In a lush green meadow, not very far away, lived a tiny snail named Mirko. Mirko was no ordinary snail; he believed he was the fastest animal in the whole wide world! He even called himself Flash or Super Snail Lightning.

Mirko’s best friends, Albin the mouse, Taco the rabbit, and Makso the deer, laughed at his boast. 'Mirko, you are as slow as a tortoise in molasses,' Albin squeaked with a grin.

'Then let's race!' declared Mirko, his tiny shell shining in the sunlight. His friends accepted the challenge, eager to prove him wrong.

The race was set through the meadow, around the big oak tree, and past the bubbly brook. Albin, Taco, and Makso laughed, thinking it would be easy-peasy.

With a 'Ready, set, go!' the friends took off. Taco hopped like a bouncing ball, Makso leaped like lightning, and Albin zipped like a tiny rocket.

Mirko, though slow, was steady. He moved with purpose, like a tiny train on its tracks. He remembered a lesson from his grandpa: 'Slow and steady wins the race.'

Taco, distracted by a butterfly, took a wrong turn. Albin, seeing a piece of cheese, stopped to nibble. Makso, leaping high, bumped into a low branch.

Mirko kept his eyes on the finish line, inching closer with every slimy step. His friends scrambled to catch up, realizing their mistakes.

And as his friends caught up to him, Mirko stretched his tiny body forward, crossing the finish line just in time. 'I did it! Super Snail Lightning wins the race!' he cheered.

Albin, Taco, and Makso congratulated him, learning that sometimes believing in yourself and being steady can help you achieve great things.

'Hooray for Super Snail Lightning!' they all shouted together. From that day on, Mirko was not only the fastest snail but also the most loved hero in the meadow.

The meadow buzzed with tales of Mirko, the Super Snail Lightning, proving that speed isn’t everything—it’s the heart that counts.