Being a low, slow shelled being in a fast high world is a tall order on the best of days.
Which means it is an especially tall order these days.
On the plus side, you have your handy box – right up on top of your own back – if you just want to curl up inside and call it a day.
But every time you try it, your large shell-less rescue mama starts anxiously muttering something about “cuteness deprivation” and comes poking around inside your habitat to see if you are okay.
She dangles plump wriggling earthworms in front of you (and who can resist those?).
She points the small rectangular flashing device – the shiny and really good-looking one that looks so much like, well, you – right at you so she can pinpoint your exact location.
She circles your enclosure, peering under every hiding rock and inside every manly man-box turtle cave.
Finally, you get it. You realize that it is not just about you anymore.
You have a family now. And – amazingly – they need you.
So you open up the box. You extract one (adorable) yellow-dotted leg after another. Then you pop your tiny perfect tail and your smooth ivory and olive head out as well.
This gives your nervous rescue mommy a confirming glimpse of bright orange cheek patches and whirling red eyes.
The moment she sees you, her own brown eyes light up and her worried face curves into a big relieved smile.
She feels better. You can tell.
You bravely showed your face and made her day. And now she feels braver too.
Pearl, Malti, Bruce & their mama
No rest for the super adorable!
It’s an exhausting schedule – I can attest to that from seeing all that “cuteness output” firsthand! 😂