The race looked completely unnecessary.
That was exactly why everyone came.
Every Saturday morning, Grandma and Grandpa held what they proudly called the Village Speed Agreement.
Nobody remembered who approved it.
Nobody remembered asking for one.
Yet every Saturday, people arrived anyway.
Grandma polished the green tricycle until it reflected clouds.
Grandpa carried a notebook.
He never pedaled.
He served as Official Recorder of Extremely Fast Events.
The notebook contained many important statistics.
Maximum biscuit consumption before racing.
Average number of excited chickens.
Wind complaints.
Unexpected applause.
The rhinoceros arrived precisely three minutes early.
It always did.
Rhinos respected schedules.
Especially imaginary ones.
Grandma adjusted her hat.
“Ready?”
The rhino nodded.
Very professionally.
Grandpa raised a tiny teacup instead of a starting flag.
“Three…”
“Two…”
“One…”
The race exploded into motion.
Dust flew everywhere.
Leaves surrendered immediately.
Several butterflies reconsidered their travel plans.
Grandma pedaled with astonishing determination.
Grandpa cheered from behind.
“Excellent steering!”
“Wonderful dust!”
“I believe we’re almost aerodynamic!”
The rhino ran with magnificent seriousness.
Its feet sounded like someone enthusiastically rearranging furniture.
Children gathered beside the road.
The baker stepped outside.
The librarian quietly placed a bookmark before watching.
Even the village ducks stopped arguing.
Nobody wanted to miss the finish.
Halfway through the course, Grandpa consulted his notebook.
“We’re ahead.”
Grandma smiled.
“Of the rhino?”
“No.”
“Of last Saturday.”
That seemed more useful.
The rhino accelerated anyway.
It wasn’t trying to win.
It simply disliked unfinished running.
The finish line appeared beside the old picnic tree.
Grandma crossed first.
Grandpa rang the bicycle bell three triumphant times.
The rhino arrived exactly one cheerful heartbeat later.
Everyone applauded.
The rhino bowed.
Grandma offered it a towel.
Grandpa carefully wrote the official result.
Winner: Saturday.
Nobody objected.
It had organized the entire event remarkably well.
By afternoon, the dust had settled.
The footprints remained.
Children were already measuring them with sticks.
Someone asked whether next week’s race would happen again.
Grandpa closed the notebook.
“I certainly hope so.”
The rhino quietly stretched beside the tree.
It looked as though it intended to arrive three minutes early.
Again.
Livora Gracely 
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