The Turtle Woman | Teen Ink

The Turtle Woman

November 14, 2011
By AnimaCordis GOLD, London, Other
AnimaCordis GOLD, London, Other
13 articles 0 photos 131 comments

Favorite Quote:
"Evil is when the good do nothing"


Old turtle woman shuffles slowly. Her legs are heavy, her pace is slow. Her face is wrinkled and small, her youth and beauty have long since left her. Yet in her heart, she is the same girl she was many years ago. Away she walks, slowly but surely. Her feet know the way, she does not falter.

Her mind travels back to a summer years ago, to the British countryside. The sunlight was like liquid gold on the fresh green leaves. There was a fresh summer breeze, the music of a stream. Yet the fondest memory is of the young man. His smile is as light and gentle as a silk scarf, his voice sweeter than music. Together they would sit. Talking about the little nothings that young lovers speak of. Everything was prettier with his presence, people seemed kinder, and the world seemed brighter.

They ran together though the fields of grass, laughing and yelling for joy. They laughed together, they danced together and they sang together. Though the woods they creped, in search of deer. Pheasants explodeded, their red wings flapping, their strange squawks echoing throughout the forest. The sun casts lacelike shadows on the forest floor.
The dreaded return to America drew closer everyday. She pretends it will never come, but she could not fool herself. Her days were numbered; there was a plane ticket in her bag, her passport at the ready. Each day her heart broke a little more, for she knew that this happiness could never really be hers. She would someday soon have to leave this little shard of heaven behind.


Together they waited at the train station. No words would pass their lips. The two young lovers sat, awaiting the anguish of parting. While he looked away, she slipped a postcard into his coat pocket. On it was a picture of the empire state building, and some sweet few words she wrote for him. The thought of him discovering this postcard gave her such joy. How he save for a ticket. She waited the day of their reunion before they had parted. She thought of al the things she would show him. The graceful buildings, the expensive shops, and bustling people.
Their hands slipped apart, their fingertips brushing against each other. Tears bite at their eyes, but they smile to one and other. Waving they smile to one and other. The train is pulling away. Their faces smile, but their eyes cry. Their waving hands reach for one and other. As he waves, his coat moves and the postcard falls out. He walks away, the postcard lies on the floor unread.

Everyday, she goes to the Empire State building. She never looses hope. Though her legs are heavy, and her back now doubled, she walks everyday to that same place. Old turtle woman imagines the things she will show him, how exited he must be, having saved up his money for so long. As she sits in the cold, the wind and the rain, she thinks back to those days. The days of the dancing, the deer and the young man with a voice sweeter then music.


The author's comments:
This was inspired by a postcard I saw one time, and by how sad things can become simply by change. I wanted to create a voice of an older person.
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This article has 9 comments.


on Dec. 30 2011 at 1:35 pm
Jappyalldayeveryday, Detroit, Michigan
0 articles 0 photos 163 comments

Favorite Quote:
They say that good things take time, but really great things happen in the blink of an eye

Hey I only got 3 entries for the short romantic story contest, but I thought yours was the best. The ending was powerful. I guess I'll comment on all your work now :)

on Dec. 10 2011 at 1:44 pm

Beautifully written! Very touching and sweet as well. 

You have a great talent


on Nov. 17 2011 at 1:29 am
AnimaCordis GOLD, London, Other
13 articles 0 photos 131 comments

Favorite Quote:
"Evil is when the good do nothing"

That's what i meant it to be! Thank you! 

.Izzy. BRONZE said...
on Nov. 16 2011 at 5:08 pm
.Izzy. BRONZE, Broadview Heights, Ohio
1 article 0 photos 388 comments
Oh, that makes sense now that you point that out.

BluBliss GOLD said...
on Nov. 16 2011 at 9:59 am
BluBliss GOLD, New York, New York
14 articles 0 photos 161 comments

Favorite Quote:
Bella's love for Edward was like, "Omg. He's hot. He's mine because he sparkles. Now I'll brood the wholle book while I'm with him."

He dropped the psotcard. How it's just snuck in there, just like the postcard snuck out of his pocket, that's really good. I like what this is about, and how the lady is now described as Old Turtle Woman when she was once really graceful (in my interpretation).

on Nov. 16 2011 at 12:52 am
AnimaCordis GOLD, London, Other
13 articles 0 photos 131 comments

Favorite Quote:
"Evil is when the good do nothing"

Thank you for your criticism. This is another english paper, i had to practice the short sentences thing because of my blatent refusal to do so in class. Short sentences annoy the heck out of me, espeitally in a group, but if you want an A* you've got to do what the test board wants. 

on Nov. 16 2011 at 12:48 am
AnimaCordis GOLD, London, Other
13 articles 0 photos 131 comments

Favorite Quote:
"Evil is when the good do nothing"

Thank you very much for your comment. I can't spell 'exploded', I baffle spell check! She is called turtle woman because her past is like a shell on her back, weighing her down. Also she has the same dedication and slow movement turtles have. Admidedly, that is a little comfusing now i re-read it. 

.Izzy. BRONZE said...
on Nov. 15 2011 at 7:56 pm
.Izzy. BRONZE, Broadview Heights, Ohio
1 article 0 photos 388 comments
Aww, this is sad. My heart sank when I read that the man dropped the postcard. There were a couple of spelling errors, such as "Though the woods they creped...", which I'm assuming was meant to be "Through the woods they creeped...", and "explodeded" should be changed to exploded. I'm also a little confused on why she was called the turtle woman. But, other than those small things, you definitely had me feeling sympathy for the two lovers. Keep writing!

on Nov. 15 2011 at 6:44 pm
CarrieAnn13 GOLD, Goodsoil, Other
12 articles 10 photos 1646 comments

Favorite Quote:
"I love deadlines. I like the whooshing sound they make as they fly by." --Douglas Adams

"The object of life is not to be on the side of the majority, but to escape finding oneself in the ranks of the insane." --Marcus Aurelius

Okay, I have a bit of criticism.

1.  Once again you use too many short sentences in a row.  Please try and change the length; that way they’re far more effective.

2.  ‘Empire State Building’ is the name of a place, so it needs to be capitalized consistently.

3.  “She never looses hope.”  ‘Looses’ should be ‘loses.’

4.  “…how exited he must be…”  ‘Exited’ should be ‘excited’.

5.  “The days of the dancing, the deer and the young man with a voice sweeter then music.”  When you are comparing something to another, you must use ‘than’, not ‘then.’

This is definitely a very emotional story.  Good work!