We in the barn are all a bit mixed up from the fun and exhaustion of the holiday season. At least this is our excuse for being so late in posting the responses to last week’s writing prompt. And perhaps we’re not alone in being a little bit behind and a little bit out of sorts, because this week, we received only one submission.
But what a submission it was. This story by Emiliano is so wonderful that it deserves its very own post. And that’s what it’s going to get.
First off, here’s the painting that inspired the story. If you are inclined to hang this turtle on the wall of your breakfast nook, you may place your bids over on Ebay. Note that the auction ends at 12:30pm EST on Sunday, January 5.
And here is the story itself.
The Story of Pablo Turtle
by Emiliano Leal
Pablo Turtle is the President of Turtle World. In fact, he is the richest Turtle President (TP for short) in history. He is so rich he can buy everything in the world! Maybe the entire planet itself – notice the emphasis on “the”. But even though he has a lot of money, he has never been outside of his house, which is similar to the White House but shaped like a turtle. He has never heard of flowers, clouds, sunlight, snow, or even butterflies. If you were to mention any of these to him he would think you’ve gone mad. All he knows about is his own house. He thinks his house is the entire world and more. His house has an indoor pool, an amusement park (specifically made for turtles), a 100-foot candy store and a 232-foot Toys R Us store. Basically, anything you can imagine.
One day he was minding his own business counting his money when one of his servants said, “Sir, it is about time you went outside.” Pablo Turtle was furious and yelled, “I DON’T WANT TO GO OUTSIDE AND YOU CAN’T TELL ME WHAT TO DO!” The very second the servant left a fairy came. She told Pablo Turtle a war would start between the F.R.O.G. Army and T.U.R.T.L.E. Army and that he wouldn’t be able to stop it because he didn’t want to go outside. Just then the fairy turned on the news. The turtle reporter said, “Captain of F.R.O.G. Army is already invading Turtle World. He is only 20 miles away.” Pablo Turtle knew what he had to do. He ran outside! For the first time in his life as the President and felt fresh air. He walked all over the place. He saw trees and a blue sky. He didn’t see snow, but he wasn’t really thinking about that because it was summer. And right when he was in the middle of eating an apple that he got from an apple tree, he spotted a purple flower. He walked over and sniffed it. He sniffed it again. He didn’t know why the flower smelled so good. Then he said it – the word FLOWER. He loved the way the word sounded. Just thinking about the word flower made him happy. Then he said to himself: “There is a war to be stopped!” So he ended the war, but every now and then he goes outside to smell the purple flower to remember the first day he went outside, otherwise what kind of happy ending would this be?
THE END*
*(for now)
—-
Emiliano’s story is one of intrigue, excitement, and, ultimately, redemption. And rife with timeless lessons. For example, though one might think that a 232-foot Toys R US is the epitome of happiness, the simple scent of a purple flower might just be a clearer path to happiness.
Also, if you are a turtle king named Pablo, you can stop a war just by trying. Which leads me to wonder whether Pablo is willing to lead one (or more) of our industrialized nations. We could use his kind of happy ending.
Thank you, Emiliano, for this wonderful story.