Attention, attention!
A competition is being announced!
A competition, a sporting event!
Recognition for the fastest runner!
The fastest gets a prize,
Fame and a cruise ticket
Across the seas to distant lands.
Hurry up: the competition starts soon!
Cat Vasily read such an announcement in the local newspaper. His eyes lit up: "They'll recognize the best, and the best is obviously me!"
The cat rushed out onto the street and ran at full speed. His friend, the dog Druzhok, saw him:
Vasily, what's wrong with you? Where are you running off to so fast?
Can't you see, I'm training," said the cat, out of breath, "they announced a running competition, they're calling for the best runners, and who's the best among us?
Who?
Me, of course! My owner tells me every day: 'You're our most handsome, our chubbiest, our fluffiest, the very best!'
You silly thing, they're calling for the best runners, the fastest and strongest ones," laughed Druzhok.
Never mind, I'll train a bit and, you'll see, I'll become famous, you'll hear about me!
And Vasily rushed forward.
For a whole month, Vasy trained: he did exercises in the mornings, then went for a run, after lunch he raced with Druzhok. And in the evening and at night, Vasily chased mice while hunting. The poor thing barely had time to sleep; he could only doze between training sessions.
And then the day of the competition arrived. Vasy asked Druzhok to accompany him. Athletes from different countries came to compete: cheetahs from Africa, tigers from India, Amur tigers from Russia, jaguars from North America, and pumas from South America.
Druzhok was speechless; he had never seen such big and strong cats before.
Vasy, let's go home," pleaded the dog in a trembling voice.
It's okay, I'm no pushover either," Vasily tried not to show his amazement.
I'll show these cats!" the little cat bragged 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 Druzhok's head: "Vasy is done for."
It was indeed hard to see Vasy among the graceful predatory animals. The cat ran with all his might. At first, the tails of his competitors flickered in front of Vasy's nose, but soon they were far ahead, farther and farther still. The little tails waved goodbye to Vasily and disappeared completely.
Vasy 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…
Druzhok picked up the cat and rushed forward with him.
Vasy, wake up, we're catching up now!
The competitors' tails appeared ahead again.
Vasy, you're the best!" shouted Druzhok.
Then Vasily woke up, jumped off his friend's back, and ran forward. He caught up with the little tails and even passed one.
Vasily crossed the finish line last, but he wasn't upset at all. Vasy congratulated the gold medal winner—the cheetah from Africa, the silver medal winner—the jaguar from North America, and the bronze medal winners—the tiger and the puma.
In competitions there are always winners and, unfortunately, losers. Vasy considered it an honour to compete with such strong athletes.
Besides, he now knows that the best thing is a friend who supports you in difficult moments.
