THE LEGEND OF THE CHINESE ASTROLOGY

TWELVE ANIMALS were selected with distinguishing characteristics to represent years with similar sound. Since there were no way to track TIME, the HEAVENLY GOD decided to develop a sacred calendar system.
GOD ORDERED the EARTH KING to hold a RACE for the ANIMALS living in EARTH. So the EARTH KING gathered all the animals, and gave instructions that the FIRST TWELVE animals TO CROSS THE RIVER would BE SIGNS IN THE  measure of TIME of the SACRED CALENDAR.
The proclamation of their names INVOLVED A GREAT HONOR because they were suppose to last until the END OF TIMES.
All the animals were excited to the news and ALL WANTED TO JOIN THE RACE IN ORDER TO WIN THEIR SPOT IN THE SACRED CALENDAR.
The CAT talked to the RAT about his fear of the water. The OX talked to himself about his poor eyesight. The RAT was ABLE TO LISTEN the OX concern. Immediately the MIND of the RAT started to craft a plan to get rid of them. The rat showed the part of the plan working together and neither the ox nor the cat perceived the evil motives of the rat. According to the plan the rat and the cat were the eyes of the ox while the ox was the transportation. They agreed.
Early before dawn on THE DAY OF THE RACE the three of them were crossing the SACRED RIVER without taking care of the competition itself. When they were right AT THE MIDST of the RIVER, the CALCULATING RAT PUSHED the CAT OFF into the river. The hardworking OX unaware of the situation on his back continued the crossing until finally REACHING the SHORE.
As soon as they touch the ground the AGGRESSIVE RAT JUMPED OFF the back of the OX and raced to the CROSS the FINISH LINE FIRST. while the enduring Ox finished in SECOND place.
The rest of the animals were struggling to cross the river. The COURAGEOUS TIGER finished THIRD; then the RABBIT, the DRAGON, the SNAKE, the HORSE, the ARTISTIC SHEEP, the MONKEY, the ROOSTER and the DOG came in eleventh.
The HEAVENLY GOD counted the animals and realized they were one animal short. At this moment,
the METICULOUS PIG arrived just before the race came to an end and was given the twelfth spot.
A moment later, the POOR CAT arrived soaking wet and found out he was too late to get a spot.
From that day on, the RAT has been the CAT's sworn enemy.