Turtle

by Ziad Assaad   Oct 30, 2014


To find a place to lay his head, turtle crept along the ground.
His usual scuffle, to the usual spot, always oblivious to the world around.
"No, not here. No, not there," turtle mumbled.
So, with a shuffle to the right, no..., a shuffle to the left, turtle wondered which place would be best.
Peeking out of his shell for a better view, turtle spotted a spot, but it struck him as new.
Into his shell turtle deeply withdrew, to think about this spot which he may soon choose.
"I'm fine where I am, I don't need to move. This is nice, it's cozy."
What better way to spend the day than comfortable, in his own way.

Settling in and moving about, from shell to foot, turtle let it all out.
Feeling at ease with his choice to stay, turtle chose to tan for the rest of the day.
Only moments after he had finally decided, from a ways away carried a tune to turtle's ear.
Unpleasant it was, at first to hear.
"Who would disturb me within my own home? After all I have done to pick this spot?!"
The tune, it grew louder and soon he could hear, flapping of wings drawing near.
Until, abruptly it stopped and turtle new... someone was sitting with him in his spot.
"Unacceptable!" turtle screamed as he threw his head out to see what was to be seen!

To turtle's surprise, staring straight back, a magnificent butterfly simply sat.
Adorned with Gold and brown, and yellow and blue, with dark hues of purple, and even green too.
Truly amazing, a sight to behold, but the brush of her wings made turtle cold.
"Think!, think!, think!"
He thought he was thinking, but nothing seemed to happen instead.
Quickly turtle sank.
"Back inside! Maybe Miss Butterfly won't see if I hide!"
"Too laaaate," she replied. "Oh don't be so uptight; there's no need to be shy. For generations my family has traveled this sky."
"You don't understand! This is my spot, not your spot, that's why I'm inside. And by the way 'Miss Butterfly', I... A M...N O T... shy!"
"Oh great! Then you won't mind if I stay for the day," and she perched sideways on the side of a Leaf.
"Besides, these flowers have pollen. Their pedals have fallen, and blanket the ground that's around us. Your spot, this spot, reminds me of my spot, the place that you would have found me!"
"Hmph, home? This is my home not yours. I chose this spot with which to lay, and here you sit asking to stay?"

Standing up, he let out a chuckle.
"I am bemused Miss Butterfly. To think, that you thought, that I would be willing to share my spot! What has happened with the world, that a turtle cannot sit and sun bathe in peace and quiet?"

Miss Butterfly rose spreading her huge wings causing a stir of wind and things.
"First of all turtle, you have been rude for which I forgive. But may I ask, why is it you live? You are alone, and remote amidst these vines and thistles. Here where the wind does not hum, it hisses and whistles. Here where the sun only shines in one spot, and that grass you are on? Well, it is brown with rot."
"No..., I have seen much better spots in my day. Spots with grass and flowers and trees, fresh wind that carries a crisp cool breeze, over streams that babble and brook, filled with stones all rolling afoot."
Turtle interrupted,
"Well,... if my home is so bad, then you won't mind I ask. Please take your leave from here, it's a simple task. All I wish to do is be in the sun, free from you and everyone. Is it too much to ask, simply to bask without this shadow your massive wings cast?!"
Miss Butterfly shirked in response to these words, but turtle just kept on talking.
"You see? Some turtles are turtle- turtles, and other turtles are me. I am who I am the best as I can, and that is what drives me to be. You ask why I live, remote and removed, the answer hereto is: I'm older than you. One hundred and three to be precise... I was hoping for four before you knocked at my door."
"Turtle", whispered Miss Butterfly. "I too once lived in a shell much like you. High up in a tree, as high as can be, a cocoon atop the perfect spot. Nestled on a gnarly knot under the branch of a Sycamore. It was splendid."
"Oh?, if your spot is as you say, why not stay?"

Miss Butterfly outstretched her wings.
"One day I left my shell in flight, with no direction in mind, leaving behind my perfect spot nestled on a gnarly knot under a Sycamore branch. I stopped along the way, but your spot, this spot, is where I have decided to stay. Had I 100 more years to live, as you have lived already, I would fly back to my perfect spot atop that gnarly knot."

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Latest Comments

  • 9 years ago

    by Everlasting

    "Besides, these flowers have pollen, the pedals have fallen

    ^ I think I just spotted a typo on that line... Pedals or petals?

    Other than that... I am not sure what to suggest for finishing the story. I like it as it is. It was fun to read it. It wasn't that long. It was creative.

    • 9 years ago

      by Ziad Assaad

      Thank you so much for reading it through to the end. Good eye! Despite the multiple times reading through this, I never noticed I had spelled pedals, rather than petals!

  • 9 years ago

    by Ziad Assaad

    Bear with the length...I think the cadence of my writing makes it read faster than it appears long. Enjoy, and help me end it properly, please. I kind of just left it...