Outstanding Stories » The Talkative Tortoise

“The Talkative Tortoise” is one of the outstanding stories (sub-junior) of the second biannual International Short Story Contest 2018 written by Rehan Shaikh, Shree Vallabh Sanskar Dham, India.

The Talkative Tortoise

Once there was a tortoise and two swans. They were very good friends and they lived in a small pond near a village. They all were living so happily with each other. But in summer season, due to the heat, there was a drought that lasted for a long time. As a result, the water of the pond started to dry up.

There was so little water for them to drink. People of the village started saving water by filling their vessels. So it was difficult for the swans and tortoises to survive there. So they decide to move away from there and go to another pond near the forest. The swans knew that they can fly and reach to another pond fast but what about the tortoise?

After thinking a lot, they got an idea. The swans told the tortoise that they will hold a stick from each side and he has to hold it with his mouth till they reach the new place. But the tortoise knew about his nature that he couldn’t control his talk and he will speak in between. So he refused to do it. He told his friends to start moving and he will come there slowly.

So the swans moved from there. Then the tortoise started walking slowly from there. While walking, the tortoise met many people on his way. It stopped and talked with them nicely and they all give him something to eat as well as some water. It usually takes two-three days but he still did not reach to the other pond. So the swans came back again looking for the tortoise. When they came back, they met him on their way. They saw him and felt relieved as he was safe. Then they walked with the tortoise and reached safely at the pond and started living happily there. After some days, it rained heavily and there was plenty of water again.

Moral: We should act according to our nature.