Bear went home to his den. He slept all night. The next morning, he went to the pond.
Turtle was waiting. There were holes in the ice all around the pond.
Turtle was not alone. All the other animals were there. They were tired of hearing Bear brag all the time. They hoped Turtle would win.
The signal was given.
The race began. Turtle crawled to the first hole. She plopped into the water. She disappeared under the ice.
Bear began to walk around the pond. He was sure Turtle would be slow. Suddenly, Turtle’s head popped up from the next hole in the ice.
“Here I am, Bear,” Turtle called. “Catch up with me.”
Bear was surprised. He began to run.
Then, from the next hole in the ice, Turtle’s head popped up again. “Here I am, Bear. Catch up with me.”
Bear ran faster. He ran as fast as he could. He ran so fast that his feet hurt.
But Turtle’s head popped up farther and farther ahead.
“Here I am, Bear. Catch up with me!” she said.
“Here I am, Bear. Catch up with me!” she said again.
“Here I am, Bear. Catch up with me,” she said again. Her head was popping up out of the ice farther and farther ahead.