The Girl and the Rainbow Turtle

The Girl and the Rainbow Turtle - Author : Ebru Mina TOMURCUK

Maya loved to explore the woods behind her house. One sunny morning, she put on her yellow rain boots and blue overalls with the red pocket. Her curly black hair bounced in two little puffs as she skipped along the path. She carried a small net and a big smile. Today, she hoped to find something special by the old pond. 1

When Maya reached the pond, she gasped. The water was gray and dull. The flowers were pale, and even the sky seemed to have lost its blue. Everything looked sad and washed out. Maya sat on a smooth rock and wondered what had happened. Then she heard a tiny splash. Something was gliding toward her. 2

A turtle climbed onto the rock. His shell was striped in red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and purple. It shimmered like a rainbow! His amber eyes were kind, and he wore a small woven reed bracelet on one leg. 'Hello,' said the turtle. 'I am Rainbow Turtle. I have been waiting for someone like you.' Maya's hazel eyes opened wide. 3

'Long ago, this pond was full of colors,' said Rainbow Turtle. 'But one day, the colors faded away. No one knows why. I have tried to bring them back, but I am too slow.' Maya looked at the gray water and the pale flowers. 'We can do it together!' she said. 'I am fast, and you are wise.' The turtle smiled, and his shell sparkled. 4

Just then, a tiny frog hopped onto Maya's boot. He was bluegreen with big golden eyes and a red berry hat. 'I heard you need help!' he croaked. 'I am Pip, the fastest hopper in the pond!' He jumped in a loop and landed on Rainbow Turtle's shell. Maya laughed. 'Welcome, Pip!' she said. 'We are going to bring the colors back.' 5

Rainbow Turtle explained, 'The colors are hidden in special places around the pond. We must find each one and bring it back.' He pointed a front leg toward a patch of pale flowers. 'The first color is red. It hides in the red berry bushes. Pip, you are small enough to reach it.' Pip saluted. 'Red berry, here I come!' 6

Pip hopped to the berry bushes. The berries were pale pink, not red. 'How do I bring the red back?' he wondered. He remembered that red berries are sweet. He took a tiny bite and smiled. Suddenly, the berry glowed bright red! The color spread to the flowers. Maya clapped. 'One color down!' she cheered. 7

Next, Rainbow Turtle said, 'The orange color hides in the fallen leaves. It is under the big oak tree.' Maya ran to the oak tree. She found a pile of dull leaves. She picked one up and saw a tiny orange ladybug sleeping on it. 'Wake up, little friend!' she whispered. The ladybug flew up, and the leaves turned bright orange. 8

The yellow color was in the sunflowers, but they were pale and drooping. 'They need sunshine and water,' said Rainbow Turtle. Maya fetched water from the pond in her net and sprinkled it on the flowers. Pip did a funny dance to make them laugh. The sunflowers lifted their heads. Their petals turned bright yellow and shone like little suns. 9

The green color was in the lily pads. They were gray and limp. 'They need to be tickled,' said Rainbow Turtle with a wink. Maya gently tickled the pads with a reed. Pip jumped on them, one by one. The lily pads turned bright green and spread across the pond. 'Two more colors to go!' said Maya. 10

The blue color was in the dragonflies. They were hiding under the dock, too shy to fly. 'They need to feel brave,' said Rainbow Turtle. Maya cupped a dragonfly in her hands and whispered, 'You are beautiful and brave.' The dragonfly buzzed its wings and flew up. Its body turned bright blue, and it danced in the air. 11

The last color was purple. It was in the water lilies, but they were closed tight. 'They need a special song,' said Rainbow Turtle. Maya and Pip sang a silly song about purple polka dots. The lilies opened their petals and turned a deep, rich purple. The pond was now full of colors! Maya hugged Rainbow Turtle. 12

All around the pond, colors sparkled. Red berries, orange leaves, yellow sunflowers, green lily pads, blue dragonflies, and purple water lilies. The water shimmered with every color of the rainbow. Rainbow Turtle's shell glowed even brighter. 'You did it, Maya!' he said. 'You and Pip brought the colors back with kindness and teamwork.' 13

Friends from all over the pond came to celebrate. Fireflies twinkled like tiny stars. Fish leaped and splashed. Pip wore his red berry hat and did a happy dance. Maya twirled in her yellow rain boots. Rainbow Turtle smiled his gentle smile. 'Being different is wonderful,' he said. 'Your differences are what make you special.' 14

Maya looked at her friends. Pip was tiny but brave. Rainbow Turtle was slow but wise. She was small but determined. 'We are all different,' she said, 'and that is what makes us a great team!' They all cheered. The pond sparkled with color and joy. It was the best day ever. 15

From that day on, Maya visited the pond every week. She and Rainbow Turtle remained best friends. Pip always greeted her with a funny hop. The pond stayed bright and colorful, because friendship and kindness kept the colors alive. And whenever Maya saw a rainbow, she thought of her shell-striped friend and smiled.