Turtle Travels

One day in early June, Asarum headed toward his garden to check on its progress. The fairy carried a little pail of water to refill the birdbath. But when he opened the garden gate and stepped inside, he saw his younger cousin Nymphaea had already filled it. She was staring intently into its water. As he approached, he soon realized that a large turtle gazed back at her with equal intensity.

The two were so lost in concentration that they didn't hear him coming until he set down the pail and cleared his throat. Nymphaea started and whirled around. "Oh, Asarum! You scared me!"

"Sorry," he replied. "Who's your friend?"

"I'm Saggitaria," the turtle replied. "I took a wrong turn at one of the tributaries of the Great River and somehow ended up in your cousin's water lily pond instead of the ocean. She's brought me here until I can figure out what to do. It's very important that I get to the salt water seas."

Asarum exchanged a worried glance with Nymphaea. How could they get Saggitaria to the ocean? Just then they heard the Big People making noise in the garage. Maybe there was something among their things that could help! He hurried off to see what they were doing.

"Make sure you bring the sunscreen, Ursula," the old man said.

"I've got it. Do you have the beach towels?"

"Right here," he replied. "Ursula, I'm so excited to get to the ocean and see the grandkids!"

"Me too, Ned," the old woman replied and kissed him lightly on the lips. He smiled.

Asarum raced back to the garden to tell Saggitaria and Nymphaea the news! All they had to do was tuck the turtle into the Big People's luggage! They waited all day in the bushes by the driveway, waiting for the couple to come out with their suitcases. In the meantime, Nymphaea crept back to the bird bath and cupped some water in a curved leaf. She breathed on it and murmured a little song. Now no matter how much it jostled, not a drop spilled.

When at last the Big People came out with their bags, the fairies and turtle inched as close as they dared. As the couple turned to open the trunk they flew straight toward the nearer suitcase. It had a small pocket on the outside. The two fairies tugged and tugged until it opened just enough to slip Saggitaria and Nymphaea's tiny pond inside. They didn't risk any words of goodbye, but simply smiled and waved as they flew out of sight.