Turtle Trouble

Tony extended its legs toward the rock separating him and the world beneath it. He can feel the wind gusting and eddying in his body, pushing him down the rocky steep behind. "Just one more step", he thought as he concentrated his strength to his toes. He held his breathe and instantly, hoisted himself above with one push. He fell suddenly. As soon as he realized the uneven ground, he was too late to grab on anything to keep him tumbling down. He stopped but only when he smacked into a fallen bough. Everything appeared bright around him.

He landed awkwardly with his back to the ground, not very likely for a turtle. Tony stroked his legs but only he teeter-tottered on his shell. His short legs would not even touch the ground. His efforts enervated him and even drained his will.
Tony watched a cloud whipped into a shape. He remembered a person who resembled it. He relaxed his back and allowed his limbs fall freely to enjoy a moment just staring at the blue sky. Maybe he could use some rest.

He wished to be back in his safe tank where he can bathe in coldwater and eat ration meals on time. Everything had gone so wildly for him after that day when Oscar left him out into the open. Oscar never gave him a clue. He had even helped Oscar choose the marshy swamp on the outskirt of the city.


"I'll be back from school soon", Oscar called out from the window of his dad's moving car.
Tony could enjoy unlimited supply of fresh insects and dive into the deepest of the pool. He would satisfy himself of the nature he could only get before the sun sets.


Almost three years had passed since then. During that time, Tony had walked the path and try to follow his instincts. He wanted that flat polished stone to be his bed again and have his foot drenched on bearable current of water. He loved everything on his aquarium. And most of all, he would like to be carried on Oscar's hand whenever he feels to be on top by the window sill. A turtle should be a pet, and he wanted to become a good one.
One morning Tony finally marched out of the marshes when a drooling hound, with his teeth, snatched him out of the way. Then, he was suddenly upfront with a convoluted face of another bull dog.

"Release me" Tony yelled, fidgeting as the canine teeth slowly tightened around.
The hound shook his ugly head, sending drool all over his face. Then only Tony saw the real danger he was in, when out came a larger hound, black and bald, backed with a party of four more dogs.

"You are not going anywhere unless I said it" the bald boss, laughing as if he had just joked. Then, he stabbed his party with a hinting glare. They know they have to burst out laughter. They have to even if they have to fake one.


"You know that would not happen. You see the boss lost his pet", said the one behind the boss' back. He pride his remark and he cannot stop smirking, drool running down its chin.


"I haven't seen anyone's pet around here. I am just a turtle."
"That's goodie tootle-die of you. Looking around to help us" the bald boss teased Tony. "Pals! I found it" the boss announced to his dogs.

The dogs wagged their tails and the ugly hound put down Tony on the ground.

Tony said shakily, "I want to me-meet your pet. Well, if, that is you're not referring to-- "

"You!" The dogs barked. And then giggled altogether.

The boss groaned in approval. And somehow Tony felt that a 'yes' be better than that growl coming from the hound's chest. It scares him.

The ugly dog picked him up again, and followed the pack while two dogs walked along his side.
"Three days" said the one-eyed sheep dog to a mastiff beside him.


"Nah! He'll be rid of it by tomorrow" the mastiff answered.


"Let's do this. I win, I keep shell. You win, shell yours." the sheep dog offered.

"That's a deal", replied the mastiff, eyeing on Tony.

Tony has no way out of this. He have to think of an escape. What if the boss' idea of a pet is nothing but a Turtle meat on his platter.
"Ahmm. G--guys." Tony cleared his trembling voice. "Guys, would you mind talking about my shell, elsewhere."
"You don't make demands on us, mousy", the mastiff threatened.
"Stay away from the turtle", the ugly dog tried to mumble his words in the corner of his mouth.

The dogs put a distant and stayed behind.

"You are scary", Tony said, torn whether it has been better, for the ugly dog squeezed him tight in his teeth. 

"You know I am a poisonous turtle. I belong to the most notorious and infamously dangerous family of reptile, you know we are cold-blooded. And as I speak, the venom is slowly creeping through your through ", Tony hoped, that the ugly dog buys it.


"You're talkative for a turtle.", the ugly dog replied .


"Have you have noticed why I am alone and wandering. I belonged to a specie that has completely gone extinct for we have been poisoning each other--to death. It's a way of nature. And, you would not want to have your boss killed by a stupid Tony the turtle, right?"


"Okay you got me there. I should speak to them " said the dog, as he nervously swallowed in his drool.


"No-no. Stay. They'll get infected. You'll make it worst"


"What's the plan? I can feel my legs shaking. Please help me"


"Find me a stream and throw me in there", Tony suggested.
"I won't be tricked. You'll poisoned the river."


"You're right" Tony admitted.
"I'll bury you under the earth. That will stop you from spilling poison in the water".


"No-no-no" Tony protested. "I will make the soil unhealthy. Poor trees and plants, they'll die"


"I'll throw you into the air and let the hawks deal with you"
"The birds would not want me. And besides I'll fall back to the ground in pieces."

"What else could we do?"

"Bring me to Oscar, then! He knows the solution. He's a friend", Tony exclaimed.


"Does he have the cure?"


"He has them on a tray in tinkle bottles of potion. He keeps them"


"Alright then, lead me the way"
Just as the ugly dog has turned his back and make way for the road. The big bald boss appeared before him, the pack followed behind. 


"You don't want to do this, Earl. Hand over the turtle and let us go home, happy and alive."


"You don't understand the situation, B-boss", the ugly dog said quivering.
"No, you don't understand"


"It's for his good. Let's run!" Tony, whispered.
The ugly dog ran as fast as he could out of the marshes. Tony can hear the hounds' teeth grinding sharp to pierce through his shell. 


Tony's heart pounded inside his tiny chest. None of this would happen if Oscar had not left him alone in this wilderness. Tony had been waiting. He hated being lied to and now, he hated himself for lying and making things complicated for the ugly dog. He frowned. It wasn't fair.


"Sorry, I lied", Tony shouted. He wanted everyone to stop the chase.

"You are not poisoned. I am not deadly. I tricked you hoping you could bring me to my friend." The hounds stopped and stared at the turtle and the ugly dog.


"You deserve somewhere nice, not here."


Without further explanation, Tony felt light and he was soon flying in midair. He looked up into the sky, doubting whether Oscar had forgotten him. Then, with a splash, he dropped into the cold water.


The next moment, so distinct were the sounds, Tony thought he heard a car honking. So far, yet it was there.


Something brushed his face. Tony did not noticed he had fallen asleep out of exhaustion. He remembered where he was as soon as he realized the weed on his head. He was climbing a rocky hill to cross the mashes into the city.


"I'll be back from school soon". The words are dying in his memory. The clouds reminded him of Oscar. Yet, he felt hopeless and he was suddenly tired of waiting. He can feel the pressure in his chest intensifying. He could feel himself changing. Something wild is coming out from within him. He ought to be as hard as his shell. He was born to be in the wilderness, that's it.


He looked again at the sky. The cloud had not been Oscar's cap after all. It was clearly a turtle's shell.







by Gzel