Tiona Turtle
By Benjamin Wey
In a dark barren night, Tiona Turtle walked along the sands with her baby Tamika on her shell with the stars guiding her. She had two burdens to worry about: one— not to disturb the only love of her life sleeping peacefully on her shell, and two— getting to their destination safely. However, Tiona Turtle didn’t mind this. She remembered a time when she was on her mother’s shell when they made the journey back to the great green seas. So the burden of having her baby on her and walking for many miles was not a serious burden for Tiona Turtle.
Along the way, Tiona Turtle fell out of her deep thought and was distracted by a woman sobbing. At first she had thought it was a lost ghost, but once she heard the voice speak, “It hurts,” she moved as quickly as she can to the figure that was injured. Not too far from her path, Tiona Turtle came across a young human woman on the sandy floor, with her shoes off.
“’Scuse me, Miss. My name be Tiona Turtle, and I’m traveling here with my little girl, Tamika. I heard your crying. Is there anything I can do to help,” Tiona Turtle greeted.
“It hurts… My little toes,” the woman said.
“What happened on there with your feets there, Miss? If you don’t mind me asking…”
“It seems as though I had fallen out of my carriage.”
“Was you asleep,” asked the concerned turtle.
“I’m afraid so. We were on our way to my brother, Arie’s birthday party for tea and cake, but it looks as though I’m not going to make it now. It looks as though I have lost my means of getting there.”
“Well, you more than welcome to join us, here. It’s just me, and my baby girl on my back. I can only imagine how lonesome and frightful it can be when you’re traveling all by your lonesome.”
“I’m afraid I am unable to walk. My little toes. I’m afraid I might have some blisters. It hurts as a thousand lashes to take one step. Unless—”
The woman thought with her hand over her mouth, thinking if it would be appropriate for her to ask. But at the same time, she was thinking how she needed to attend the extravagant party that was being thrown for her prince brother. In wanting to arrive in a timely manner, she asked without shame.
“Miss Teena…”
“Ma’am, my name be Tiona Turtle,” the turtle corrected kindly.
“Yes… My name is Ariella, daughter of King Azaryah.”
“It sure is a pleasure to make yo royal acquaintance.”
“Yes, that’s nice. But miss turtle, can you do me the honor of helping me in my little situation?”
“How may I help you,” asked Tiona Turtle.
“Would you be kind enough to please help me get to my brother’s party?”
“I’d like to help you all I can, but how am I suppose to do that?”
“Would you please be kind enough to bring me to my brother’s party by carrying me on your…”
Ariella paused and waited for Tiona Turtle to figure out the rest of her request. The mother had heard her loud and clear, but did not want to answer. She knew that she didn’t want to carry the woman with already two burdens on her, but she knew she had to. She had to do the right thing, just as her mother would have done the same.
“I sure can, miss Ariella. Only if you do us a favor as well.”
“A favor,” asked Ariella surprised and uncertain.
“Yes. I will carry you to your brother’s birthday party if you will carry my baby Tamika.”
Ariella uneasily and slowly got on Tiona Turtle’s shell. She picked up the baby Tamika and stared at the young turtle with a natural grimace. The princess was fortunate that she was above Tiona Turtle and under the starry night. Otherwise her reaction would have forced the kindly mother turtle to take back her favor. From there, they embarked on Ariella’s journey.
After four grueling hours of Ariella sitting on Tiona Turtle’s shell, the mother turtle was beginning to feel that the journey that she had took up was now becoming somewhat of a serious burden. However, it wasn’t fully a burden yet as she kept thinking about her baby girl and the joy on her face upon their return to the great green seas.
“Miss Turtle, I’m not trying to be rude, but will we be arriving at my brother’s party anytime soon?”
“Miss Ariella, I too want us to get to the great green seas. I am trying to get us there as fast as my body would let me.”
Tiona Turtle tried not to think too much about it all. Instead she closed her eyes and thought of Tamika glistening under the sunlight, with the great green sea shimmering all over her body. Ariella bit her lip and tried to ignore the thought of dropping little Tamika. She was beginning to worry about not making her prince brother’s royal party.
Three hours later and with the sun coming up, the three were starting to see the great green seas. Ariella started to wake up with the sun on her face, and with the reminder that she was still on the journey— with little Tamika in her hands. She tried not to ask how much longer till her destination, but Tiona Turtle reminded her.
“I’m glad you don’t snore, Miss Ariella. I’m sure your peaceful nap made it easier for my baby Tamika. And don’t you worry, we should almost be at your brother’s party soon.”
“Miss Turtle I’d like to thank you again, for helping me.”
“Well, you’re welcome, Miss Ariella. I wouldn’t have been at peace with my mind if I had left you there.”
“I wish I can thank you with gold, but I have to save—”
“Like what I said Miss Ariella, helping you was my responsibility. Knowing that I did good is its own reward.”
Ariella smiled for the first time in Tiona Turtle’s presence. She was genuinely happy with the mother turtle’s warmth and sympathy, and she was also happy, which she just couldn’t help, with the fact that the great deed had no price to pay. The princess adjusted her hold of baby Tamika, making sure that there would be nothing that would keep her from getting to her brother’s birthday.
Once they arrived near the edge of the great green seas, Green Beach, Tiona Turtle came to a halt against her will. A giant white ship with festive music playing and lavish decorations was slowly sailing away, preparing to fade towards the sun. Ariella noticed this and started to immediately dismount. In the middle of this she dropped Tiona’s little Tamika, waking the baby turtle up. The princess quickly ran away from the turtles, but then she was slowed down once she had ran into the water.
“Please, wait! Ariella has arrived! Please. Wait for me!”
From the turtles’ view, Ariella was slowly disappearing towards the sun just like the ship. With a gentle nuzzle, Tiona flipped her daughter up. She hadn’t worried about her baby being dropped. She knew that the wet sands that lead to the great green seas would’ve caught her child. Tiona Turtle knew she was finally home when her daughter woke up without greeting her. The baby Tamika hurried towards the sea and her mother followed.