From Tortoise to Terrapin

Two tortoises, Terri and Tori, sat still staring at each other on a dry, sunny day.

“I’m thinking of becoming a terrapin,” Terri said.

“Really?” Tori replied. “Why?”

“It’s been hard being a tortoise. I know I look like one, but I’ve never really felt like one, you know?”

“Hmm. I don’t know. I’ve always looked and felt like a tortoise.”

“That’s what’s hard. It seems like most tortoises feel that way. But deep, deep down, it’s not how I feel.” Terri looked down solemnly and stared at the wilted grass. After several minutes, Terri looked up.

“But you know, there are a few other tortoises I’ve heard of who want to become terrapins. It seems like more tortoises want to become terrapins than ever before.”

“Yeah,” Tori said. “I’ve noticed that.”

“So maybe becoming a terrapin is a great thing.”

“Because other tortoises are doing it?”

“Yeah, it’s more normal.”

“It is more normal, in a way. But in another way, it’s not normal. Tortoises aren’t meant for the water, but terrapins are.”

“So?”

“So you’re a tortoise who wants to be made for the water, which isn’t how you’re made.”

“That’s why I need to become a terrapin.”

Tori looked down solemnly and stared at the wilted grass. After a few minutes, the tortoise had a thought and very slowly looked up at Terri.

"What about your shell?"

"What about it?"

"It's huge. Terrapins have little shells. You were made with a big shell."

"I don't like my big shell. That's another reason I need to become a terrapin, so I'll have a new one."

Tori and Terri stared at each other. They thought slowly but deeply. The dry breeze made them blink every few minutes.

Finally, Tori took one step toward Terri and said, “If you try to become a terrapin, it will be really hard.”

“How so?”

“Other tortoises.”

"How so?"

"Some tortoises will tell you you're crazy for wanting to become a terrapin. They may say mean things and make you feel bad."

"Like who?"

"Well, like Tommy Tortoise. Tommy has big ideas about what kind of tortoises we should be. If you don't match Tommy's idea for a tortoise, Tommy will crush your shell."

Tori gulped. "You mean really crush it?"

"I mean will make you feel really bad."

"Oh...But you said 'some tortoises'. So some tortoises may support me, right?"

"Yes."

"Like who?"

"Like Toni Tortoise. One time I joked that I wished I was pickle. Toni thought I was serious and said I could be whatever I wanted to be."

"I see. But everyone knows you can't be a pickle. I can be a terrapin. So there's that."

The tortoises looked plainly at each other for a very long time. Then Terri took one big step toward Tori. Terri looked serious, even more serious than a tortoise normally looks.

Terri asked Tori, "What kind of tortoise will you be to me if I become a terrapin?"

Tori said, "I won't change who I am if you become a terrapin."

Terri thought for some time and said, "Well, that's good. I know you'll support me."

"What do you mean I'll support you?"

"I mean that you'll encourage me and help me become a terrapin."

"I did not say I would do that."

"Oh. Really? Why not?"

"Because I don't think you should try to become a terrapin. You were made a tortoise."

"So you'll think I'm crazy and will say mean things to me and make me feel bad?"

"I would never do that."

"That's good."

The two tortoises stared at each other for a while. They both looked down for a while. Terri looked up very slowly and said, "OK."

"OK, what?" Tori asked.

"I've given this a lot of thought. I'm ready to become a terrapin. There's nothing anyone can say or do to change my mind."

"OK."

"Are you upset?"

"No."

"Will you still be my friend?"

Tori looked at Terri seriously, even more serious than a tortoise normally looks. "Of course. I will always be your friend," Tori said. "Unless you become an evil dictator terrapin. Then I don't think we can be friends."

"I understand. It would be hard to have any friends if I were an evil dictator terrapin. Thank you for talking to me about this. I'm off to be a terrapin. Promise you will always be here for me?"

Tori thought carefully. "Well...I was thinking about going to the rock. But that may take me a few days. I am a tortoise, after all."

"No, I don't mean that kind of 'here.' I mean, will you always be ready to hear what I have to say?"

"Oh. Yes. I'll always be here for that."

With that, Terri very slowly ventured off to become a terrapin. Tori stared at Terri leaving for a very long time.