The Talkative Turtle Tom and the Flying Geese
Once upon a time, in a deep blue lake hidden inside a thick green forest, there lived a very talkative turtle named Tom. Tom was not an ordinary turtle. He loved to talk all day long. He talked in the morning, he talked in the afternoon, and he even talked at night.
Tom talked to everyone he met. He talked to tiny ants walking near the lake. He talked to colorful fish swimming around him. He talked to frogs, deer, monkeys, and even big elephants who came to drink water from the lake. Everyone in the forest knew Tom because he always had something to say.
Tom’s best friends were two kind geese named Bo and Mo. They lived in the same lake and visited Tom every day. Bo and Mo loved Tom very much, even though he talked a lot.
“Good morning, Tom!” Bo would say.
“Good morning, Bo! Good morning, Mo! Did you sleep well? I slept well. I had a long dream. Let me tell you about it,” Tom would reply happily.
Bo and Mo would smile and listen patiently. They enjoyed Tom’s company and his cheerful nature.
The Dry Lake Problem
One hot summer day, something sad began to happen. The rain stopped falling. Days passed, then weeks, and then months. The sun became hotter, and the water in the lake slowly started to dry up.
The fish were worried.
“The water is getting low,” said one fish.
“We may not survive here,” said another.
Animals from the forest started leaving to find water in other places. Deer walked away. Elephants traveled far. Even birds began flying to distant lakes.
One evening, Bo and Mo came to Tom with sad faces.
“Tom,” said Bo softly, “we have something important to tell you.”
Tom stopped talking for a moment. “What is it, my friends?” he asked.
Mo said, “The lake is drying up. There is no rain, and soon there will be no water or food here. We have decided to fly to another lake far away.”
Tom felt scared. “You are leaving?” he asked. “What about me? I cannot live without water.”
Bo nodded sadly. “We know, Tom. But you cannot fly, and the journey is very long.”
Tom’s Clever Idea
Tom thought for a while. He did not want to stay alone in a dry lake. Suddenly, his eyes lit up.
“I have an idea!” Tom said excitedly. “Let us find a strong wooden stick or log. You both can hold the ends with your beaks, and I will bite the middle with my mouth. Then we can fly together!”
Bo and Mo looked at each other. It was a clever idea, but they were worried.
Mo said gently, “Tom, this plan can work. But there is one big problem.”
“What problem?” Tom asked.
“You love to talk,” Mo said. “If you open your mouth while flying, you will fall.”
Tom laughed loudly. “Don’t worry! I can stay quiet when needed. I promise I will not say a single word.”
Bo said, “This is very important, Tom. Your life depends on it.”
Tom nodded. “I understand. I will stay silent.”
The Flying Adventure Begins
The next morning, Bo and Mo found a strong wooden stick near the lake. Tom held the middle tightly with his mouth, and Bo and Mo held the ends with their beaks.
Slowly, they began to fly up into the sky.
Tom was amazed. He had never flown before. He saw tall mountains, green forests, winding rivers, and tiny villages below. Even the big elephants looked like small dots from the sky.
“Oh wow! This is amazing!” Tom wanted to shout.
But he remembered his promise and stayed quiet.
Bo and Mo flew carefully, checking again and again if Tom was holding tightly.
Trouble Over the Village
Soon, they flew over a small village. The villagers looked up and were surprised.
“Look at the sky!” one man shouted.
“What are those geese carrying?” asked a woman.
“It looks like a stick,” said a child.
“No, no,” laughed another man. “Maybe it is a bundle of clothes!”
The villagers laughed and talked loudly.
Tom heard everything. He became curious.
“What are they saying about us?” he thought.
He forgot the warning. He forgot the promise. His mouth opened just a little.
And suddenly…
WHOOSH!
Tom fell straight down from the sky. 😲💥
Tom Learns His Lesson
Tom hit the ground and fainted. When he woke up, his head was sore, and his body hurt.
He saw Bo and Mo standing beside him.
“Tom,” said Bo sadly, “we told you not to open your mouth.”
Mo added, “The villagers helped you. They gave you water and food and brought you near this beautiful lake.”
Tom looked around. The lake was big, clean, and full of water. Fish were swimming happily.
“I am so sorry,” Tom said softly. “I did not listen. My talking caused my fall.”
Bo smiled kindly. “It is okay, Tom. Everyone makes mistakes.”
Mo asked, “Do you like this lake? We can live here together.”
Tom nodded his head quietly. This time, he did not speak.
THE END
Moral of the Story
From that day on, Tom learned an important lesson:
Sometimes, staying quiet is better than talking too much.
Tom still talked, but he learned when to listen and when to stay silent. He lived happily with Bo and Mo near the beautiful lake forever.
Story Comprehension Questions and Answers for Kids
1. Who was the main character in the story?
Answer: The main character in the story was a talkative turtle named Tom.
2. Where did Tom the turtle live?
Answer: Tom lived in a deep lake inside a dense forest.
3. Why was Tom called a talkative turtle?
Answer: Tom was called talkative because he loved to talk all the time to animals, birds, and insects.
4. Who were Tom’s best friends?
Answer: Tom’s best friends were two geese named Bo and Mo.
5. What problem happened to the lake?
Answer: The lake started drying up because there was no rain for a long time.
6. Why did Bo and Mo want to leave the lake?
Answer: Bo and Mo wanted to leave because there was no water and food left in the lake.
7. Why couldn’t Tom travel alone?
Answer: Tom could not travel alone because he could not fly like the geese.
8. What clever idea did Tom suggest?
Answer: Tom suggested that Bo and Mo carry a stick with their beaks, and he would hold the stick with his mouth.
9. What warning did Bo and Mo give Tom?
Answer: They warned Tom not to open his mouth while flying, or he would fall.
10. Why did Tom fall from the sky?
Answer: Tom fell because he opened his mouth to talk while flying.
11. Who helped Tom after he fell?
Answer: The villagers helped Tom and took care of him.
12. Where did Tom finally reach?
Answer: Tom reached a beautiful lake with clean water.
13. Did Tom learn a lesson?
Answer: Yes, Tom learned that talking too much can cause problems.
14. What was the moral of the story?
Answer: The moral of the story is: “Think before you speak and listen to good advice.”
Moral & Thinking Questions for Children
15. Was Tom a good friend? Why?
Answer: Yes, Tom was a good friend because he cared about his friends and wanted to stay with them.
16. What mistake did Tom make?
Answer: Tom’s mistake was not listening to his friends and talking at the wrong time.
17. What would have happened if Tom stayed quiet?
Answer: If Tom stayed quiet, he would not have fallen and the journey would be safe.
18. What should we learn from Tom’s mistake?
Answer: We should learn to listen to others and speak only when necessary.
19. Have you ever talked when you should not have?
Answer (Sample for Kids): Yes, and I learned that staying quiet can sometimes be better.
20. How can we be better listeners?
Answer: We can be better listeners by paying attention, not interrupting, and following good advice.
Bonus Question for Classroom Discussion
21. If you were Tom, what would you do differently?
Answer: I would stay quiet during the flight and listen to my friends.
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