Hare and Tortoise: A team of winners

This is a well known story. It is about the little *Hare and Tortoise. One day Hare called for a race between them; Tortoise accepted it with reluctance. It thought that it might not win, it was really absurd to have a competition between not so much equal competitors. Their common friend Eagle was the judge.

The running race began. Hare was very fast and confident. Within the first 15 minutes, Hare had taken a huge lead, leaving the tortoise to eat its dust far behind. Hare had a feeling of assurance; believed that everything was under its control; so it decided to take a nap. In his over confidence, he thought that a short rest wouldn’t hurt his chances since the little tortoise was no where in sight. He had a nap which evolved into a deep slumber. After an hour Eagle shouted at it “Get up; you are defeated.” It was a totally unexpected shock. The ‘Slow and steady’ won the race. Our Hare had a guilty feeling. It knew that the reason for failure was procrastination caused by laziness and indifference.

Then Hare requested for another round. It was immediately granted by Eagle. This time our subdued Hare was ‘confident and fast’; Tortoise unwillingly followed ‘Shall I have the same luck today?’ But the vigilant Hare won.

Tortoise, on its part, thoughtfully put up a challenge to Hare for a long distant race: That was up to the foothills of the far away mountain ranges. Hare, as usual, started with all vigor. Suddenly he had to stop in front of an endless sheath of cold water which was between the mountain and him. Without second thoughts it took an immediate decision and ran along the bunds of the great blue lake. When it reached the foothills, he saw the tortoise taking his turn of nap across the finish line after crossing the lake successfully.

Then next day Eagle smilingly told “Now it is my chance to make you both run for the title. Let me inform the conditions.” After a minute it announced “My dear Friends, you are going to have the same race like yesterday. But you must complete it within two hours.”

For a moment both of them felt confused; Hare thought that it might not be possible for both of them to reach the target. The wise tortoise suggested “My dear, I have an idea. You are fast on land; I am fast on water; shall we work together?”

The sharp Hare picked up the cue and told “That is precisely what I am also thinking. From this second it is not ‘YOU or I’ but it is ‘WE’ the team.”

Hare carried the little tortoise on its back; then in water it traveled on the back of tortoise. It took one hour and fifty minutes. From a tree top Eagle watched everything with satisfaction and felt proud about the egoless achievement of both of its friends.

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*Names of characters: Hare, Tortoise and Eagle.

_{A note on ‘might’}:

Usually most of us, who have English as second language, are shy of using ‘might’. Some people think that ‘might’ is the past form of ‘May’.

But ‘May’ and ‘Might’ mean the same.

E.g. Hare thought that it might be possible to win.

‘Might’ is used when ever we are less sure of things or actions. ‘May’ can also be used in the same sense. Both can be used in future or present tenses

Example: It might/may rain tomorrow.

‘May and Might’ are also used in conveying permissions and requests.