Chapter 4
It was a few days later that Fred, sitting up on a low tree plum tree branch from an old ranch, noticed that George was unusually agitated, especially for a mature turtle. George’s head was swinging from the left to the right. HIs tail was coming out of his shell and then pulling back in.
Fred slithered down the gentle slope of the trunk and over to where George sat in the shallow water.
“George, my friend, what is the matter?” Fred asked, genuinely curious about the green-and-brown patterned turtle’s behavior.
George did not respond immediately, but this did not surprise Fred since he was used to his friends nearly glacial reaction time.
Finally he spoke, “Today is my friend’s birthday.”
“Well that is great.” said Fred cautiously. “You are always good at remembering the important days for all of your friends. Birthdays. School holidays. Why, I remember when Bob was starting fishing school and you were the one who walked with him the ten yards upstream to the Old Pool.”
“Yes. Yes. Yes.” repeated George. “But today I did not wish my friend ‘Happy birthday!’ I am sure he will be upset if no one remembers.”
“Well, George, who is it?” Fred asked, genuinely curious. “I am sure that you have time on this bright, sunny day to find him or her if you start now..”
George turned his head slowly and smoothly until both eyes were focused on Fred. “Oh, Fred, can you go with me.”
Fred hesitated.
“Please, Fred.”
How could he refuse? “Of course, George.” he responded after a few moments. “Umm, which way should we go?”
George swiveled ponderously to the right, upstream. Then he turned just as slowly downstream. Fred’s tongue flickered in and out of his mouth impatiently.
“Downstream.” George ventured. “Yes, downstream. I am sure.”
So they began their slow, mismatched journey down the river path. Sometimes, George would enter into the water and swim and then come back out. He seemed almost graceful there. Other times, Fred would slip ahead, peering around each corner and climbing up every twig and low branch.
Finally, they came over a small rise at the center of a small chunk of land that stuck out into the river, forcing it to divert its course along a much longer path. Down in a clearing below them, Fred could see a few of the other river animals gathered under a low-rising willow whose roots were evenly divided between the river and its bank. As they drew closer, Fred could see the two other turtles, Bob and Chuck, as well as Bernadette and Chloe, who were other neighborhood snakes. There was even a family of river otters that had moved into the neighborhood for the season. And, of course, Oscar, the white egret was wading in the shallows.
“Well, here we are, George.” announced Fred as he and George finally arrived in the clearing, among the other animals. “Now you can wish your friend a happy birthday. Which friend is it?”
George, never one to rush things, stopped and looked at each of the gathered animals carefully, as if checking their identity. Finally, his gaze came to rest on Fred.
Fred was worried and he darted to and fro among the others gathered there. “What is it, George? Is your friend not here?”
George shook his head gently and then spoke with a strong voice and a measured pace. “Fred, let me the first to greet you. Happy birthday, my true friend!”
“WHAT!!!!” Fred shouted in surprise.
“I have been waiting for this day. I did not forget. It is your birthday.” George said.
Fred laughed in delight. “I forgot completely. But of course you did not, because you are George.” He shook his head, and if snakes could have years, he would have shed a few in the joy of that moment. “Yes, it is my birthday. Thank you!” At that moment he felt a little embarrassed because he had not always been a good friend to George.
“I did not forget.” George affirmed with a nod. At that, the other animals shouted a chorus of happy birthdays and each came forward to congratulate Fred.
“I did not forget, my friend.”
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