Stuck in Traffic Jam!

The traffic jam on that Saturday afternoon was terrible! The cars crawled along, moving like sleepy caterpillars.

"Daddy, we're not going to make it in time!" Leah grumbled, her face pressed against the car window. They were heading to the playground, and the clown show, her favorite part, was starting at 3 PM. It was already 2:30 PM, the show was 30 minutes from starting.

Her dad, trying to sound cheerful, replied, "This traffic jam is a real monster, isn't it? But don't you worry, let's keep hoping we'll get there in time."

Leah slumped back in her seat, a big sigh escaping her lips. She'd been dreaming of the clown show all week.

Seeing her disappointment, her dad had an idea. "How about a story?" he asked. "A story about someone else who was also stuck in a traffic jam situation, just like us?"

Leah nodded slowly.

"Once upon a time, during the Olympic Games, there was a super-fast runner from Kenya named Kipchoge Keino," her dad began, making his hands swoop through the air like a runner. "He ran really, really long distances."

"On the day of his biggest race, he wasn't feeling well. He had a tummy ache, and the doctor told him to rest. But guess what?" Daddy paused, watching Leah lean forward, getting interested in the story.

"What?" she whispered.

"Kipchoge Keino started to feel a little better, and he really wanted to run his race! So, he got up and hopped on a bus. It was almost time for the race, and just like for us, there was a terrible traffic jam!" Daddy continued.

"Oh no, did he miss his race?" Leah asked, now fully interested in the story.

"No, he didn't!" Daddy exclaimed. "Instead, he jumped off the bus and started running to the stadium!"

"What? Didn't he get tired?" Leah asked, amazed.

"Well, that's what made Kipchoge Keino so special!" her dad continued, a smile on his face. "He didn't get tired! He ran all the way to the stadium. When he finally got there, it was just minutes before his long race. He ran it, and guess what happened next?"

"What? What?" Leah bounced in her seat, eager to know the ending.

"He was the first one to cross the finish line and he won a gold medal!"

"Wow!" Leah gasped. "He was a very good runner!"

"Yes, he was!" her dad agreed, then looked at the clock. "And guess what else? We've made it in time for the clown show!"

Maybe it was the story she had just heard, but as soon as her father opened her door at the playground, Leah grabbed his hand and ran to the clown show. They made it just in time!

The End.

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