A New Year's Promise with a Twist

"Jumpy, this year I'm going to become a bodybuilder!" Blacky bear said, posing with his arms like a champion lifter.

- Kumud Kumar

"Hmph! Big words, tiny muscles. You said the same thing last year too! And what are you showing me—those skinny cucumberlike arms?" Jumpy monkey teased.

Cheeku rabbit heard this and burst out laughing, "Hahaha!" He laughed even harder when Jumpy compared Blacky's arms to crooked, bendy cucumbers. Jumpy also joined in.

"Heh-heh, laugh all you want. Make fun of me. But do you two even know what New Year's promise I'm going to make?" Blacky said proudly.

"What promise? Tell us too!" Cheeku asked, still giggling.

Blacky felt they didn't believe he could become a bodybuilder.

Feeling annoyed, he said, "Listen carefully, both of you! This New Year, I promise I will become a bodybuilder.

I'm joining the Elephant Gym tomorrow. I'll work hard and sweat bucketfuls! Just come and see!"

Hearing this, Jumpy and Cheeku started thinking, if Blacky really becomes a bodybuilder, why should we stay behind? So Jumpy said, "Then I also promise that I'll become the champion of long jump and high jump this year.

Tomorrow morning, I'm going straight to Champak Stadium!" Cheeku added, "In that case, I'll practise running, starting tomorrow at the Leopard Racetrack. I'll become fast like Milkha Singh, P.T. Usha and Usain Bolt!" The next morning, out of habit, all three woke up late. But, they weren't worried about keeping their own promises. They were more worried about checking whether the others were keeping theirs!

Blacky went to Champak Stadium to see if Jumpy was practising. But Jumpy was nowhere to be found.