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Teté, a huge and
beautiful sea
turtle who was
highly esteemed
by her sisters,
swam in the
ocean depths.
She felt it was
time of being a
mother and she
was very
worried.
Like the other
turtles of her
species, she
knew she had to
get to the beach
where she was
born to spawn,
after making a
hole in the
sand.
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So Teté swam...
swam... swam...
till she reached
the beach and,
began to look
for a deserted
place, where
there was no one
that could
destroy her
eggs, as did
most animals and
humans.
Finding a quiet
beach, she left
the sea and
crawled in
search of a
place warm
enough to lay
her eggs there.
Teté worked
hard, digging
the sand slowly
to open a pit
where she could
fit all her
eggs, which were
many. By
instinct, she
realized that
she had reached
the optimum size
and considered
herself
satisfied.
Phew! She was so
tired! The
effort was huge!
...
So, the pretty
turtle sat down
on the pit. She
knew she would
suffer, but she
was prepared.
She had to
fulfill her
mission as a
mother.
After some
time,Teté felt
that the eggs
that God gave
her began to
fall into the
pit, protected
by sand.
When she
finished her
task, was
exhausted, but
still lacked one
very important
thing: to hide
the eggs so that
predators could
not find them.
After throwing
sand on them,
she felt
satisfied and
could finally
get some rest.
Because the task
was exhausting,
she fell asleep.
Suddenly, Teté
awoke frightened
by the noise of
voices:
- Look! A huge
turtle! Let's
get it! ...
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For want of food
and also the
need to feel the
water on her
body, Teté had
gone to relax
next to the
beach. So she
managed to reach
the sea, even
though she
crawled slowly
through the
sand. She swam
away from the
beach a little
bit and was on
the prowl,
looking at what
those men would
do.
One of the men,
who had a dog,
said:
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- The turtle
escaped, but
let's go look
for her! They
come the beach
to spawn. Thus,
she must have
hidden her eggs
here, somewhere.
Search! Search!
...
The poor turtle,
who watched the
scene from the
sea, trembled
with fear:
- My babies!
They will
destroy my eggs,
killing the
possibility of
life for my
babies before
they come into
the world.
And Teté began
to ask for God's
help:
- Lord, have
mercy, do not
let it happen!
At this point,
as if tending to
her request,
another group of
people appeared,
coming from the
opposite
direction.
Seeing the
movement on the
beach, one of
them asked:
- Ah! It's you,
Joe! Did
something
happen? What are
you looking for?
Joe, who led the
group and kept
the ferocious
dog attached by
a leash, said:
- Hello, Raul!
We saw a sea
turtle! And now
we are looking
for the hidden
eggs!
- What for? -
asked the
newcomer.
- What do you
mean “what for”?
To destroy its
offspring, of
course! ...
Raul and the
rest of his
group were
outraged,
including the
children.
- Did you know
that it is an
environmental
crime what you
are about to do?
- asked the
newcomer – So,
we will not
allow you to
destroy the
eggs!
The others
agreed, coming
out in defense
of the eggs. One
of them, with
his mobile phone
in hand,
threatened:
- I'll call the
police. If you
try something,
be warned, you
will be
arrested.
Frightened by
the threat, the
owner of the dog
went away with
his group,
muttering. Raul
and his friends
celebrated the
victory.
Poor Teté,
watching the
scene closely,
took a relieved
breath. She
moved closer and
allowed herself
to be seen by
her human
friends, who
came to meet
her.
Passing his hand
fondly on her
hard shell, Raul
reassured her:
- Do not worry,
my friend. Your
eggs will be
protected. We
will not let
anyone get close
to them.
Teté looked at
him and leaned
her head on his
hand. Moved,
Raul felt that
she had
understood and
was grateful for
their help.
The huge turtle
turned and
walked slowly to
the sea. She
felt reassured
now. Her eggs
were protected.
The group found
the hidden eggs,
and so that
there was no
danger, they set
up guard in
shifts, when
each one would
be responsible
for a period of
time.
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After a while,
at the right
time, Raul and
his friends were
awaiting the
birth of the
pups. Early one
morning, they
saw the little
turtles which
after breaking
the eggs, came
running toward
the sea.
Certainly, they
knew that most
would not
survive the
perils of the
sea, but, with
luck, some would
reach adulthood
and would return
to spawn at the
beach.
A good feeling
of relief for
seeing their
mission come to
an end
successfully,
but also of joy
and gratitude
for all the
teamwork,
dominated their
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hearts. |
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Making a circle,
they celebrated
the victory,
with everyone
involved in a
big hug,
thanking God for
the aid received
and the victory
of Life!
MEIMEI
(Psychographed
by Celia X. de
Camargo on
02.27.2012.)
