A Dance with Death

Mr. Turtle & I just before I released him.

Today, my dad's friend offered to take my dad, sister and I sailing.  Of course we agreed, and in the afternoon we set out to our meeting place.  On our way there though, we stopped at a 4-way crossing to see a man run out into the middle of the road grab something and then place it at the curb.  Soon we realized this man saved the turtle from the dangers of the highway.  But my family being my family knew that on the edge of this highway, this turtle was probably going to plod back onto the road and eventually face death in the form of a tire wheel.  So, my dad pulled over and I jump out and grab the turtle (which we named oh-so-cleverly "Mr. Turtle").  This whole time the guy who first moved him saw us take the turtle away.  I'm sure he must've thought we were painted turtle smugglers or something.  Anyway, after a nice little car ride with Mr. Turtle and my older sister taking him (or stealing) from me we finally pulled over by a bridge.  We made the journey through the long grass (there were more weeds than grass though) to the river below.  At this point my sister returned Mr. Turtle to me and told me to go down to the water and put him into his new home.  Unluckily for me, it was the hard part considering the bank was non-existent and more like a two-foot mini cliff and then the deep water below.  I did manage however to get Mr. Turtle into the water unharmed, and I'm sure now he's having the time of his life in the nice clean water free from cars and roads living out his life like he's supposed to.  I feel good now knowing I saved an animal's life.  Something is just so gratifying about saving a turtle.  Try it out if you haven’t already!