Tobi Turtlebug Helps Save a Friend

v a e S a o F t r s i e p l n e d H

Story and Illustration

by Norm Nanstiel

The Life and Adventures of an Unusual Tuttle

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v a e S a o F t r s i e p l n e d H The Life and Adventures of an Unusual Turtle Story and Illustration by Norm Nanstiel

As turtles go, Tobi was rather small; but he did have something special about him; his shell was a bright red with big black spots on it.

When other turtles saw him they thought he looked like a big ladybug and soon he was known as Tobi Turtlebug.

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Tobi and his friend Petal were enjoying a nice afternoon at the pond when Deedee, their chickadee friend, flew down to them, all upset.

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“Come quickly!” Deedee cried out “Freddie, is in a terrible fix!”

Petal gasped and Tobi asked, “What happened?”

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“He was crossing the meadow when a very naughty boy picked him up and put him on a fence post, upside-down!

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I tried to help him but he is much too big for me to move!”

Petal cried, “Oh, poor Freddie!

We must go help him!”

Tobi said, “Lead us to him.

We’ll see what we can do.”

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Deedee flew ahead over the hayfield, toward the fence.

She stopped several times at little bushes to wait for Tobi and Petal to catch up.

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It took a while because, well, they are turtles.

They arrived at the fence to see poor Freddie, helpless on top of a post.

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Petal shouted up to him, “Freddie, are you okay?”

Freddie twisted his head around and replied, “Do I look okay?!

No, I’m NOT okay!

All I can do is look at the sky and wave my feet.”

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“Get me down from here before a hawk sees me!”

Petal looked at Tobi and asked, “What can we do?

We can’t climb a post and if he falls he will hurt himself!”

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Tobi replied, “Give me a minute to think of something.”

Then Tobi closed his eyes and asked Also for some help. ‘Also, if you’re there, please help me find a way to save Freddie.’

Please help me find a way to save Freddie

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Of course, Also was there and said to Tobi, so only he could hear;

“Open your eyes and look around. Tell me what you see that can help get Freddie down safely?”

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So Tobi opened his eyes and looked all around.

He looked at Freddie’s post, he looked at the hayfield, he looked at the next post and it had an angled brace holding it up.

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Tobi said to Also and himself, ‘I can climb that brace on the next post and use the cross rail to get over to Freddie.’

Also replied; “Great!

Now how will you get him down safely?”

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Tobi looked at the hay in the field once more and thought; ‘We can cut down some of that hay and make a soft landing place around the post.’

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“Excellent!” said Also.

“You had better get to work before a hawk comes and sees Freddie as an easy meal.”

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Tobi told his plan to Petal and Deedee, they all started to cut down as much hay as they could, as fast as they could.

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While they were cutting and hauling hay, Petal said; “When you get up to the cross rail it will be dangerous to balance on it all the way to Freddie’s post!”

Tobi replied; “I know but I have to do it to save Freddie!”

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Freddie heard them talking and said, “This is not MY post! I never want to see this post again; stop calling it MY post!”

Petal giggled under her breath and shouted up to her brother, “Sorry.”

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Soon they had the bottom of the post all surrounded by a soft mat of hay.

Then Tobi said, “Okay, we’re ready, here I go.” and he headed over to the brace.

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Tobi started the long climb up the brace.

He slipped a couple of times but held on tight until he got his balance back.

Soon he was stepping onto the fence cross rail.

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“I’m halfway there; hang on Freddie!”

Freddie looked up at the sky and said, “I can’t hang on to anything; remember?”

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Also whispered in Tobi’s head;

“You’re doing fine Tobi, just keep your goal in mind; getting Freddie down safely.”

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Just then Deedee looked up in the sky and saw a hawk gliding high over the cornfield on the other side of the fence.

“Ahh, Tobi? Don’t look now but we have company!” she chirped.

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Tobi looked up and saw the hawk too. Also told Tobi;

“Tell them to be very still and you move slow and steady. I’ll see if I can distract that hawk.”

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“Everybody, hold very still.

Get ready to hide in the hay if he gets closer; I’m almost there.”

Slowly, Tobi inched closer toward Freddie, hoping that Also could give them time to finish the plan.

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Just as Tobi reached the post Deedee cried out, “I think the hawk saw you, he’s starting to dive in this direction. Hurry Tobi!”

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Tobi stood on his hind legs and stretched his head up to try to push Freddie off the post but all he did was start Freddie spinning like a top on the post.

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The hawk was getting closer.

All of a sudden, a flock of birds flew up from the cornfield. The hawk veered to miss them and stopped his dive toward Freddie.

Something other than the hawk had frightened the birds.

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Tobi thought to himself, ‘Thank you Also!’

Also replied;

“You’re welcome.

Now get Freddie down from there!”

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Tobi braced himself and yelled to Freddie, “Stick your head out so I can catch it!” Freddie did, and as he spun, WHAM!, their heads bumped together and knocked both of them off of the post.

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Down they fell, spinning in the air.

“PULL IN!” Tobi shouted and they both drew their heads and feet into their shells just before hitting the ground.

Both of them bounced several times on the soft hay.

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Tobi stood up, shook his head to stop the world from spinning then said, “Quick, we have to get safely into the hayfield before the hawk comes back!”

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Deedee flew to the safety of some small bushes and the three turtles moved as fast as they could into the tall hayfield.

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They all met back at the pond where Petal hugged Freddie saying, “I was so afraid for you. I’m glad you are okay now.”

Freddie smiled and said, “I’m just glad Deedee found you and Tobi to come and help. I would still be up on that post… or worse!”

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Petal turned to Tobi saying, “You were so brave Tobi!

How did you figure out just the right thing to do to save Freddie?”

She kissed Tobi on the cheek.

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Tobi blushed and said, “I only did what I had to do.

Besides, I had a little help from those birds.

I’m just glad we’re all together and safe.”

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Thanks, Also!

Tobi looked up and thought to himself, ‘Thanks, Also!’

There was no reply.

Tobi just smiled.

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The Life and Adventures of an Unusual Tuttle 40