Fall Asleep Bedtime Story: The Tale Of The Talented Turtle

It is time to sleep,

And a bedtime story is,

Well,

It's a great comfort at any age,

Right?

My name is Faith,

And I wrote this one just for you.

The day is done.

It's time to get all tucked in and just take a listen.

If you doze off,

Good.

Sleep is a wonderful ending to this adventure.

Your dreams can pick up where we leave off.

You might hear the sound of my crackling fire in the fireplace,

Or the cacophony of crickets just outside my window.

Maybe if we get lucky,

There will be an owl in the forest,

And surely you will hear a page turn or two.

Never mind,

It is okay to relax,

I've got this.

So get comfortable in whatever position you like best.

You can grab a pillow and pull up a blanket.

Make sure your head is in a comfortable position,

So that your brain can rest back on the support of your skull.

I invite you to close your eyes and take a deep breath,

And think of this.

Exhale as slowly as you can,

Perhaps three times as long as your inhale.

Do this a few times,

Giving your nervous system permission to let go.

Your work is done,

And now all you have to do,

Is let me share with you,

The tale of the talented turtle.

Once upon a time,

There was a lion cub named Luna Lu.

She was a young and naive feline,

But she was no house cat,

No she was a wild cat,

Wild at heart,

Yet rather tame in manner.

Certainly she was tame enough to live with good manners in a grand house built for humans,

With her lion pride of five.

Her family liked the feel of sprawling out on the carpet,

In front of a warm fire on a cool winter's night.

They liked to sip Manhattan clam chowder and take bubble baths in marble sunken tubs.

So they took over an abandoned mansion and made it their own.

The house was sprawling and grand,

Much like its occupants.

In fact,

It was five stories high,

Seven if you count the attic and basement.

The stairs were no problem for Luna Lu's lion family.

Any one of them could dart up and down the handful of flights in the blink of an eye.

Luna Lu's mama was an elegant and quite legendary lioness.

She was known for her operatic voice,

Between the sweet vibration of her purr and the far-reaching projection of her roar.

She had a singing voice,

Greater than all the birds of the jungle,

And so she slinked here and there and snuck out late for her moonlit performances,

Which always sold out to howling applause.

Mama Lion was mostly serious,

Rather silly and always beautiful,

Her long thick lashes and shiny coat made her perfect for the world stage.

Mama was a very busy career cat.

After all,

She had to clean her coat,

Fluff her fur,

Paint her claws,

And hunt for supper,

So she rarely had time for monkey games with her cubs.

Papa was different.

He had a busy brain under his thick,

Bushy mane,

And he mostly attended to what went on in there.

A brilliant mind like his was beyond what most felines and certainly human beings could comprehend,

And so he had much thinking to do.

And much thinking,

Indeed.

So Naloo had brothers and sisters,

Too,

One of each,

To be exact.

Big Sister Cat sat in her cozy cat cave,

Wearing glasses,

And only looked up from her stacks of books upon books when it was time to eat.

Little Brother Lion Cub stuck close to Mama.

He had a budding golden mane and wore two pairs of purple velvet slippers on his paws at the breakfast table,

Like a prince.

Luna Loo was the middle cub.

She liked attention,

But she didn't get much.

Brother Cat Bo was a mama's boy.

Sister Cat,

Selina,

Wanted no one's company but her own.

Papa Lion was Luna Loo's favorite,

Because when he played with the cubs,

He was lots of fun.

If he was home and his work was done,

He would tickle and toss Luna Loo and her siblings and sometimes play hide-and-seek.

But he was usually thinking big adult thoughts and off on important and unavoidable work trips.

Thankfully,

Luna Loo had someone to count on for company.

Her cherished pet turtle,

Tallulah.

How they met is interesting,

But how they stayed together,

Well,

That's nothing short of a miracle.

You see,

Luna Loo was fond of flowers,

And the garden in the backyard was full of them.

Peonies,

Tulips,

Marigolds,

And poppies.

This is where she had found Tallulah.

One spring day,

A few years ago,

Luna Loo spotted a small and striking turtle sitting under a particularly magical flower that enchanted Luna Loo to no end.

The baby turtle,

With sparkling,

Innocent-looking eyes,

Seemed to share Luna Loo's fondness for the flower that had tucked itself beneath.

This dazzling bloom was so dense with petals,

There were too many to count.

Each one was cotton-candy pink,

With purple edges.

Luna Loo came back to the flower each day to follow,

And with the sweet turtle by her side,

She would count the petals,

Which were at least 100 layers deep.

The turtle poked out her little head to listen as Luna Loo tried to keep count of the petals each day,

And although the turtle stood perfectly still,

Wanting to know the count as well,

Luna Loo couldn't stick with the counting,

For the turtle was distractingly adorable.

Its shell was mostly a muddy mix of brown and grey,

Yet there was something special about it.

When the sunlight hit it just right,

It would gleam with hidden shades of iridescent lime green,

Turquoise,

And indigo.

Luna Loo studied the turtle's shell when she grew tired of counting the petals on the flower where it lived.

One day,

Luna Loo showed this flower to Papa Lion,

And he too was impressed.

How many petals do you think this flower has,

Papa?

He leaned in to examine the beautiful specimen and declared,

One hundred thousand million,

At the very least.

That was good enough for Luna Loo.

She knew this was indeed a special and very petal-plentiful plant.

The friendly turtle beneath the flower grew as fond of Luna Loo as Luna Loo was fond of the flower,

And soon Luna Loo looked forward to seeing the turtle even more than counting the great flower's petals.

Luna Loo and her pride of lions lived in a very special climate.

The warm daily rain showers and dry rainbow clusters to follow brought exotic fruits,

Gigantic flowering plants,

And glistening green grasses,

All the playground props a lion could want.

Luna Loo could frolic for hours in her backyard,

And the turtle stuck close by her side,

Happy to have found a delightful companion,

Even if it was an enormous wildcat of legendary lineage.

When the rains were heavy and the sky was dark,

The turtle followed Luna Loo inside the house.

Luna Loo decided to make it official.

She named her turtle Tallulah,

And tucked her under the covers in the very same bed every night.

You will stay with me and be my best friend forever,

Tallulah,

Luna Loo declared under the full moon.

The turtle nodded in agreement,

And the two slept soundly on Luna Loo's cozy bed.

They did so for one hundred and three nights in a row,

To seal the deal.

Then one bright and sunny morning,

Papa Lion said to Luna Loo,

Would you like to take a trip with me,

Lulu?

I have work in Novoquai,

The most wondrous wilderness you will ever see.

You may join me,

For I have an extra train ticket.

Mama can't come,

She has singing to do here,

So I'd like you to come along.

A surge of excitement shot through the cat,

But Luna Loo knew her teachers would scoff at her missing her classes in hunting and fishing and math.

She so wanted to be with him,

Though.

Papa,

Will they let me go?

What about school?

And he replied,

School is here,

Education is with me.

So Luna Loo packed up her toothbrush,

And off they went the next day,

To Lulu the turtle in tow.

The train was full of all kinds of animals,

Zebras,

Hyenas,

Hippos,

And even giraffes.

Luna Loo admired the giraffes' comfortable train car,

Which had no ceiling.

They would get plenty of fresh air,

And the very best view.

Luna Loo got to sit in a private train car with Papa,

Which had two red velvet bench seats and a big window across from the door.

It was a thrill to be there,

In their own special lair.

Her only worry was for Tulula the turtle.

If she went missing,

She could be snapped up as somebody's dinner without notice.

Tulula was a very loyal and devoted turtle,

But she was prone to follow pretty shiny things she fancied.

The train chucked along rhythmically,

And Papa soon dozed off,

As he did easily.

The night sky was black,

And Luna Loo's eyelids grew heavy after all the excitement was finally waning.

Luna Loo kept her beloved turtle close,

Tucked under a blanket so she wouldn't wander off.

She tucked Tulula's little leathery head and said,

Sleep now,

Tulula.

Sleep now,

Tulula.

Sleep.

And the loving turtle drew her wee weary head into her shell.

Soon after,

They both fell asleep.

When daylight shone again,

Luna Loo woke as the dream came to a sudden stop.

Luna Loo surveyed the small room.

Papa was gone.

She reached out her paw to cuddle Tulula.

She wasn't on the crimson velvet seat where she had been the night before.

The blanket was there,

But no Tulula.

Luna Loo searched the train car,

Growing more wild-eyed with every passing minute.

Tulula had vanished,

But where had she gone?

Glancing out the window,

She noticed bright green grass,

Silvery pink rocks,

And colorful,

Sparkling waterfalls.

It was the prettiest jungle she had ever seen.

But Tulula?

Where was Tulula?

The train started up again.

Papa had forbidden Luna Loo to leave the train car without him,

So she couldn't go looking for him or her precious pet.

She began to pace the train car,

Even as the engine picked up speed,

Searching in every crevice of the small room.

What if she crawled off to look at the flowers and bathe in the waterfall,

She thought?

No,

No,

Stop thinking worry thoughts.

Worries won't help.

She's here,

I know it.

Luna Loo tried to reassure herself and turn her thoughts positive.

She had heard that scary thoughts brought about scary things.

She looked around the room again.

The windows were closed.

The door went all the way to the floor,

Not even a slice of light between them.

Luna Loo felt reassured.

Tulula couldn't escape,

Unless she followed Papa out.

As panic arose,

She stood still to remember what she had been taught by her elders.

Grandpapa and Granina,

Fear must be transmuted into force.

Yes,

Transmute fear to force.

Normally,

Luna Loo would do sprints up and down the stairs or in circles in the jungle to let off steam.

But what to do when she was enclosed in a tiny train car?

Then she remembered a trick her mama used before she performed her opera songs.

When she had stage fright,

Mama would stand still and shake all over her like crazy.

She looked like she had bees in her bonnet and fleas in her knees.

It was quite something to see twitches and quakes until she was steady,

Still,

And sturdy again.

And so,

Luna Loo stood in the center of the train car and shook.

She shook and shook herself until she was so worn out she could shake no more.

Catching her breath,

She wondered what to do next.

Then she remembered that Papa had taught her a trick as well.

Stay calm and breathe deeply,

Yet counseled.

Think positively.

Believe that a solution is on its way,

Then pray.

She could hear his voice as if he was still in the row next to her.

Luna Loo took three deep breaths.

Then she declared with certainty,

I will find my turtle.

She remembered to repeat this over and over until it was believable even to herself.

She felt it in her bones that her reunion with Tallulah was imminent.

Please,

Help me,

Great Spirit,

Help me find Tallulah,

She prayed.

Just then,

Luna Loo heard a faint click.

She looked up at the light that hung above.

It was a Tiffany ceiling lamp made of Venetian glass in shades of blues,

Greens,

And grays with black and gold details.

The ornate bowl hung down a few inches below the ceiling.

Luna Loo noticed that the glass shapes around the top edges were dragonflies joined together at the edge of their frosted blue wings.

The hanging light was indeed quite a piece of art.

As Luna Loo studied its design,

She zeroed in on something peculiar.

A small,

Loathful piece poking outside the top edge of the glass bowl.

She rose for a closer look.

Aha,

Could this be the tip of Tallulah's little turtle head?

Luna Loo climbed up on the seat and stretched up the wall to get a closer look.

Tallulah,

She cried.

Indeed,

Tallulah was tucked inside the light fixture as if it was a turtle nest,

Custom made just for her.

Luna Loo was delighted.

Please come down now,

Pleaded Luna Loo,

But Tallulah just peered over the edge of the glass curiously.

She seemed to be quite comfortable.

But maybe,

Thought Luna Loo,

She's stuck.

Just then,

Papa returned to the room.

He brought with him a platter filled with silver and porcelain dishes.

Good morning,

Lulu.

Breakfast?

Papa held out the platter in front of her dramatically with a single paw.

Papa,

Papa,

Help me,

Help me get Tallulah down.

Then,

Luna Loo looked up at her pet turtle in dismay.

Papa followed her gaze upward to the elaborate glass light fixture.

How did she get up there?

She can't possibly crawl upside down,

Can she?

Makes no sense.

Setting the platter down to investigate,

He seemed positively perplexed.

Papa paced around the train car just once,

Then he came to rest in a regal sitting pose just beneath the light in the center of the room.

He got very still and began breathing deeply.

He took three deep,

Solid breaths,

Just like he'd taught that other.

His big lion brain was working.

She knew,

But then he stated simply,

Great Spirit,

Kindly send a solution,

Please and thank you.

Then he took one more reverent breath,

Shook his massive,

Shaggy head,

And said,

Let's eat.

Then,

A little girl beside him on the floor around the plate,

Splatters and pancakes piled high with butter and syrup.

She stared up above her,

Trying to make out the shape of her turtle behind the multicolored glass of the light fixture.

The thick,

Opaque shapes were connected by veins of dark metal.

It was hard to see anything in particular,

But she thought she could see a dark form that could be Tallulah's underbelly.

Papa interrupted her intense gaze with a voice just as regular as he had at every meal.

Eat your breakfast,

Lulu.

Great Spirit is on the job.

And so she did,

Saving a few scraps for Tallulah.

Papa was chatting about where they had been and where they were going,

But Luna-Lu could only think of rescuing her turtle.

She tried to act normal,

But she was obsessed with reuniting with her precious turtle tangling overhead and well out of reach.

Papa,

How will we get her down?

We won't,

He said.

We won't,

Her dusted Luna-Lu.

Now quiet yourself and think,

He said.

Now quiet yourself and think,

He said.

Then up in the corner and began to problem solve.

What does he mean we won't rescue Tallulah,

She pondered.

He said it so calmly.

Does he mean that she will come down on her own,

She wondered.

Luna-Lu sauntered underneath the light fixture again and commanded,

Softly but firmly,

Tallulah,

Please come down this instant.

But Tallulah responded by retracting her head behind the glass bowl of the fixture,

So she wasn't visible at all anymore.

Luna-Lu knew her turtle,

And she knew that her withdrawal was an apology of sorts.

Perhaps she simply couldn't get down because she didn't know how.

Like a cat stuck in a tree,

Only a firefighter could rescue.

Luna-Lu turned Papa Squirt's over in her head.

We won't get her down,

She repeated silently to herself.

Well,

If we won't,

Then who will?

Aha,

She thought,

And ran over to him where he sat on the velvet bench.

Papa,

We can ask for help,

Right?

We already asked Great Spirit,

But.

.

.

Papa was calmly licking his paws clean,

Stretched out with a belly full of breakfast.

Yes,

You're on to something,

Keep thinking,

Lulu.

Great Spirit is with you.

She thought and thought.

Several minutes passed,

But it felt to Luna-Lu like many hours.

Then,

Suddenly,

An idea came to her.

The giraffes,

She cried happily.

A giraffe could get her down.

There you go,

Papa smiled.

Papa,

Can we go now?

Luna-Lu asked eagerly.

She was delighted to have come up with a plan to save Delola.

My dear,

He said,

You must learn to ask for help.

Asking is the hardest part.

Luna-Lu was taken aback.

She would feel very small and silly asking a favor of such a distinguished creature as a giraffe,

And approaching the lot of them was so intimidating,

She felt a little sick to her stomach.

But she knew that Papa was teaching her a lesson.

If Luna-Lu brought Delola,

He warned,

Then it should be fine.

It was her responsibility to look after her.

And so,

Luna-Lu realized it was on her to ask for help.

She felt fear swell up inside at the thought of leaving without Papa to protect her from the various beasts that didn't know her but nevertheless would mean her harm.

Despite her trepidation,

However,

Luna-Lu's love for Delola won out.

Okay,

She said sheepishly.

May I go now?

Papa-Nada-Lu took one more look at the ceiling light and then slowly slinked out the door into the narrow hall on the other side.

The doors of their car were closed,

But Papa said each room was filled with jungle cats.

Luna-Lu knew which way to go,

Because she'd seen the giraffes' long necks and heads sticking up the outside of the train car when they boarded.

They were near the middle of the train,

So she took a right towards the engine and swiftly hopped from train car to train car.

Luna-Lu could see the train tracks beneath her as she leaped across from one car to another.

She heard great squeals and howls as she went,

Other animals protesting at her breaking the boundaries that were allowed.

The hyenas were laughing and hissing as she passed,

But she averted her eyes and moved swiftly ahead.

Other wolves of lineage prided themselves on courage.

This mission was scary indeed.

The other animals knew Luna-Lu was only a cub,

And she could be outsmarted if not outrun,

But she remembered what Granina had said.

The root word for courage comes from the French word cour for heart.

Let this be a reminder when we are fueled by love,

We are fearless.

Even as Luna-Lu shivered with each angry snare,

She focused on her beloved turtle,

Dooloo.

This rescue mission was one of love,

To be sure.

At last,

Luna-Lu reached the middle car.

She hadn't slowed down to see all the animal breeds on the way.

But the giraffe car was unmistakable.

It was the only one with no roof.

As she approached,

She saw the giraffes gather together to stare.

Some of them turned away and pushed to the side of the car to avoid her.

She realized they were afraid of her because of her eye and looks.

Others watched her cautiously as they slowly backed away.

Then Luna-Lu stopped,

Realizing that lions could eat giraffes.

Her family never would,

But it happened,

So no wonder they were scared.

She stopped short of the car by a few yards.

Hello,

I'm sorry to bother you,

She said tentatively.

Go away,

Snapped one of the giraffes.

We know what you're after,

We know you're kind,

We know you're kind,

We're not so alone.

Luna-Lu took a step back.

Oh,

No,

It's not what you think.

I'm not here to harm any of you,

I promise.

One of the giraffes shone his big white teeth and snapped his jaw furiously as it shook its head.

Kill her,

He snarled.

Go back to your pride,

You dumb killer kitten.

Other giraffes joined in,

Reaching out their long necks and snapping at Luna-Lu just short of reaching her.

She backed away more.

I've only come to ask for your help,

She cried.

Nice trick,

Killer kitty,

Who put you up to this?

Is your daddy waiting to bounce on us,

His to another?

Luna-Lu tried to explain,

But it was no use.

They didn't trust her.

She would have to think of something else.

She turned to go back to her train car,

Her tail between her legs.

Luna-Lu slinked away and ran past the animal cars,

Only aware of the loud glimmer echoing in the narrow halls.

Behind her,

She heard hooves,

But she was afraid to stop.

Wait,

Wait,

Wait.

Did she hear that right?

She looked behind her to see a young giraffe galloping after her.

Please wait,

He called.

Luna-Lu stopped in her tracks.

The giraffe got up and stood half the length of the car away from Luna-Lu.

You said you needed help,

Right?

He asked gently.

Luna-Lu guessed he must be a teenager by the looks of his height.

So,

What kind of help do you need?

Luna-Lu softened.

Oh,

You're not afraid of me,

She asked.

Let's just say I believe that's why you came,

Said the giraffe.

Seeing that Luna-Lu was frazzled and distraught,

He offered.

My name is Fabulous Fred,

He said.

She looked up at him,

A little surprised at the adjective that went with his name.

Smiling,

She said.

Luna-Lu,

Pleased to meet you.

She then led Fabulous Fred down the hall to the next car,

Where the lions were behind closed doors,

And they could safely talk.

Luna-Lu explained what had happened to her turtle.

She knew that only a giraffe could reach the light on the ceiling where Tallulah was camped out.

Just then,

A door opened,

And an unfamiliar light.

Quick,

Insisted Luna-Lu.

In here.

She ushered Fabulous Fred into her own drink cart,

Where her father and Tallulah would be.

The roar of the lion in the hallway made Fabulous Fred shudder.

He shook all over to release the fear,

Just as Luna-Lu had done herself.

Papa was reading the newspaper next to the window,

Wearing spectacles and drinking tea.

He looked up to greet the young giraffe with a surprised grin.

Well,

Who have we here?

He asked.

Fabulous Fred was quite shocked at the sight of such a stately lion,

So close and yet so composed.

He took a few clumsy steps backward with his long-spotted legs slightly tangled towards the door.

Don't worry,

Fabulous Fred,

Said Luna-Lu.

My dad won't hurt you.

He had a big breakfast,

And his belly is full.

Fabulous Fred did not look especially reassured.

Relax,

Offered Papa.

Any friend of Luna-Lu's is a friend of mine,

He said.

Fabulous Fred took a deep breath and looked at Luna-Lu,

Whose eyes were fixed on the light hanging overhead.

He followed her gaze.

Luna-Lu explained the situation and begged Fabulous Fred to give her turtle a lift back to her.

Fabulous Fred,

Without a word,

Then placed himself just beneath the light.

His lengthy neck reached up to the side of the Tiffany light fixture,

So it was at eye level.

Aha,

He said,

Peering over the glass.

There she is.

He smiled a big toothy smile.

Hello,

Tallulah.

Soon enough,

Tallulah emerged,

Stretching out her little neck to look around.

Without hesitation,

She crawled upon Fabulous Fred's furry head.

Slowly but surely,

Tallulah climbed down his long neck,

Enjoying the unexpected free ride.

Fabulous Fred then bent his neck down to where Luna-Lu could reach Tallulah and reclaim her precious turtle.

She hugged Tallulah and cried with relief.

You are safe.

You are okay.

Oh,

Thank you,

Fabulous Fred,

She cried.

You saved the day.

Yes,

Thank you,

Fabulous Fred,

Said Papa.

And thank you,

Great Spirit,

Whispered.

The lions then walked Fabulous Fred back to his train car,

Passing all sorts of other animals.

Who stared in disbelief at the papal lion,

The lion cub,

The giraffe,

And the turtle,

Clustered together harmoniously.

When the group reached the giraffe car,

There was a great realization of peace,

And the sight of Tallulah rode upon Luna-Lu.

Fabulous Freddy,

Who stood over them,

And Papa,

Whose nobility commanded instant awe,

The previously afraid and angry giraffes began to relax,

And just as the story of their collaborative rescue concluded,

The train screeched to a final stop.

The train car doors opened,

And the giraffes left the train for the flowered pastures outside.

Fabulous Fred's father,

An eight-foot-tall giraffe with deep copper markings,

Gracefully approached Luna-Lu and Papa as he left the confines of his car to depart.

Omar,

Freddy's father.

Pleased to meet you,

Omar,

Replied an equally poised Papa.

Thank you for your son's kind service,

He said.

Yes,

Added Luna-Lu.

If it weren't for your son,

I wouldn't have my turtle Tallulah back.

The thanks is all mine,

Replied Omar.

You've given our Freddy a great gift,

Declared the giraffe towering over the lions.

From this experience he has taken away a great treasure best bestowed by your breed.

Courage.

Luna-Lu thought about this.

It was true that Fabulous Freddy had been very brave to go against his whole tribe just to help and what love was his courage born from?

Perhaps the love of helping someone in need.

So asking for help helped the helper too.

That would make it easier to ask next time,

She thought.

As they stepped into the lush paradise before them and off the train,

Luna-Lu and Fabulous Freddy,

Whom she now simply knew as Freddy,

Went to play in a sparkly waterfall nearby.

Papa and Omar retreated to the bushes to talk business,

For they had become fast friends,

Sharing a great many interests.

Wandering through a vast wonderland of beauty,

Luna-Lu and her friends came upon a magnificent waterfall.

The three rainbows in the sky reflected all the colors of the spectrum onto the water,

So they could see rainbow colors in the grape spray gushing down from the rocks above.

There was a pleasant pond at the base where the water pooled,

Making a perfect swimming hole for Luna-Lu,

Freddy,

And Tallulah.

They splashed about and played until sunset.

Against a pink and orange sky,

A great eagle circled overhead and came to land gently on a rock next to Luna-Lu.

Pardon me,

Miss,

Began the eagle.

Word travels fast around here.

I've heard through the grapevine,

Shall we say,

That your turtle was found inexplicably in the ceiling light on the train.

Is that accurate?

He queried.

How does it get there,

Do you know?

Luna-Lu shook her head,

Wondering if this was one of the strangers she was not supposed to talk to.

Only then did she realize she hadn't stopped to ask herself how Tallulah got up to the light since she had been rescued.

You don't know,

He persisted.

No,

Replied Luna-Lu,

This puzzle had yet to be solved.

This puzzle had yet to be solved,

It was true.

What type of turtle is she?

Asked the eagle.

I don't know,

Answered Luna-Lu,

Perplexed.

She's just a regular turtle.

She likes land and water and flowers and lights and pretty things.

What about fire and air?

Interjected the eagle.

Luna-Lu was truly stumped.

She'd never heard of a fire or air type of turtle.

She was speechless.

The eagle grew impatient with her ignorance and concluded that he would find his answer with observation.

His big eagle wings opened as wide as Freddy the giraffe was tall,

And off he flew.

Luna-Lu turned her attention back to the swimming hole.

Freddy was waiting about,

Talking to an orange and turquoise parrot,

But where was Tallulah?

She joined him in the water and asked Freddy if he knew where Tallulah had gone.

Freddy hesitated to share what he knew for this time.

He was not sufficiently tall enough to bring her back.

Luna-Lu swam closer to Freddy,

Who'd gone silent.

She could see a look of concern in his big almond-shaped brown eyes.

All right,

Freddy,

Out with it.

Where is she this time?

He took a long pause and bent his graceful neck down to make eye contact with Luna-Lu.

I'm afraid this time,

Said Freddy gingerly,

Tallulah the turtle has gone to the moon.

Luna-Lu turned around and found the silvery moon behind her way up above in the sky.

Captivated,

She stared at the moon.

It looked different somehow.

A shadow cast over it.

Yes,

A shadow in the shape of a turtle.

It must be Tallulah.

She became sure of it.

This discovery was upsetting,

Yet a relief.

Deeply troubling.

Although,

Good news.

Oh dear,

Oh dear,

Thought Luna-Lu.

Here we go again.

But this time,

Freddy can't fix it.

Oh dear,

Oh dear.

How she hated to worry.

After all,

Scary thoughts could bring about scary things.

Oh dear,

Oh dear,

Tallulah.

You are staggering and brilliant,

Maddening and inspiring.

Come back to me,

Tallulah.

Oh dear,

Oh dear.

Her thoughts circled and cancelled each other out,

Then circled back again.

Luna-Lu could clearly see this with her very own third eye.

I must put a stop to these looping thoughts,

She declared.

With that,

Luna-Lu ran out of the water and shook off wildly,

Spraying a wet mist around all the flora and fauna in her vicinity.

Once her flurry had dried her off and soaked the orange and turquoise parrot along with a peacock and gazelle or two,

She became very still.

Very still.

She closed her eyes and took three deep breaths.

Then she said gently,

Great spirit,

Please send a miracle and reunite me with my turtle.

There,

Papa and Omar appeared from the brush,

Laughing and chatting like they had been friends for decades.

Despite their revelry,

Papa could tell upon their approach that Luna-Lu was in distress.

There was that look again.

When she told them what had happened,

Omar spoke soothingly.

Much happens beyond what the eye can see,

He began.

It seems your pet turtle has retractable wings.

They fit neatly beneath the shell when not in use.

The others stared in disbelief.

We're under there if you didn't ask to see them.

And why would you ask to see something that you didn't know was there?

But wouldn't I have seen her fly if she could,

She asked Omar.

We are best friends.

There are a great many powers that each animal possesses,

Which you will never see,

Answered Omar patiently.

We have our reasons not to share,

He said.

But then there comes a time to let it all hang out.

Luna-Lu gave Freddy a quizzical glance.

He shrugged his giraffe shoulders and turned back to hear what his father would reveal with clarity.

Great interest.

For example,

Said Omar,

I have a retractable neck that stretches to any length.

Luna-Lu perked up.

Any length,

She asked.

Oh yes,

He replied.

I've never tested it beyond infinity with that much it can do,

He said teasingly.

And with that,

Omar's neck began to extend up and up and up past the trees and the mountains and the clouds,

All the way to the silver turtle moon.

Thank you,

Omar,

Said Papa,

Utterly mystified at the sight.

Thank you,

Great Spirit,

Whispered Luna-Lu.

Luna-Lu,

Good night,

Sleep tight.