Shelly Shellbert, Loner Turtle

Meet Shelly, the rebellious turtle with a love
for adventure and more brothers and sisters
than can be counted on two hands.

Shelly Shellbert came from a long line of turtles... About 30 feet long, in fact, when all her brothers and sisters stood in a row. There was Ted, Todd, Jess, Becca, Jacque, Kim, Beth, Daisy, Javier, and Lisa.

The Shellberts were always doing
wonderful activities together over
breakfast. They played games...
...started a rock band...
...and created abstract art.

But Shelly preferred to be on her own. "I'm a loner, Mom," she'd say, as she went off to hunt treasure or start her own band.

"Someday, you'll understand the importance of being together," Shelly's mom would reply. Shelly was allowed to venture out on her own as long as she stayed away from the Dark Forest and the dangerous shadows lurking inside.

One morning, just as Shelly was about to go exploring, her littlest brother Ralph asked to tag along.
"Sorry, I'm a loner," Shelly said. "But we can be loners together," Ralph replied. Shelly sighed, and the two set off together.

They journeyed through the California wetlands...
...under the bubbling hot springs...
...past the elephant-shaped rock...
...until they came to the edge of the Dark Forest.

"We can't go in!" said Ralph, as he turned and ran away. But Shelly stepped inside. The sun disappeared behind the black leaves as she entered, and a cold chill fell over her. Still, she walked further in.

All of a sudden, Shelly heard a rustling... and a swarm of dark shadows surrounded her. She ran as fast as she could, but the shadows were just as swift.

Shelly dove under a log, then sprinted past a line of fallen trees till she reached the edge of a roaring river.

She had nowhere to go, trapped between the forest and the river, with the shadows bearing down on her.

Shelly closed her eyes and pictured the faces of all her brothers and sisters. Ted, Todd, Jess, Becca, Jacque, Kim, Beth, Daisy, Javier, and Lisa.

Oh, and little Ralph.

Suddenly, she heard her mother's voice. "Hey, loner!"

Shelly turned around, and there were all her brothers and sisters in a line across the river with their shells up, like stepping stones. "Run!" shouted her mom.

Just before the shadows could grab Shelly, she jumped to the first shell. Then to the next. And the next. She hopped across Ted, Todd, Jess, Becca, Jacque, Kim, Beth, Daisy, Javier, and Lisa.

And, of course, "little Ralph,"

who smiled at her as she passed by.

As the Shellberts gathered safely on the shore, in the glow of the morning sun, Shelly hugged her mom extra hard. And there was just one thing left to do... Have breakfast. Together.