Once upon a time, the insects in a park decided to hold a sports race called the "Bug Derby". The grand prize was nectar from a sunflower that had just bloomed. Almost all the park's residents wanted to take part, since everyone longed 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 sunflower leaf. 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 fell out a little. 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. They decided to cheat: one would stay at the start, while the other would crawl under cover of night to the sunflower and hide beneath its leaves. When everyone rushed to the finish line, she would climb out and say:
I was here all along.
They looked so alike that they thought no one would notice the trick.
Finally, the long-awaited morning arrived. The spiders spun light silk threads for the spectators and fans, and also stretched a thread that the racers were to break at the finish line.
On your marks! Get set! Go! The racers, some flying, some crawling, some hopping, dashed toward the coveted goal. The nimblest was a little bee, who had made such flights many times before. Happy, she landed on the sunflower and began to sing her little song.
But then a caterpillar crawled out and grumbled:
Why all the buzzing? I've been here ages, I even had time to nap while you crawled along like snails.
No one believed their eyes; it simply couldn't be. Many had seen the caterpillar at the start, puffing and groaning as she crawled, and now she was sitting by the sunflower claiming she had won the race.
Then the nimble spider announced to everyone that the caterpillar was a cheat.
Prove it! she shouted.
Oh, I can! he said, guiding the little bee closer to everyone.
Look, the finish-line silk is still stuck to her little dress, the thread this little one broke when she reached the spot. The caterpillar has no silk on her, which means she has 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 throw a picnic for the whole meadow and dance. The sun is rising, and a new day is beginning.
Everyone agreed, since no one wanted to spoil the mood.
