Once upon a time in a lively green meadow, there lived a turtle named Tilly and a rabbit named Roger. Roger was quick, and Tilly was steady, but both were friends, true and ready.

One sunny, funny day, Roger said with a hop, 'Let's have a race, Tilly! Let's see who won't stop!' Tilly smiled slow, 'Alright, my fast friend, let's race to the hill and back to the bend.'

With a BANG and a BOOM, they were off in a flash. Roger ran quickly, leaving behind a great splash! Tilly trotted steady, with a rhythm so slow, 'Hurry', said Roger, 'I’ll win, you know!'

Roger zipped, zoomed, zigged and zagged, while Tilly took steps that dragged and lagged. 'Speedy and swift wins the prize,' Roger said, 'while the turtles just take naps instead!'

But Roger got tired, and his legs grew weak, he plopped by a tree and took a quick peek. 'I'll rest for a while', Roger said with a grin, 'Tilly’s so slow, I am sure to win!'

Tilly kept moving, one step at a time, humming a sweet, slow, steady rhyme. With the sun shining down on her hard shell, she knew she'd do fine, she’d do well!

Roger napped as the time went by, dreaming of carrots piled to the sky. Meanwhile, Tilly trotted along without a worry, knowing there's no need to hurry.

As the finish line came into sight, Roger awoke, what a fright! 'Oh no!' he cried, 'Tilly’s ahead, I thought she’d stop, straight to bed!'

With a dash and a dart, Roger ran fast, but his early sprint had not helped him last. Tilly trotted over the finish with pride, while Roger stood, open-eyed.

‘Slow and steady wins the race, Roger dear,’ Tilly said with a laugh, full of cheer. ‘It’s not about speed, or running ahead, but finishing well,’ is what Tilly said.

From then on, Tilly and Roger agreed, it’s important to balance both speed and need. Friends they remained, and always would be, for they learned together to just be free.