Charlene Darling, a Very Slow Turtle

By L. Beck

Charlene is a turtle convinced her life would be much easier if she wasn’t so slow. She sets off on a whimsical journey to the Council of Turtles for supreme advice on her slow situation. But, she gets more than she bargained for when she meets Tor and a host of unlikely animal friends who help her along the way.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: Jun 25, 2020
• ISBN: 9781728349541

L. Beck

L Beck grew up in Manteca, CA enjoying writing poems and stories. As an adult, she moved to the Ozarks of Missouri and discovered that writing fictional stories about the remarkable people in her life was such a joy that she wanted to share them.

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© 2020 L. Beck. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or

transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

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ISBN: 978-1-7283-4953-4 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-7283-4954-1 (e)

Published by AuthorHouse 06/24/2020

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Contents

-Leaving Speedy Burger-

-Tortuss Beach and Cool Cat Cove-

-The Salad Bowl-

-Sooie Sound-

-Monkey Island-

-Mule Mile and Horse Horn-

-Goat Gap-

-Hyena Hole-

-The Council of Turtles-

-Capital City-

-Capital Hill-

-Something in the Air-

-Sooie Smell and Disgusting Creatures-

-Tiny Town-

-The Best Part of Tiny Town-

-A Capital Idea-

DEDICATION

For my mother, Charlene Joyce Wofford.

She is the kindest, gentlest, most compassionate soul I know.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Thank you to all past and present coworkers and vendors of Wal-Mart #0914 for being the inspiration to many of the characters in this story. Your individual flares and traits are responsible for the creation of many key animal characters. Especially Lynne, whose strong work ethic, strong, vibrant personality, and sense of humor made her a joy to work with.

Thank you all for being such good sports in giving me the liberty to mold your inspirations into animals that do not do you justice as people. It takes fortitude of character to be able to laugh at oneself as a portly cow or gassy skunk. Bravo on your good sportsmanship!

Thank you to my brother, Ralph Michael Wofford, for being the kind counselor and gentle leader you have always been. Your turtle character does not do you justice.

Thank you to the late A.J. Johnson for living the remarkable life you led. You are cherished.

Thank you to Crystal Lowe for all the hours of typing and editing you put in. You are amazing!

Thank you, Mom. I hope you like your story.

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Chapter One

-LEAVING SPEEDY BURGER-

There happened upon a certain soil to be a very sweet, very kind, very gentle turtle named Charlene. Charlene was so sweet, so kind, and so gentle that everyone who knew her called her Charlene Darling.

Charlene Darling worked hard and was a friend to all, but there was one characteristic most found unfavorable about Charlene. She was extremely slow. Even for a turtle, she was exceptionally slow.

Slowness is an unfortunate attribute to have in the fast food industry. By the time Charlene Darling handed customers their french fries, they were cold. By the time customers were handed their ice cream cones, they were a soppy, dribbling mess. The customers were not happy, the bosses were not happy, and Charlene Darling was miserable.

Supervisor Jack Rabbit called Charlene Darling into the office to talk after half of Charlene’s soft serve dripped all over a customer’s shoes. It did not take long because Jack Rabbit was quick about everything.

We’ve had a lot of complaints about your service, Charlene Darling, Jack Rabbit started, and we are going to have to let you go. I want you to know it’s not because you are a turtle. No discrimination here! You are just too slow for Speedy Burger. Good luck.

Jack Rabbit was out the door and working the floor before Charlene Darling could ask, What am I to do? She swallowed the lump in her throat and folded her vest. She placed her hat and name tag neatly on top of it and carried them to the counter.

Katie Koala and Scotty Skunk (Charlene Darling’s closest friends at Speedy Burger) rushed to her side when they saw her trying to sneak out.

Charlene Darling, the place will not be the same without you, said Scotty Skunk.

Where will you go, Charlene? asked Katie Koala.

I don’t know, Charlene said with a sigh. I need time to think. I need help deciding what to do with myself.

Whoooo might be the best qualified for that, Charlene Darling? questioned Oliver Hoot Owl as he flew by.

What is he saying? asked Charlene Darling.

Whoooo gives the best guidance for your kind in a crisis? Whoooo? reiterated Oliver Hoot Owl as he turned his head completely around from fanning the flames under the burgers with his strong, gorgeously feathered wing.

The owl might have a point, whispered Scotty Skunk.

The Council of Turtles? Charlene and Katie Koala chimed together.

Whoooo better? Whoooo? the revolving feathered head questioned one last time, before giving his total attention to the burgers waiting to be flipped.

The Council of Turtles would be quite a trek for this turtle, Charlene Darling spoke softly. And would they have time for me?

Only one way to find out! Katie Koala said encouragingly.

Ahem! Jack Rabbit broke in. No time to fraternize, young bloods. I need a koala on the register and a skunk slicing onion, please.

Yes, sir! Katie responded.

He always sticks me with the smelly jobs, Scotty Skunk complained.

Charlene Darling grinned because she knew it to be true. But as she pushed the glass door open and a gentle breeze blew on her face and brown curls her smile faded. She walked the streets expressionless, considering what Oliver Hoot Owl had said.

The Council of Turtles presided at the capital as an ultimate authority for turtles in need. Their advice was sought only in the most dire of circumstances, and done privately and without scrutiny by anyone. Charlene Darling had never known anyone who had appeared before the Council. She had not even heard a story of anyone who had sought their help. It seemed to be forbidden to speak of such a thing.

But in Charlene’s mind, as well as the minds of many others, she was a turtle with a curse. She failed at her job, she was always late for appointments, and by the time she had finished putting pin curls in her hair at night or putting lipstick on her lips in the morning there was no time for anything else. Charlene was so deep in thought she walked past her own house.

She was snapped out of her daze by two familiar voices calling from behind. She turned around to see her friends, Katie Koala and Scotty Skunk, chasing her with bags from Speedy Burger.

I’m glad we found you, Charlene Darling, rasped Katie Koala.

I can’t believe I’m saying this, added a breathless Scotty Skunk, but I wasn’t sure we could catch up with you, Charlene.

We stopped by your house after work to bring you a bite to eat. We saw you weren’t there, so we jogged down the street in hopes of finding you, Katie quickly babbled before taking a deep breath.

"How thoughtful! Thank you so