Snorkel's Dreamtime Adventures

Snorkels Dreamtime Adventures

Once upon a time, in a place not far away from where we are now, there lived a young Kreft River turtle by the name of Snorkels. Now Snorkels was not like every other little turtle. He did not live in a river, he lived in a tank, and he had a lovely human friend called Jordan.

Jordan would say hello to Snorkels every day as he fed him his special turtle food. He would talk to him about his life and Snorkels would poke his head out of the top of his tank as he listened to Jordan’s stories.

One day, Jordan decided to get special travel tank for Snorkels because he needed to go for a trip to the vet for his annual checkup. Jordan popped Snorkels into his little travel tank and placed him safely on to the front seat of the car, so his mum could drive them to the vet.

As they drove down the road, Snorkels was very interested by all the amazing things that he could see and hear.

There were lots of trees, and houses and the sounds of children playing in the playgrounds in the city.

Suddenly, Snorkels could hear a great SWOOSHING sound and saw the huge trees start swaying back and forth.

"What's that?" Snorkels said to Jordan.

"Oh, that's nothing to worry about, it's just the sound of the wind blowing through the trees," said Jordan.

Snorkels closed his eyes and listened very closely to the great swooshing sound. The leaves on the trees sang their song to the little turtle, saying, "We are the reason you can breathe little Snorkels. The trees create oxygen so you can have the wonderful fresh air on the breeze".

"Always be grateful for the trees".

And so little Snorkels was.

The next day Jordan noticed how much little Snorkels had enjoyed his outing the day before and decided to take him to school, to show him to all his friends.

Snorkels was excited when Jordan told him that they were going on another adventure together. Jordan carefully popped snorkels into his carry tank and off they went, catching the bus to his school in the city.

Suddenly, as the bus stopped at a set of lights, a little black and white bird started flitting from roof top to roof top between the school bus and the car beside them. The little bird started to knock with its beak at Jordan’s closed window.

"What's that?" Asked little Snorkels nervously.

"Oh, that's nothing to worry about," said Jordan. "That's just the peewee bird, he probably lives in the tree above the street, they get very territorial if cars and busses get too close and will fly at the reflections in the glass of the windows."

Snorkels sighed a big sigh of relief.

That night, Snorkels gently closed his eyes and travelled far far away to the land of his dreamtime. The tiny black and white peewee bird appeared before Snorkels and gazed deeply into the little turtle’s eyes.

The peewee told Snorkels that the spirit message he bought to the little turtle that day was one of love, not only for family, but also for friends and all beings. The peewee said, " you are always loved".

And so little Snorkels was.

The next day was Saturday, it was raining down very hard, so Jordan stayed at home with Snorkels while he did his homework.

Suddenly, while all the rain was pouring down Snorkels heard this loud rumbling sound, that said "Croak, Croak, Croak."

"What's that?" Asked little Snorkels nervously.

"Oh, that's nothing to worry about," said Jordan. "That's just the green tree frog on the outside wall of the house.

He always croaks loudly when it rains, because he is calling for his friends to come and play."

Snorkels sighed a big sigh of relief.

That night, Snorkels gently closed his eyes to the sound of the rain, and travelled far, far away to the land of his dreamtime. The beautiful, croaking green tree frog appeared before Snorkels and gazed deeply into the little turtle eyes.

The frog told Snorkels that the spirit message he bought to the little turtle was one of abundance and prosperity for all of his life. All he had to do was believe that he was worthy of all of the very best things that life had to offer.

The green tree frog said, " You are worthy."

And so little Snorkels was.

On Monday, Jordan left Snorkels home in his big tank for the day while he went off to school out in the big wide world. Snorkels had a peaceful day.

Not long after Jordan arrived home for dinner, Snorkels heard this strange sound, like a "Click, Click, Clicking."

What's that?" Said Snorkels.

"Oh, that's nothing to worry about," said Jordan.

"That's just a Gecko, he's a little lizard that lives in our house and feeds on moths and other insects. He makes those sounds when he catches his food."

So, Snorkels sighed a big sigh of relief.

That night, Snorkels gently closed his eyes and travelled far, far away to the land of his dreamtime. The Gecko appeared before Snorkels and gazed deeply into the little turtle's eyes.

The lizard told Snorkels that the spirit message he had bought to the little turtle that day was one of energy and magic in its purest forms. He told Snorkels that there was always HOPE for the future and creating the life of your dreams.

And so it began.

Jordan had noticed that Snorkels seemed to really enjoy going out and about with him on adventures. The next day, Jordan asked his mum if they could take Snorkels to the park with them.

On arriving back to the car after playing, Jordan let out a yell. Snorkels felt panicked because Jordan seemed frightened. "What's wrong?" Cried Snorkels, concerned for Jordan, because he loved him.

"Oh, it's really nothing to worry about," said Jordan, breathing a little too fast. “Look, there is a giant grasshopper on the windscreen of the car and it gave me a fright. They are harmless though; he was probably eating leaves from the park trees.” Jordan helped his mum remove the grasshopper off the car and place him back in the tree, before they drove home."

Snorkels sighed a big sigh of relief.

That night, Snorkels gently closed his eyes and travelled to a far, far away to the land of his dreamtime. The big green grasshopper appeared before Snorkels and gazed deeply into the little turtle's eyes.

The grasshopper told Snorkels that the spirit message he had bought that day was to teach of wisdom and protection. He told Snorkels that he could continue to learn meaningful lessons throughout his entire life if he was willing to keep listening with his heart.

The grasshopper said, "you are forever safe and guided."

And so Snorkels was.

The next day, Snorkels was swimming happily around his tank when suddenly he saw a big, fat, hairy scary looking thing with lots and lots of legs walking up the side of his tank.

And, it was looking at him.

Snorkels felt very afraid and started to dart frantically back and forth, bumping his shell against the glass walls of his tank. He could not get away, and the big, fat hairy scary looking thing was getting closer and closer to the top of his tank.

Jordan heard the commotion and came to see what was upsetting his little turtle friend.

"WHAT'S THAT!?" Cried Snorkels, flapping his flippers at the big fat hairy scary looking thing.

"Oh WOW! How cool! Shouted Jordan, that is nothing to worry about". "It's just a huntsman spider, sometimes they come to visit and live inside houses.

They do not eat turtles though. I'll catch him and put him back outside. Snorkels sighed a huge sigh of relief.

That night, Snorkels gently closed his eyes and travelled far, far away to the land of his dreamtime. The huge, hairy scary looking huntsman spider appeared before Snorkels and gazed deeply into the little turtle's eyes.

The spider told Snorkels that the spirit message he had bought to the little turtle was one of creativity, power and progress. The spider said, "You are forever the creative power in your own life."

And so little Snorkels was.

The next day, Jordan took Snorkels out into the backyard in his travel tank to keep him company while he enjoyed the spring sunshine. Snorkels was also enjoying the sunshine when suddenly, a beautiful blue fluttering thing fluttered by, in the flowers, up and down, gently floating on the breeze. "What's that?' Snorkels asked curiously.

"Oh, that's nothing to worry about", said Jordan. "it's just a butterfly. They start out their lives as tiny caterpillars, they eat lots and lots of leaves to grow really big, then spin a cocoon. When they emerge, they have become butterflies."

Snorkels listened to Jordan's story of the butterfly and he was amazed. He floated there in his tank and he wished that he was free like the butterfly. The little turtle sighed a big sigh of longing.

That night Snorkels gently closed his eyes and dreamed his dreamtime. The butterfly appeared before him and told Snorkels that the spirit message she bought to the little turtle was one of transformation. The butterfly whispered into his ear, “You are on the right path, always follow your dreams."

And so little Snorkels did.

The next day, Snorkels was feeling sad and confused. He loved Jordan and his life with him, but he also longed for the freedom of the river. He wanted to be like the other Kreft River turtles that Jordan had told him about in his stories.

Jordan noticed that Snorkels was not his usual, happy turtle self. "What's wrong Snorkels?" He asked. "Why are you so quiet?" Snorkels said, " could we please go to the river under the bridge and visit the other turtles there?"

"Of course, we can!" Replied Jordan

And Snorkels sighed a happy sigh.

Resting in his tank, with Jordan by his side, Snorkels saw so many wonderful things. He saw trees and birds, flowers and butterflies. He saw frogs and insects and he saw lots of other turtles just like him.

He was so excited by all that he saw that he had to say something to Jordan!

So, Snorkels told the truth.

He said, "I love you Jordan, and that will never change. I am so grateful for everything that you have shown me, but this is where I want to live, here in the river under the bridge, with all the other turtles. Jordan listened to everything that Snorkels told him. He felt very sad that he might lose the companionship of his little friend, but Jordan wanted him to be happy.

He said, "Snorkels, if I set you free in the river, your life will be far more challenging because you would have to be responsible for taking care of yourself. You would have to find your own food and learn to keep yourself safe. Are you sure that you want to do that?"

Snorkels thought about it for a long moment, he thought of all the things he had learned so far from Jordan and the animals he had met on their adventures. Then the little turtle said, "I shall flow through life like the river, it will become effortless because I will be free."

And so, it will be.

So, Jordan carried Snorkels in his tank towards the edge of the river. Snorkels was feeling very nervous and excited all at once.

Suddenly, a large buzzing insect started hovering on by, just above the water and Snorkels became frightened that he was not ready to live in the river without Jordan.

"What’s that?" Snorkels asked timidly.

Oh, that is just a dragonfly," said Jordan. "It won't hurt you, lots of them live by the river because they get their food from the water, just like you will."

Snorkels sighed a deep sigh of relief.

The large dragonfly flew towards Snorkels and looked deeply into the little turtle's eyes. He said, "I am here to share with you the spirit message of adaptability." The dragonfly reminded Snorkels to always love life, to rejoice and have faith in himself, even when life gets difficult.

And so, Snorkels was finally ready.

Jordan gently lowered the tank right down into the river with the little turtle bouncing around happily inside.

"I'm ready." Said Snorkels.

"I love you," said Jordan, as he opened the tank to free his tiny friend. “Make sure you come visit me," said the little turtle, smiling up at Jordan from the water's edge...

And so Jordan did,

And so it was,

That little Snorkels was truly happy at last.

THE END

Written By: Molly Edwards ©