Speedy Turtle

“Speedy,” someone called from behind a big maple tree. “You’re going to be late!”

“No way!” exclaimed Speedy Turtle. “I can’t be late. My name is Speedy. I have to live up to my name.”

“Well,” said Swifty Fox, coming out from behind the tree. “Whoever named you Speedy, gave you the wrong name.”

Swift Fox broke out laughing.

“Look Swifty,” said Speedy. “It’s not very funny to laugh at someone.”

“Ah, come on, Speedy,” said Swifty. “You like it when I laugh at you and you know it.”

“That’s not true, Swifty,” said Speedy. “I don’t like it when you laugh at me. Now, where do we have to go today that you are in such a dither about?”

“We are going to the circus,” announced Swifty. “Come on Speedy, I don’t want to be late.”

“I’m coming,” said Speedy. “I thought the circus was next weekend.”

“No,” said Swifty. “It’s this weekend! Right now! Today!”

“No, it isn’t,” said Speedy. “My Mom told me that the circus is next weekend.”

“I’m afraid to tell you this,” said Swifty. “My Mom says the circus is this weekend. How could a turtle know when the circus was on?”

“Look Swifty,” said Speedy. “I may be a little slower than you. However, that doesn’t mean that I don’t know anything.”

We’d better find out when the circus is coming. I don’t want to get all the way to the fairgrounds and then find out that we could be a whole week early.”

“Speedy, you would never be a whole week early for anything,” teased Swifty.

“Now Swifty,” said Speedy. “That is not true and you know it.”

“No, I don’t,” said Swifty.

Speedy walked slowly past Swifty. Swifty was talking so much that Speedy went right on by him. Speedy decided that he would go to the fairground to see when the circus was coming to town. Speedy got to the fairgrounds a few hours later. Sure enough, the circus wasn’t on until the following weekend.

“See, I told Swifty that it wasn’t on this weekend,” said Speedy to himself as he read a sign on the fairground gates.

“There is nobody here. I’m going home!”

“Speedy,” Speedy heard someone call.

“Swifty!” Speedy exclaimed when he saw his friend standing by the gate to the fairground.

Swifty walked over to where Speedy was standing.

“How did you get here so fast?” asked Swifty.

“I just walked,” said Speedy.

“I didn’t see you go,” said Swifty.

“That is because you were talking too much,” said Speedy. “You were talking so much that you didn’t even see me leave.”

“That isn’t true,” said Swifty. “Anyway, where’s all the circus people? They should be here by now.”

“Ah Swifty,” said Speedy. “The circus isn’t on until next weekend!”

“Here we go again,” said Swifty. “The circus is on this weekend!”

“Read the sign,” said Speedy, pointing to the sign on the gate.

“The Grand National Circus is arriving in town, next weekend,” Swifty read.

“Oh boy!” exclaimed Swifty. “You just made me walk all the way down here for nothing. Some friend you are!”

“What are you talking about?” asked Speedy. “I was trying to tell you that the circus was next weekend!”

“Well, imagine, making me walk all that way for nothing,” complained Swifty.

“Oh Swifty,” said Speedy, angrily. “It only took you a few minutes to walk here. It took me a couple of hours and I still have to walk back. That will take me a couple more hours.”

“I guess maybe you’re right,” said Swifty. “I’m sorry.”

Swifty took off running toward the village, leaving Speedy all by himself.

“Some friend he is,” said Speedy to himself. “The least he could do is give me a lift!”