A Little Help, Please!

  When one thinks of turtles, thoughts of slow moving, slow thinking critters come to mind.  Not many folks think that these critters have feelings and can, in their own way, ask for help.  I wish I could have videoed an encounter this morning.  It was heart-warming, to say the least.  

  As usual, I made my rounds through the small gardens at daybreak.  I could tell that the weather was not going to play nicely with the plants so I had intentions of giving every plant I could reach a good soaking with the water hose.  These plans were waylaid for a bit as I found a friend in need at the garden gate and, I must say, this friend truly asked nicely.  A small box turtle was waiting for me at the gate to the veggie patch.  There, a few scraggly tomato plants and a couple of pepper plants are all that are hanging on by a thread.  I bid my friend a good morning and asked if she needed any help.  The turtle immediately turned about face and went into the garden.  I followed like a dutiful servant.  She headed straight to a tomato plant that had a couple of ripe tomatoes still dangling on the higher branches.  To get her point across, she reached her front foot up on the tomato crate and looked at me longingly.  Yep, this turtle just literally asked for a tomato!  I grinned and promptly pulled off the largest, broke it in half and laid it on the ground in front of the turtle.  She immediately started munching the red tomato.  I could tell she was one happy turtle. 

  I left her in peace and started watering the plants.  After a bit, I noticed that she was not only enjoying the tomato breakfast but seemed to love the cooling water that was tricking around her.  Well...I might as well water the turtle, too!  She was blissful and seemed to fully appreciate my kindness.  After completing the task at hand, I turned to see Friend Turtle nudging along the fence line as she tried to get to the other side.  Ok...time to "aid the turtle" again.  I scooped her up and set her on the other side of the fence.  Freedom!  She scuttled off into the cooling shade under the fig trees.  There, she nestled down into the (now wet) leaves ready to wait out the scorching daylight hours.  Sweet thing!  It made me feel good to offer a helping hand.  Be kind to all, folks.  Just be kind.