“Ahhh, what have I done to myself. I shouldn’t have done it! Oh my God! What am I going do now?” I mutter to myself while pacing around the room. I must have been sleepy when I agreed to a race to Mr Hawking despite being well aware of the fact that he was the fastest rabbit in the town. I was warned of the consequences of the boasting I was prone to indulge in, but I never paid any heed to it and here I am suffering.

I am really worried as I am called the wisest among the other tortoises and losing the race will make them lose all the respect they have for me. I sit down and try to gather my thoughts, but fail miserably. I absolutely have no hope in myself and am thinking of running away when the door bell rings.

My wife Sandy opens the door and comes into my room telling me that Mr Troy, the mouse, has come to meet me. I remember once helping him to cross the river by letting him sit on my back. After that we never met and now he suddenly turns up on my doorstep.

I go to the lounge were Mr Troy is already sitting on the sofa with a huge smile on his white face. I greet him rather half-heartedly as I am really tense and then sit with him on the sofa.

“My friend, there has been a rumour going around in the town that you have challenged Mr Hawking to a race after he rightfully claimed himself the fastest animal in the town. I hope that’s not true?” he asks suspiciously.

“Ah how I wish for it to be some stupid rumour. But alas! It is the truth,” I sigh, my face flooding with sorrow.

Mr Troy stares at me, possibly thinking that I am an ultimate fool.

“I know I was stupid” I say voicing his thoughts. “But I absolutely cannot back off as it is a matter of my self-respect,” the firmness in my voice even surprises me.

Mr Troy nods his head understandingly. He seems to think for a while and then starts, “My friend, we both know that this task for you is impossible. But I can’t forget the favour you bestowed upon me and I won’t leave you at this time of despair.”

“I …” I open my mouth, but am cut by Mr Troy.

“I know you want to object, but let’s face it. You cannot win the race fair and square, and you don’t need to. I have got the perfect idea which will make you win the race and give me a chance to pay you back.”

Mr Troy took a breath and then tells me the idea in a whisper. As he finishes I jump up and dance around the room. The idea is perfect! Mr Troy then excuses himself as he had to go prepare for the plan.

As he leaves, my wife Sandy comes up to me and asks me about the idea Mr Troy had. I refuse to tell her, thinking its better not to disclose the idea to anyone yet. I lay on my bed fully satisfied and dream of my victory against Mr Hawking.

Days pass and finally the day of the race come. I wake up early in the morning and prepare leisurely for the race. I do fear the possibility that Mr Troy’s plan can go wrong, but I have no choice but to trust him. I bid farewell to Sandy and leave for the community hall after breakfast. When I reach there, the whole town is standing in the big ground adjacent to the community hall to see what happens next. Mr Hawking is there too and I can tell by seeing everyone’s faces that they are really curious. I feel really nervous. I control myself and take a deep breath. I think for a second that cheating is forbidden, but then I assure myself by thinking that it will teach Mr Hawking not to brag and taunt others for their slow speed. After all, I am cheating for a good cause.

I warm up, satisfied with myself and finally the moment comes.

“Ready, steady and go!” the monkey says and off we go. I run at my normal speed, totally at ease, and Mr Hawking sped off after passing me a smirk. I smile knowing that after the race, I will be the one taunting Mr Hawking. I think mischievously of the plan we hatched. I know that right now Mr Troy is standing with a glass of cold water to offer to Mr Hawking, which contains sleeping pills in it. He also has a bed of grass ready to offer to Mr Hawking when he feels sleepy.

When I reach the place where Mr Troy is suppose to be with the glass of water I see Mr Hawking fast asleep on the bed and Mr Troy sitting next to him laughing with mirth. Mr Troy tells me that Mr Hawking was an easy prey as he was confident that stopping for a glass of water won’t hurt. I smile and continued on.

I finally reach the finish line, tired but first. I feel overwhelmed to see the shocked faces of the rabbits and the screams of joy from my clan. Mr Monkey comes up to me and gives me a glittering trophy and before I know it, I am being led towards a feast. I find my wife Sandy at the feast and we both hug at our victory.

Halfway through the feast I see Mr Hawking running out of the jungle still believing that he is the first one to finish. When he reaches us, his face becomes the epitome of shock and astonishment. Everyone except the rabbits boo at him. Then an elderly rabbit steps out and demands an explanation as to why Mr Hawking was so late.

With a bowed head Mr Hawking begins, “I don’t remember much. I was running through the jungle and imagining the trophy in my hand. And then someone told me to sleep and sleep I did, meaning to wake up in a few minutes but I couldn’t. I just woke up and came here as fast as I could still thinking that a few minutes had passed.” He concludes his cheeks flushing red with embarrassment.

Everyone laughs at him. I smile standing in a corner and decide to keep this secret to myself. Years pass and still the rabbit is condemned for his arrogance and I am considered a hero. I hope you guys will also keep my little secret which I have decided to share with you and let my name prosper.

Published in Dawn, Young World, October 30th, 2020