Tucker the Turtle

Tucker the Turtle by Katrina Squire

 

Deep in a far away forest lived a very special turtle named Tucker. Unlike all of the other turtles plodding slowly through the forest, Tucker was the fastest turtle around.

 

 

However, Tucker had a problem. He had no control over where he ran. Because no one knew where Tucker would end up once he got started, all of the other animals scurried and leapt out of the way when he came into view.

 

If he tried to run north, his feet took him south. If he wanted to go right, he ended up left. And Tucker knew that if he wanted to go forward, he better aim backwards. Again and again Tucker slammed into trees, splashed into the river, tumbled into holes, and he once nearly cracked his shell in two when he collided with an armadillo.

 

As soon as he started to move, all the other animals ran for safety. Tucker would have been very lonely without his best friend, Boris the Bear. Large and cuddly, Boris always threw himself in front of the tree or rock Tucker was accidentally heading for, so instead of crashing, Tucker found himself in a giant bear hug from Boris.

 

Boris tried again and again to come up with a way to help Tucker get just where he wanted to go. He built a narrow tunnel to force Tucker in one direction, but Tucker scurried up the wall of the tunnel and ended up on his back, his feet running in the air. 

Next Boris made Tucker special mirror glasses so that when Tucker looked left, he really saw right, and when he looked right, he saw to the left--but that only made Tucker spin in very fast circles until he fell over.

 

Then one terrible day, Tucker had his worst accident ever. Instead of going towards a target Boris painted in front of him, Tucker sped quickly to his left, right towards the edge of a cliff! Boris quickly grabbed the rubber tree he was standing next to. He flung the tree so that it stretched like a rubber band over the edge of the cliff. Just as Tucker disappeared over the side, the tree snapped back, flinging him right back into Boris’ soft chest. 

 

 

Tucker peeked his head out of his shell, sure he had smashed into a thousand pieces at the bottom of the cliff. Instead, he found himself looking into his friend’s worried face. “That’s it,” he said. “I’m too dangerous. No more running for me.”

After that Tucker sat in a small wagon pulled everywhere by Boris. Although Boris tried and tried to talk his friend into trying one more time, Tucker refused to leave the wagon, and sadly watched as all of the other animals in the forest played together.

 

Then one day, a tiny young mouse with an odd frock of black hair appeared with an equally tiny suitcase. He found Boris and Tucker sitting under a tree counting butterflies. “Ahem...excuse me...Mr. Bear and Mr. Turtle?” Tucker and Boris turned to look at the tiny mouse with black hair. “I’m sorry to bother you,” he continued, “My name is Austin and I’m quite new here. I’ve only just arrived, but I heard that Mr. Turtle had a problem.”

Tucker and Boris looked at each other then back at the mouse. “Yes, that’s true,” said Tucker.

 

“Well, I studied Turtle in school, but there are no turtles where I come from so I’m thinking of moving to this forest. I thought if I could help with your problem, you might be able to suggest a cozy place for me?”

Tucker and Boris looked very confused, but agreed to the plan. Austin beamed and disappeared inside Tucker’s shell. Before long Tucker was giggling, then chuckling, then roaring with laughter as Boris looked more and more surprised.

 

Austin finally reappeared, looking quite pleased. “That should do it, I think. Shall we give it a try?” Boris lifted Tucker from the wagon and set him gently on the ground. Tucker took a deep breath, lifted his left foot, and then--WHOOSH! In a flash he ran straight ahead!

 

Tucker smiled at Austin and said, “I will gladly tell you of the coziest place in the forest!” He pointed to Boris’ shoulder, and from that day onward, when Tucker ran by in a flash of green, Boris followed close behind with a tiny mouse sitting happily on his shoulder.