Attention, attention!
A competition is being announced!
A competition, a sporting event!
Recognition for the best runner!
A prize for the fastest,
Fame and a cruise ticket
Across the seas and foreign lands.
Hurry up: the competition is coming soon!
Cat Vasya read such an announcement in the local newspaper. His eyes lit up: "They'll recognise the best, and the best is, of course, me!"
The cat rushed out onto the street and ran at full speed. His friend, the dog Druzhok, saw him:
Vasya, what's wrong with you? Where are you running off to like that?
Can't you see, I'm training," said the cat, panting, "they've announced a running competition, they're calling for the best, and who's the best among us?
Who?
Me, of course! My mistress tells me every day: 'You're our most handsome, our chubbiest, our fluffiest, the very best!'
Silly thing, they're calling for the best runners, the fastest and strongest," laughed Druzhok.
Never mind, I'll train a bit and, you'll see, I'll become famous, you'll hear about me yet!
And Vasily rushed forward.
For a whole month Vasya trained: in the mornings he did exercises, then went for a run, after lunch he raced with Druzhok. And in the evening and at night Vasily, hunting, chased mice. The poor thing had no time even to sleep; he could only doze during breaks between training sessions.
And so the day of the competition opening arrived. Vasya asked Druzhok to accompany him. Athletes-runners came from different countries: cheetahs from Africa, tigers from India, Amur tigers from Russia, jaguars from North America, pumas from South America.
Druzhok was left speechless; he had never seen such big and strong cats before.
Vasya, let's go home," pleaded the dog in a trembling voice to his friend.
Never mind, I'm no fool either," Vasily tried not to show his amazement.
I'll teach these cats a lesson!" the kitten boasted and hissed as menacingly as he could, but no one paid him any attention.
And so the moment came: all the race participants lined up at the start. One thing was on Druzhok's mind: "Vasya's done for".
It was indeed difficult to see Vasya among the graceful predatory animals. The cat ran with all his might. At first the tails of his rival runners flickered in front of Vasya's nose, but soon they were far ahead, further and further still. The little tails waved goodbye to Vasily and disappeared completely.
Vasya collapsed on the track from exhaustion, and through a haze he heard his friend's voice:
Get up, don't give up, go on!
I can't…
Druzhok picked the cat up on his back and rushed forward with him.
Vasya, wake up, we'll catch up now!
The rivals' tails appeared ahead again.
Vasya, you're the best!" cried Druzhok.
Then Vasily woke up, jumped off his friend's back and ran forward. He caught up with the little tails and even overtook one.
Vasily came to the finish line last, but was not at all upset. Vasya congratulated the gold medallist – a cheetah from Africa, the silver medallist – a jaguar from North America, and the bronze medallists – a tiger and a puma.
In competitions there are always winners and, unfortunately, losers. Vasya considered it an honour to participate in a competition with such strong athletes.
Besides, he now knows that the best is a friend who supported him in a difficult moment.
