Three terrific turtles approached a fork in a rough, rocky road. After many days, they had survived a treacherous and tumultuous trip. They had been tossed around by tigers, thrashed by turkeys, and tickled by tarantulas! All three turtles were, quite understandably, tuckered out in body, mind, and spirit. (Yes, turtles have spirits too!)
When they came to the fork, all three terrific turtles stopped, craned their heads out of their shells as far as turtley possible, and slowly twisted their heads from left to right and back from right to left. Then again from left to right and back to left, again and again, ten times total as if they were watching a tight, tense tennis match (for turtle tennis speeds, mind you).
"Huh," succinctly summed up the first turtle. "Well, where do you think we should go, tudes? Left or right?"
"That was a terrible, traumatizing trip," anxiously answered the second turtle. "I don't want to suffer like that again. We have to make sure we pick correctly."
"We can't see very far down either road, so they both look the same," calmly commented the third turtle. "Might as well just pick one and see where it leads. Why not left? That feels right!" And off trekked the third terrific turtle down the left road.
"Wait!" screamed the second turtle after him. "How do you know it's safe?"
"I don't, but there's only one way to find out!" Then the third turtle was gone. (Well, after a few hours, because turtles are very slow.)
"I'm hesitant too," admitted the first turtle. "Why don't we stay here overnight to monitor, meditate, and mull it over?" So the two turtles faithfully watched both roads all day and all night, but they did not see anything inviting or dangerous to help them make a decision.
In the morning, after a nice big yawn and a stretch, the first turtle serenely said, "Well, still can't see anything down either road, so I think our friend was right: might as well just pick one and go."
"No way!" exclaimed the stressed, scared second turtle. "I'm going to stay here another day and watch. I have to be sure."
"We can't stay here forever, though. Sooner or later, we have to make a choice."
"It's just one more day," defended the second turtle.
"Shell yourself. I don't think another day will make a difference, so I'm going ahead. Might as well hedge our bets and take the other road. I'll go right since that's what's left!" And off trekked the first terrific turtle down the right road.
"Wait!" screamed the second turtle after him. "How do you know it's safe?"
"I don't, but there's only one way to find out!" Then the first turtle was gone. (Well, after a few hours, and you already know why.)
So the lone remaining turtle stayed all day and all night once more but still did not see anything. He felt he had no choice but to stay, splay, and survey as long as it would take. Day after day and night after night he watched and waited, but to no avail; both paths looked equally promising and portentous.
The third terrific turtle, who took the left road because that felt right, had an arduous yet awesome adventure. He was accused of arson by an anaconda, advocated for by an aardvark attorney, and acquitted by ant arbiters! Thankfully, after all that action, he arrived at an acclaimed and abundant apple tree where he spent many days in affable appreciation.
The first terrific turtle, who took the right road because that was left, had a tame, tediously taxing trek. Nothing of note happened whatsoever and the road was so long he thought it would never end. He became tremendously torpid, tart, and tired. Thankfully, after all that inaction, he turned up at a tall triangular tower that was home to a touring theatrical troupe of tapirs, who just so happened to be looking for a terrific turtle to join their act. He was totally and thoroughly thrilled with his new trade.
The second terrific turtle, who did not take either road because he could not see which choice was right and what perils were left, remained forever fixed at the fork. Foolishly filled with fear, he forgot how to frolic. Finally, the frigid, frosty fall came and he froze forlorn and forsaken.
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