Imagine a field, golden under the morning sun. A very proud Hare was stretching his long legs. He thought he was the fastest creature in the whole wide world.

Nearby, Mr. Hedgehog was slowly making his way along, looking for breakfast with his short, wobbly legs.

The Hare hopped over. "Well, hello there, Mr. Hedgehog!" he said, trying not to laugh. "With those little legs, it must take you all day just to cross this field!"

Mr. Hedgehog looked up, his nose twitching. He didn't like being teased. "My legs might be short," he said, "but I bet I can beat you in a race!"

The Hare's ears shot straight up. "You? Beat ME?" He laughed so hard he almost fell over. "That's the funniest thing I've ever heard! Alright, slowpoke, you're on! We'll race from this end of the field to that big oak tree. The winner gets a shiny gold coin!"

"Deal!" said Mr. Hedgehog. "But first, let me go home and have a quick snack. I'll meet you back here."

The Hare agreed, still chuckling. Mr. Hedgehog didn't go for a snack. He hurried home to his wife, Mrs. Hedgehog.

"My dear," he said, "I've made a bet with that boastful Hare. We're going to race. Now, you look just like me, don't you?"
Mrs. Hedgehog nodded. "Exactly like you, my love."
"Good!" said Mr. Hedgehog. "Here's the plan. You go to the far end of the field, by the oak tree, and hide in the furrow. I will start the race here. When the Hare gets close to you, just pop your head up and say, 'I'm already here!'"

Mrs. Hedgehog giggled. "What a clever idea!" And off she went.

Soon, Mr. Hedgehog was back at the starting line. "Ready, Mr. Hare?"
"Ready to watch you eat my dust!" boasted the Hare.

"One, two, three, GO!" shouted Mr. Hedgehog.
The Hare shot off like an arrow. Zoom! He was so fast! Mr. Hedgehog just took a few steps into the furrow and then ducked down.

The Hare ran and ran. When he was almost at the oak tree, panting a little, a voice called out, "I'm already here!"
The Hare skidded to a stop. There, by the oak tree, sat a hedgehog, looking quite fresh. It was Mrs. Hedgehog, of course, but the Hare didn't know that.
"What? How?" stammered the Hare. "This can't be right! Let's race back!"

"Alright," said Mrs. Hedgehog cheerfully.
The Hare turned and sped back towards the starting line. Whoosh! He ran even faster this time. But just as he got close, who should pop up from the furrow but Mr. Hedgehog, smiling.
"I'm already here!" he called.

The Hare was very confused and getting tired. "Again! We must race again!" he panted.
So they did. The Hare ran to the oak tree, and Mrs. Hedgehog was there. "I'm already here!"
He ran back, and Mr. Hedgehog was there. "I'm already here!"

This happened again and again. The Hare ran back and forth, faster and faster, getting more and more tired and more and more puzzled. The sun climbed higher in the sky.

Finally, after many, many trips, the Hare was so, so tired. He ran and ran, and then... plop! He fell down, completely exhausted, right in the middle of the field. He couldn't run another step.

Mr. Hedgehog (or perhaps it was Mrs. Hedgehog, it's hard to tell!) calmly walked over. "Well, well," he said. "Looks like I win the shiny gold coin."

And so, the clever hedgehog, with a little help from his wife, showed the speedy hare that being fast isn't everything. Sometimes, being smart is even better! And Mr. and Mrs. Hedgehog enjoyed their shiny gold coin very much.

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