A Squirrel Named Turtle

9781483509471

Chapter One

The smell of gasoline and smoke were heavy in the air. His eyes and nose began to water and burn as the foreign stench worked its way in. The high-pitched whine of the chainsaw was deafening as Turtle watched the man in the orange hat tear into the flesh of the oak tree. Turtle’s claws dug deep into the bark of the dogwood he sat in. His eyes grew wide and his ears flattened against his head. He trembled in fear at the horrific scene playing out before him. As quickly as it had started, the saw fell silent.

The man in the orange hat cried out and a loud pop came from deep within the oak like a nightmarish scream. Turtle peeked between the green leaves of the dogwood tree and watched in horror as the mighty oak slammed to the ground. The forest rumbled, the dogwood shook violently, and then all was still. The man in the orange hat fired up his saw once again and went to work a second time on the titanic tree. Turtle shut his moist eyes and hung his head. The time to leave the north woods had come.

Turtle was born on an unusually warm morning for the season, just one minute after his brother Sam. His mother, Fern, had always wanted children and this day was the happiest day of her life, though her feelings were bitter sweet.

Two weeks before the birth of his sons, Turtle's father, Sam, was killed by a falling tree far from their home. Fern named her oldest son after his father, and she named Turtle after her best friend in the entire northern woods, Mrs. Pauline.

Mrs. Pauline was an old terrapin that lived down by the stream that ran through the woods. Fern believed Mrs. Pauline to have the highest intellect of any creature she’d ever known, and would often refer to her as such.

Despite Fern’s best efforts to compliment her friend, Mrs. Pauline would always have the same reply: Oh, honey, I’m nothing but an old turtle, what do I know?

Fern was well known throughout the squirrel community for having non-squirrel friends. She was born with a gift that allowed her to tell friend from foe. Be it bird, opossum, or wildcat, she could sense its true intentions. It was as if she could see through to the heart of them. Aside from her kindness, wisdom and beauty, it was this gift that Sam had fallen in love with the most.

Fern and Sam began their life together in a birch tree not far from the stream Mrs. Pauline called home. One day, while Sam and his best friend Bear were working on a new nest for his new family, Fern walked down to the stream for a drink. While drinking from the stream, she caught a glimpse of something very peculiar. It was Mrs. Pauline, rolled over on her back. She was kicking and flailing her legs as hard as she could but seemed to be unable to roll herself over. Fern, having a compassionate heart, rushed to her aid. Are you okay? said Fern.

Mrs. Pauline immediately pulled her arms, legs, and head into her shell with lightening speed. Who’s there, what do you want? she said.

Oh, I’m so very sorry to have frightened you. My name is Fern and I’m a squirrel. I saw you from over there by the stream and I thought maybe you could use my help.

Fern watched as the end of the shell cracked open and out of the darkness a pair of upside-down eyes and nostrils appeared. Mrs. Pauline stared up at Fern, who was smiling from ear to ear. You have a kind face, dear.

Thank you, said Fern.

Do you think you could roll an old turtle back to her feet?

Well, I’ve never rolled a turtle before but I guess I could try.

Fern hopped around to Mrs. Pauline’s side. She put her paws on the edge of the old turtle's shell and with all her strength rolled her over onto her flat underside. She stepped back and watched as four legs and a head slipped out of the cracks in the shell as if they were some slimy flower blooming from a rock.

Thank you so much, dearie. I was in a bit of a pinch there.

What happened? said Fern.

These darned old legs of my’ne is what happened. I tried to climb up the side of the bank and they gave out on me. Next thing I know, I’m upside down on my back. If you hadn’t come along when you did, some fox or coyote would have carried me off for sure, said Mrs. Pauline.

What’s your name? said Fern.

Everyone I know calls me Mrs. Pauline, but you can just call me Pauline, honey.

Well, I like Mrs. Pauline, said Fern. It seems to suit you.

There were not many days that passed in Fern's life, after their unusual meeting, that she did not walk down to the stream to visit Mrs. Pauline. The unusual pair spent many days together laughing, gossiping, and telling life stories. The days Fern did not come to the stream were most disappointing for Mrs. Pauline. She had not realized how lonely she was until the day Fern saved her life. Fern was her angel and Pauline would see her as nothing less.

It was unanimous when the votes came in to make Sam leader and protector of all the squirrels in the north woods. It broke Fern's heart but it did not surprise her. Next to Bear, Sam was probably the bravest squirrel she’d ever known. Sam anointed Bear his second-in-command, and together they hand- picked a few strong males from the colony to help with the job of keeping watch over the community. The job was the highest honor a squirrel could ever achieve but it was also the most dangerous. Fern was proud of Sam. She loved him more than anything and as much as she hated the thought of sharing him with the entire north woods, she kept quiet and showed him love when time permitted. It didn’t take long for the squirrels of the north woods to fall in love with Sam and Fern. In their eyes, the two could do no wrong.

The news of Fern's pregnancy spread fast. Squirrels from every corner of the woods came to congratulate them. Even some of the better nest builders gathered together to build a bigger, better nest for them. No one was happier to hear of the conception than Mrs. Pauline. You're gonna have little miracles, shouted Mrs. Pauline as she and Fern embraced. Children were all little miracles to her. She enjoyed the young of any species. Once, in her youth, Mrs. Pauline spent a month at the mercy of a human child but as luck would have it, the child sat her next to a stream while playing, not realizing the young turtle was a strong swimmer.

Children and the captivity of Mrs. Pauline were the topics of conversation the day Bear arrived on the rocky bank of the stream. One look at him and Fern knew; she knew it in her heart as it began to break. She closed her watery eyes and whispered to herself, Please, not Sam, not now.

Three days before the biggest tragedy to ever hit the north woods, Bear visited Sam and Fern at their home in the birch tree just after the sunlight faded out of the forest. Sam! yelled Bear, just a few branches down from the nest.

Who’s there? said Sam.

It’s me, dummy, I need to talk.

Sam stuck his head up and over the side of the nest and looked down at Bear. We were just going to sleep, said Sam.

It’s important. Come down here, grumbled Bear.

Come up here! Sam grumbled back.

It's official business! said Bear.

Fern raised her head and chimed in. Oh heaven forbid a girl should hear! Sam turned to look at Fern, who gave him a sarcastic smile. Just go down and talk to him so we can go to sleep! Fern said as she folded her arms.

Sam flashed a smile back, climbed over the side of nest and branch-hopped his way down to Bear. This better be good, Bear.

Well, it’s not good but it’s important; life and death important, replied Bear.

Go on, said Sam.

As you know, I’ve been gone a few days and while I was out I discovered something. Bear turned his head and looked out over the woods as if it were the last time he would ever see it.

The look on Bear's face alarmed Sam. Whatever it was Bear had seen, it had to be bad. In all the time Sam had known him, he’d never seen him scared, but right now, that was exactly what he was. What was it, Bear? What did you see out there? said Sam softly.

Bear turned back to Sam with a most serious look. It’s man. He’s entered north woods and he’s tearing it down.

What do you mean, he’s tearing it down? said Sam.

I mean he’s tearing it down! There are entire sections of the forest where the trees are gone and the ground is nothing but muddy dirt.

Are they heading toward us? said Sam

Yes, and there may be no stopping them. I think it's just a matter of time before all the trees you see around you are gone. I also think that we will all perish if we don’t leave now.

Sam was stunned. Fear began to creep up on him. We can’t leave; this is our home. Where are we going to go?

I don’t know, said Bear. Perhaps we could find our way to that squirrel sanctuary that Fern talks about.

That’s just a myth and you know it! said Sam.

What do you suggest we do then? said Bear.

I suggest that tomorrow morning we gather up the guys and you show us where the humans are. We’ll see if there’s a way to stop them.

And if we can’t? said Bear.

Then we’ll find a new home, but I’m not giving up this one without a fight, said Sam.

I’ll have Walnut, Bucky, and Tig meet us here at first light, said Bear.

Sounds like a plan, said Sam, climbing back up into the nest.

What was all that about? said Fern.

Nothing, replied Sam as he snuggled in between her and the side of the nest.

Nothing? I know Bear, he didn’t come out here this late for nothing, said Fern as she rolled over to face him.

Okay, okay. He’s been gone for a few days, and he says he saw men in the woods doing something he thinks I should see.

No! I’m pregnant. You can’t leave me here for who knows how long to go check out what humans are doing. They're too dangerous to be around.

It’ll be okay, Fern. It's nothing to worry about; besides, I have a duty to the community to uphold.

I don’t care about the community. I care about you, me, and our soon-to-be babies.

Sam put his paw on Fern's moving stomach. "This is why I have to go. Bear says that whatever these men are up to, it could be a threat to us. So I have to go, and not just