Stalled In The Middle Of Traffic
Cars backed up along both lanes of the two-lane highway as vehicles slowed to an abrupt halt.
A man in a white tank top and dark sunglasses stepped directly into the crosswalk markings.
Directly in front of his shoes, a large turtle crawled across the hot road surface.
Stacked carefully across the ridges of its dark shell were several tiny turtles balancing during the crossing.
The driver of a blue SUV leaned an elbow out the window, watching the man crouch over the pavement.
Lifting The Heavy Shell
The man bent his knees and slid his palms beneath the outer rim of the wide shell.
He gripped the edges firmly, keeping his fingers clear of the reptile’s claws.
With a slow, controlled pull, he raised the large turtle off the painted white stripe.
As the turtle lifted into the air, one small baby slipped off the smooth shell and tumbled onto the asphalt.
The man cradled the weight against his chest and walked quickly toward the grassy shoulder.
Rejoining The Family By The Water
He carried the mother and her passengers across the ditch toward the edge of a nearby pond.
He bent low near the muddy bank, setting the turtle down gently on the green grass right at the water line.
Turning around, he jogged back across the roadway where traffic remained stopped.
He dropped to one knee, cupped the lone baby turtle between both hands, and lifted it from the pavement.
Walking back to the pond edge, he lowered his hands and balanced the small hatchling directly onto the mother turtle’s shell beside the others.
The man stood straight, stepped back onto the grass, and watched the cluster of turtles rest together at the pond bank.
Send this to someone who always watches out for wildlife.
