The Elder Storytelling Place

Wednesday, 21 April 2010

Turtle Story

By P.J. Davis

Spring was just working its way into summer. Mom had recently completed her spring planting of flowers and vegetables as witnessed by my baby brother who had watched her intently and learned a lesson of renewal from nature's growing habits.

The year was 1960 and a carnival had just left town several days ago. It was well attended by the children of our town including my sister and three brothers, my baby brother was only four years old.

While at the carnival, my baby brother was given a tiny turtle with a painted shell that someone must have won at the game booths but didn't want. He treasured his turtle and it was his best friend and companion for all the days of its turtle life. Unfortunately, that wasn't long and the turtle succumbed in only a week or two.

But when we went to dispose of the turtle, it could not be found. Upon searching and questioning, Mom determined that baby brother was the last to see his turtle. She asked if he knew where the turtle was.

He replied that, yes, he had "planted" it in some dirt in the back yard so that it could grow back - just like Mom's garden plants.

[INVITATION: All elders, 50 and older, are welcome to submit stories for this blog. They can be fiction, non-fiction, poetry, memoir, etc. Instructions for submitting are here.]

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