Week 9 Storytelling: Timmy the Turtle

Once upon a time, there was a turtle named Timmy. On the day he cracked his egg he looked up into the sky and saw birds flying. "I want to do that!" he declared. All of his brothers and sisters laughed at him and his mom looked at him with sad eyes said, "You will never fly Timmy. You are a turtle."

So while Timmy grew up he tried all sorts of things to fly. He jumped from tall rocks, he spun around really fast, he even made a ramp and tried to skateboard into the sky! However, none of them worked. His siblings would gather around every time he tried so they could laugh at him when he failed.

Turtle on Skateboard from Inspirational Feed

Around the Fourth of July, Timmy had a great idea! He was going to attach one of the rockets to his shell! That HAD to make him fly! Timmy's brothers and sisters were all gathered around eating popcorn as they waited to see what happened next. Timmy duck taped the rocket onto his shell, put on a helmet, and lit the fuse.

10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, BLAST OFF!

Small Turtle with Rocket from Marketing Edge

The rocket erupted and instead of taking Timmy up into the sky it took him forward. He moved so fast he was not able to control where he was going and he smashed into a tree. Timmy heard the eruption of laughter behind him. He tried to hold back tears but he couldn't so he retreated into his shell. He was done. He was never going to fly. Suddenly he heard a loud flapping sound and a thud as someone landed right beside him.

"Who in the world bumped into my tree?? the voice asked. "Whoever did it must be as mighty as a bear because it shook the whole tree and woke me up at the very top!"

Timmy slowly emerged from his shell and saw a large bird looking down at him. "I am sorry." said Timmy. "I ran into your tree because of the rocket. I did not mean to wake you up!"

"Why do you have the rocket?" the bird asked.

"Because I wanted to fly..." Timmy said looking down in embarrassment.

"Wanted to?" asked the bird.

"Well I have wanted to since I was a little hatchling. I keep trying Mr. Bird, but I can't do it."

"What's your name turtle?"

"Timmy."

"I am going to help you fly Timmy the Turtle." the bird said. He looked around and saw a stick. "Grab onto this Timmy and hold on tight."

Timmy grabbed it with his mouth and held on as tight as he could. Mr. Bird took off and lifted Timmy with him high above the clouds. Finally, Timmy could fly.

Author's note: I based this story off of The Tortoise and the Geese. In the original story the tortoise is carried by the geese and then falls because he wants to say something to those that are making fun of him. This becomes a lesson to a talkative king that then learns to only say something when it is necessary. I was inspired by this story and I wanted to change it to a turtle who dreamed about flying. I did not want to end with him falling so I ended with him living his dream.

Bibliography: The Tortoise and the Geese by Noor Inayat (Khan)

Week 9 Reading Diary: Twenty Jataka Tales Part B

Twenty Jataka Tales

The Goblin Town

I really really liked this story. If I were to choose this for my storytelling this week I would like to tell the story from the point of view of the man that discovered that they were in a goblin town. I think it would be nice to stay along the same plot line but go deeper into it. It could start with the boat having trouble and then the crew knowing it was going to sink and how relieved they were to find land. I think the goblins were like sirens so I would like a description of how beautiful they were before they realized it was a deception. 

Elephant from The Safari Guide

The Great Elephant

I found this story very touching. It really captures the meaning of sacrifice for others. If I chose this as my story for this week I would retell it as a person that sacrificed something or themselves for their friends. 

The End of the World

This story has everything you could want including a flying lion! I like that this story had a "boy that cried wolf" feel to it. However, I feel like it ended too calmly. I know that if I were one of the animals running for my life because the earth was breaking I would be happy that it was not, but I would also be a little upset at the little hare for overreacting and causing the huge stampede that almost led all of them to their deaths. I would probably tell the story after the lion came back and use those emotions toward the little hare. 

Week 9 Reading Diary: Twenty Jataka Tales Part A

Twenty Jataka Tales

The Guilty Dogs

I want to mention this one because I think it would be a cute case for Wolfgang to solve in my storybook project. Wolfgang could solve for who ruined the straps on the royal chariot. Perhaps the chief of the dogs would seek out Wolfgang for help so that all of the dogs in the city would not be slaughtered. It would be cute because it would be like the children's stories Wolfgang had solved in the past and because it would introduce talking animals into this new world he has found himself in called India.

The Tortoise and the Geese by yam50 on Deviantart

The Tortoise and the Geese

I enjoyed this story. I like the lesson that just because you can talk doesn't mean you always should. Some things are better left unsaid. I am curious like the children though as to why the tortoise was flying. I know the story says he was going to see the home of the geese, but I think it would be cute to write a story about a tortoise or turtle that really wanted to fly. He had a friend that was a goose and agreed to take him into the sky. However, once the children started to make fun of them he decided to make a remark back. This was a very bad decision because when he fell he broke his shell and couldn't walk or fly ever again. Or perhaps something similar. I may change for a happier ending, It would be terribly tragic if the dreaming turtle died. However, he should still be punished for talking because that is the lesson for the children hearing the story. Or I could be completely different and teach the children to dream instead.