because at times he got confused
could not remember if he was
a tortoise or a turtle.
Had Muddle been brought up
in the wild
he would not have been confused,
but he was brought up in captivity
and now he was not sure what he was suppose to be.
Now Muddle lived a sheltered life.
He had no friends or playmates
to keep him company.
Then one day in his glass cage,
his owners put in someone new.
Now he had someone to talk to.
The newcomer stayed in his shell
afraid to come out. He felt safe in there,
thinking no one could see him
when he was
tucked inside his shell.
Muddle moved up to him
and nudged him with his shell.
“Have you gone to sleep in there? ”
Muddle asked as turtles do.
“Come on out,
no one is going to hurt you.”
The stranger poked his head out
and gave a look around.
“Who are you? ” he asked.
“My name is Muddle. What is your name? ”
“My name is Timmy
because I’m rather timid.”
After their introductions,
Muddle and Timmy
settled in for a long chat.
They talked to on another
between little snacks,
from sunrise to sunset.
Now Muddle had his company,
someone he always wanted,
and Timmy had a friend too.
They both lived together happily
and as they grew older
Muddle found he wasn’t Muddle at all.
As it turned out
Muddle was not Muddle,
But Marianne.
He was not a boy, but a little girl.
Now Marianne and Timmy
live together happily.
They are hoping for
the patter of little feet
in the not to distant future
as they start their family
and live happily ever after.
6 – 7 May 2008