The first boy was sure to win. He was the oldest with the longest legs! And to be sure he was going straight, he made sure to look back--first to the right, then to the left. If he got off course, he corrected it quickly!
The second boy knew he had a chance to beat his older brother. He noticed his brother looking back--first to one side and then to the other. He noticed, too, that it was slowing him down!! And it was making him have a zig-zagged path!! So, he made sure to not look back very often and only look over his right shoulder! He didn't realize that this was making him run in a slanted line!
The two older boys were concentrating so hard on each other and their own paths that they paid no notice to the youngest brother. Now being the youngest--his mind was not on winning the race, but on having been included in the race at all!! He happily raced with the big kids, running straight forward with his eyes on his father!! Laughing and running and enjoying the look of pride and joy on his father's face!
What joy for the youngest when he realized that he had kept up nicely and the three boys reached their father at almost the exact same time!!! And then the father declared the winner!!! The one with the straightest path was the one who had kept his eyes on the goal and the face of the father and never looked back!!!
