The Great Snapping Turtle Adventure by Yaruta-Young Susan

Author:Yaruta-Young, Susan
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Secant Publishing

CHAPTER 8

THE RIDE OUT FROM THE End of the World seemed faster than the ride there. Fred and the boys passed watermen headed home from the markets. Each time they met a truck, they would pull over, and in each case such courtesy was met with a friendly wave or shout of “Thank-ee kindly!”

Back in the town of Vienna, Fred checked into the Vienna Inn. It was a tall, old brick house right on the Nanticoke River. Wild geese and mallard ducks swam down the river and white swans rested with their black bills tucked deeply into their long-feathered wings.

“This is great!” Max announced as he peered out the third-floor window to the water below. “Can we explore?”

“Sure. Miss Marie, the owner, said for you to check around by the water. All kinds of interesting things wash up there. She also said it would be ‘just fine’ for you to place Cinderella in her basket down where the waves can lap over her and keep her cool.”

“Good. We don’t want her to get sun stroke or anything,” said Charles.

“Well, it’s pretty late in the day for that. She’s more liable to get moon struck,” said Fred. “Better tie her up before you get cleaned up for dinner, as it’s probably rather muddy down there. I’ll take my shower while you’re gone.”

“Yeah! ’Cause I’m starved!” yelled Charles, running from their room and heading for the steps.

“Shhhhh!” Fred stage-whispered after him.

Outside, Charles and Max placed Cinderella and her basket-coach under the tall marsh reeds. The waves lapped up against the bottom of the basket, making a shhh-shhh sound.

“I think she’ll like it here, don’t you? asked Charles.

“Yeah. Say Charles, I’ve been thinking,” said Max slowly. “We’re not going to eat this turtle.”

“No, I don’t think we could. She’s gotten to be a friend.”

The boys watched the basket sway from left to right as Cinderella adjusted to her new environment.

“Definitely mean,” Charles agreed.

“Yeah, but you know, you’d act mean too if someone scooped you up, hung you upside down, by your tail, the way ol’ Hattie Harriston did. Then someone else locks you in a basket with a lid tied down on it. Geez, that’s no fun.”

“Yeah, well, we can turn her loose in the garden at Turkey Legs Toni’s house like we talked about. She’ll like it there where there’s a garden to lay her eggs and a pond to swim around in,” said Charles.

“But there’s also the road. It’s not far from the pond, you know. And nobody stops for anything on that road. You know how many little chipmunks, rabbits and squirrels get killed there. Not to mention big animals like opossum and raccoon,” said Max sadly.

“I know. It’s like some drivers are just trying to kill the animals. They don’t even brake,” said Charles, feeling angry and sad for all the little creatures he’d seen dead not far from his house.

“But down here, it’s different. The roads are different. They’re small and nobody can drive fast or else they might end up upside down in the marsh,” said Max.

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