! And the racers, some flying, some crawling, some hopping, rushed toward the coveted goal. The fastest of all turned out to be the little bee, since she had made such flights many times before. Happy, she landed on the sunflower and sang her little song.
But then the caterpillar crawled out and grumbled:
Why all the buzzing? I've been here for ages, I even managed to nap while you all crawled along like snails.
No one could believe their eyes; it simply could not be. Many had seen the caterpillar at the starting line, puffing and groaning as she crawled, and now here she sat by the sunflower claiming she had won the race.
But then the clever little spider announced to everyone that the caterpillar was a cheat.
How can you prove it? she shouted.
Like this! he said, leading the little bee closer to everyone.
Look, a finish-line thread is still stuck to her little dress, which this little one tore when she reached the spot. And there's no thread on the caterpillar, so she must have been sitting here for a long time.
Everyone around began to murmur and buzz. Only the little bee said:
Let's not quarrel. Let's hold a feast for the whole world and dance. The sun is rising, and a new day is beginning.
Everyone agreed, since nobody wanted to spoil the mood.
