The Singing Scoutmaster: Iktomi and the Turtle

Iktomi, the trickster, was known far and wide for his endless boasting. He loved to tell anyone who would listen how quick, clever, and agile he was. He claimed he could outsmart the wisest and outrun the fastest. One bright morning, as he wandered through the forest, he found himself in the company of a small turtle resting by a stream. With a grin, Iktomi strutted over and began to brag about his speed.

"You know, Turtle, I'm the fastest creature in these woods!" Iktomi declared, puffing out his chest proudly. "I can run circles around anyone without breaking a sweat! I'm sure I could race you from here to the end of the forest and still have time to catch a nap before you even took a few steps!"

The turtle, who was known for his calm and wise nature, looked up at Iktomi and smiled serenely. "Oh, Iktomi, I don't doubt your speed," he said slowly, his voice steady and soft. "But speed isn't everything, you know. Sometimes, it's not how fast you move, but how steady you go that makes all the difference."

Iktomi threw back his head and laughed, the sound echoing through the trees. "You? Trying to teach me about racing?" he scoffed. "I could beat you in a race blindfolded, hopping on one leg!" He pointed a finger at the turtle, his eyes twinkling with amusement. "In fact, why don't we have a race right now? From here to the big oak tree at the far end of the forest. I'll show you just how much speed matters!"

The turtle blinked slowly, then nodded. "Very well, Iktomi. But remember, the race isn't always about who's the fastest." He turned and began to walk toward the starting line. Iktomi, still chuckling to himself, sauntered after him, shaking his head at the absurdity of it all.

They marked the starting point at a large rock and set the finish line at the towering oak tree in the distance, its branches reaching up to the sky like outstretched arms. As soon as they were ready, Iktomi bounced on his feet, eager to get started. "Ready, Turtle?" he called, his voice dripping with confidence. "This will be over in no time!"

The turtle nodded, his gaze calm and steady. "Ready."

With that, Iktomi shot forward like a bolt of lightning, his legs pumping furiously as he sprinted down the path. He ran so fast that the wind whistled in his ears and the trees blurred around him. He didn't bother looking back—he knew there was no way the turtle could keep up with him. After a short distance, he glanced over his shoulder and, just as he expected, the turtle was nowhere to be seen.

"Too easy!" Iktomi laughed, slowing to a trot. He looked around and spotted a shady tree by the path. Deciding he could afford to take a little break, he sat down beneath the tree and stretched out his legs. "I'll just rest here for a while," he muttered, closing his eyes. "Turtle won't catch up for hours."

But after a few minutes, Iktomi opened his eyes and glanced ahead. To his shock, there was the turtle, plodding along steadily up the path! Iktomi jumped to his feet, rubbing his eyes in disbelief. "How did you get there so fast?" he shouted. The turtle didn't answer, just kept moving forward with his slow, deliberate pace.

Iktomi shook his head and dashed off again, determined to leave the turtle far behind. He sprinted down the path, faster and faster, until he was certain he had gained a great lead. Panting slightly, he paused and leaned against another tree. "I'm still way ahead of him," he assured himself. "No need to rush."

But when he looked up the path again, there was the turtle, inching along as if he had been there all along. "Impossible!" Iktomi shouted, his heart pounding in frustration. "I ran so fast… How did you get ahead of me?"

He didn't wait for an answer. With a determined growl, Iktomi charged forward, running as fast as his legs could carry him. He didn't stop, didn't rest—he just ran and ran until his legs burned and his breath came in gasps. Finally, convinced he had left the turtle far behind, Iktomi slowed to a walk, wiping the sweat from his brow.

"That should do it," he panted, glancing back down the path. "No way that slowpoke can catch up now!" He turned his gaze forward, and his jaw dropped in disbelief. There, right at the edge of the finish line, was the turtle, calmly munching on a blade of grass.

Iktomi skidded to a halt, his eyes wide. "How…? How did you beat me?" he gasped, collapsing onto the ground, exhausted and bewildered. He stared at the turtle, who looked up at him with a knowing smile.

"I told you, Iktomi," the turtle said gently. "Speed isn't everything. You see, I had a little help." He gestured with a nod of his head, and to Iktomi's astonishment, several more turtles appeared from behind the bushes and rocks along the path. They all looked exactly like the turtle he had been racing.

"Each of my cousins took turns standing in for me whenever you looked away," the turtle explained with a twinkle in his eye. "So while you were running back and forth, I was simply making my way here, slow and steady." He nodded thoughtfully. "Sometimes, cleverness beats speed, my friend."

Iktomi blinked, his mouth opening and closing as he struggled to process what had just happened. He had been outsmarted—outwitted by the very creature he had thought he would easily defeat. And yet, despite his embarrassment, he couldn't help but laugh. A deep, hearty laugh that echoed through the trees.

"You got me, Turtle," he admitted, shaking his head. "You really got me. I guess I'll have to be a little more careful about who I boast to in the future!" He stood up and stretched, his grin returning. "But don't think this is over. I'll get you next time!"

The turtle nodded, his smile never fading. "Perhaps, Iktomi. But remember, it's not always about who's the fastest or the strongest. Sometimes, it's about who's the smartest." With that, the turtle and his cousins slowly turned and began their steady walk back into the forest.

Iktomi watched them go, a new respect glimmering in his eyes. He had learned a valuable lesson that day, one he wouldn't forget anytime soon. From that day on, whenever Iktomi saw a turtle, he would nod and tip his hat, remembering the race he had lost to a creature who understood the power of patience and strategy.