stranded turtle

stranded turtle

fiction
edward w pritchard

Sunday morning, bright and early and all the people myself included are out for the weekly exercise. Marching in file along a cramped track between an old canal and a railroad track.

Several large snapping turtles choose this morning to cross the trail moving on to their secret purposes. Of course the walkers and bike riders have to poke the turtles with sticks and kick at them with their new tennis shoes; for the turtles own protection. No sadly, no turtle snapped onto anyone's finger or other appendage. Too bad they hang on till dusk you know even if you cut off the head. People interfere with the animals out of a sense of entitlement and higher purpose.

Why do the people grab the turtle and move them here and there. The turtle is just a dumb animal but it notices the people look fat and stupid; myself excluded of course.