The Rabbit and the Mouse

The mouse ran as fast as its legs could move. The rabbit was hilarious, watching the mouse run. With a laugh that shook its body, the rabbit hopped alongside the tired mouse and stopped it. “Hello mouse, how is it that you are able to move with these little legs of yours?”

“Why? What’s… what’s wrong with… them?” panted the mouse.

“What’s wrong with them you ask? Look at the size of your legs. Look at the speed that you manage… pathetic.”

The mouse looked at the haughty rabbit and said, “These legs suit me just fine rabbit, just as yours suit you.”

“Ha ha ha, can your legs be quicker than mine? Can you beat me in a race?” asked the rabbit.

“What’s the reward?” asked the mouse, looking confidently.

The rabbit was initially shocked at the question, but then realized the situation and laughed till its sides hurt. Wiping the tears of mirth that flowed out of its eyes, the rabbit asked the mouse, “Did I hear right? Are you ready for a race?”

The mouse replied in the affirmative. The rabbit said, “Since you are going to lose with your strong and majestic legs, I give you the choice to choose the reward.”

“The reward will be a meal of the largest turnips in the forest,” replied the mouse.

The deal was struck, and the race began in the forest. The rabbit waited at the start line till the mouse disappeared around the corner, and then hopped forward. To its amazement, the mouse was nowhere to be seen. It tore through the forest and neared the end line, to see the mouse standing there. This was the greatest shock of the rabbit’s life. The mouse agreed to have the race one more time, for the benefit of the rabbit. The rabbit gave a few seconds of head start to the mouse and then raced forward. The mouse stood at the finish line, smiling.

The rabbit and the mouse conducted the race ten more times, with the same result every single time. The rabbit just couldn’t understand how it kept losing the race. But its respect for the mouse grew monumentally. It never made fun of the mouse’s legs again.

Another part of the forest saw two little creatures munching on the largest turnips in the forest. They were identical looking mice, grinning from ear to ear, their tiny legs scampering over the turnips.

Pride goes before destruction.

Concentrate on strengthening your talent rather than criticizing others’ talents.