The Wishing Tortoise
‘It is a wishing tortoise. Made a real profit for me in Wyoming.’ Kurt, the stall keeper, said.
‘How much for that purple coloured tortoise?’ Maddox Belden’s mother, Audrey Belden, asked the stall keeper loudly.
He and his mother were at the local fair, an exhibition that came only once a year. All of his friends’ mothers also went crazy just like his mother. When she first heard about it, she went berserk, starting to yell happy words. People considered her to be a bit fanatical but that was what made her extra special. She was also very superstitious and believed anything a tarot reader or a crystal ball reader said. His mom had already bought a pair of gypsy earrings, an Egyptian bracelet and two pairs of polka dot stockings. Added to this list was the purple coloured tortoise.
‘That is fifty dollars.’ the South-African stall keeper said.
‘What? Fifty dollars for this?’ his mom said outrageously. ‘I’ll give you thirty dollars for that.’
A series of quick dialogues were thrown at each other, his mom bargaining crazily. Finally, ten minutes later, the stall keeper sold the tortoise for thirty three dollars.
‘There is nothing to it, Middy. See, I got this funny-looking thing for thirty three bucks.’ Audrey said happily, eyeing the ceramic creature proudly.
‘Mom, I sometimes think you are crazy.’ Middy said fondly, looking up at her and laughing.
‘I know, baby. I know.’ his mom said. ‘Come on, Middy. Let’s get a cab and go home. Aren’t you feeling hungry?’
‘Yeah, I am getting a bit hungry. What is it for lunch? Don’t tell me you made lasagna again. It’s so boring eating that every day.’ Middy said.
‘No! I made pork and as a side dish, I sautéed some mushrooms. Happy with that?’ she said, laughing heartily.
They got a cab and asked the driver to take them to Sycamore Road. Since their house was near the airport, when they were nearing, Middy saw a plane whoosh past them, inches away from the ground. ‘Wow, mom! Did you see that? Did you see the plane just whiz past us? It was just a few feet away!’ he said excitedly.
When they got home, the first thing they did was show Middy’s father, Simon Belden, what they bought at the fair. They took each thing out of the bag.
‘See, these are a pair of Assamese tribe gypsy earrings. Aren’t they beautiful? They will go great with the yellow sundress I bought at Bernie’s. Now look at this. I bought one pair for me and one for Rebecca. Her birthday is coming and I thought it would be cool to gift her an awesome pair of green polka dot stockings. They will really go well with her olive top and blue jeans. And last, but not least, the purple coloured tortoise. Doesn’t it look cute? The stall keeper told me that it was a wishing tortoise. You write a wish in a piece of paper and put it in there. After some time, that wish will come true. Isn’t that just magical? I can’t wait to try it.’ Audrey prattled passionately.
‘How much did it all cost?’ Simon asked, like any normal person.
‘Why should we talk about the details? Besides, don’t you like any of this?’
‘Oh, geez! I don’t want to know. But yeah, they look nice.’
‘That is all you have to say?’ Audrey asked. ‘Men!’ she muttered under her breath.
‘I heard that.’ Simon said, grinning.
Audrey went up to her room and changed into a house dress. Then, she went down and served everyone her pan fried pork and sautéed mushrooms. She received good remarks from Simon and Maddox. ‘Thanks, guys.’ she said, taking the dirty plates and putting them in the dishwasher. She’d get to it later. Now, she wanted to see the tortoise in action. She tore a small piece of paper from a notebook and wrote a wish on it. She put it in the wishing tortoise, smiling.
‘Middy, what are you doing?’ she asked. She had been taking a nap for the past one hour.
‘I’m just writing a poem. It’s titled ‘The Burning Candle’. I’ll show it to you once I’m done with it.’ Middy said, going back to his poem.
‘Good work! I can’t wait to read it.’ Audrey said, going back up to her room. She took out her diary and wrote:
Dear Diary,
I’m so ecstatic today! I went to the Weaves exhibition and bought a pair of gypsy earrings, two pairs of polka dot stockings and a wishing tortoise. I had fun with little Middy, but he is growing up. I just have to let him go one day. He is writing a poem now. I told him I can’t wait to read it. I just don’t know how the ideas go to his mind. The poem he’s writing now is titled ‘The Burning Candle’. I mean, what is he going to write about a lit candle? The only thing I can come up with is that . . . well . . . okay, I can’t come up with anything! But what he is writing will be something amazing!
I put a wish in the tortoise already!! I hope it comes true one day . . .
‘Mom!! The poem is finished!’ Maddox yelled for downstairs.
‘Coming, sweetie. I’ll be there in a sec.’ Audrey said. She quickly got up and put her diary back in her cupboard. She clambered down the stairs. Maddox was waiting at the bottom, holding a piece of paper in his hand. ‘Here, mom.’ he said, beaming, handing her the paper. ‘It is really creative, honey. Well done!’ Audrey said, hugging her tiny ball of euphoria.
‘Thanks, mom!’ Maddox said gleefully. ‘Let me show it to dad.’ He took the paper and ran to the living room.
Eleven years passed from that time. Maddox was twenty five years old now. He was the most popular author and poet. He had written two books, ‘Elves And Pixies’ and ‘Smarter Than Bartholomew’. He was a success all over America and he had his family to thank for. They were his inspiration and his source of never-ending support and love.
‘Hey, mom!’ Maddox said, plopping beside her on the bouncy couch. They lived in this huge house in Los Angeles.
‘Middy, I knew that tortoise would work!’ Audrey said, chuckling. ‘I just knew it!’
‘What do you mean?’
‘Well, eleven years ago, on a windy day in March, we were at that local fair, remember? We had bought a purple coloured tortoise from there. That was the day you wrote the poem ‘The Burning Candle.’ I hadn’t told you but I had put in a wish in that ironstone china animal. You know what I wished for? I wished that my son would become a celebrated writer one day.’
Maddox was in awe.
