Tortoise Gets Helped, and Gets a Lesson

Miz Possum with babies and mushrooms

Tortoise got up one morning and decided to visit his grandmother. She was getting slow in her old age and needed some help getting her burrow ready for winter. On the way to her field, Tortoise stopped to munch on a few fresh mushrooms and thought “Hmm. I bet Granny would like some of these”. The problem was that he didn’t bring a sack to carry them in, and he knew they would never balance on his shell all the way to her place. He fretted for a minute or two and decided that he would never be able to get them to her, so he began to walk away from the patch. Just then, Miz Possum came by with her babies and said “Good morning Tortoise! Isn’t it a FINE DAY!”

Well, Tortoise was not in a very good mood, and Miz Possum’s cheeriness annoyed him. He mumbled “Morning Miz Possum, and no, it isn’t a FINE DAY! I am on the way to Granny’s burrow and can’t bring her any of these fresh mushrooms because I didn't bring a sack.” 

Miz Possum just laughed and climbed on Tortoises shell and said “Oh Tortoise, after all the things you have done for the folks in this valley, surely you wouldn’t mind if I helped you?” Tortoise was puzzled by this. He always helped others when they needed help, but he had never needed help, and didn’t like to ask for help anyway. He said “ Miz Possum, how can you help me?” Miz Possum explained that since her babies were now riding on her back, she could pick some mushrooms, stuff them in her empty pouch, and ride to Granny’s burrow on Tortoise’s shell to keep from crushing the delicate caps. Tortoise said “But Miz Possum, weren’t you on your way to do something? Can you take the time to help me with something as unimportant as a few mushrooms for Grannie?”

“PASH” cried Miz Possum. “Helping a friend isn’t a matter of degree, it is a matter of desire and duty. If you need help getting mushrooms over to your Granny’s burrow, I will take the time to help you. Simple. You are the most unselfish critter hereabouts, and we all love and respect you, so why wouldn’t I help you?”

As Miz Possum went about gathering some mushrooms and putting them in her pouch, Tortoise watched over the tumbling youngsters and thought about that and finally said, “Thank you Miz Possum. You know that I never help folks with reward in mind, don’t you? I just like to see folks safe and happy, and am good at some things. I am not very good at carrying things without a bag, though, so your help is most welcomed” and off they went.

When the got to Granny’s burrow, Granny exclaimed “Why Miz Possum, do you have another pouch full of adorable babies?”  “No” said Miz Possum, “I have a pouch full of delicious mushrooms just for YOU!!” Granny took the mushrooms inside, made a wonderful soup, and they all had a tasty lunch.

Image: https://c2.staticflickr.com/4/3631/3636133248_3e939de23e.jpg