I still remember the day we bought you, me and MeiYun. I remember the days we spent after that watching you two scuttling around in that little plastic tank. You used to get stuck under the bridge a lot, then Lizzie would have to nudge you out. Then you would go over to the island with her and spend time knocking into the plastic coconut tree, two green fifty cent coins trudging resolutely on four little legs.
Both of you soon outgrew that little tank and my brother got you both a new home in the garden - in a blue sandbox. You two would eat the kangkung that grew around it all on your own - I planted it for the both of you, you two loved having snacks nearby. The two of you struggled valiantly out of the sandbox and time and time again we had to hunt you two disappeared. We found out that Lizzie would stand steadfast on the highest point on the edge and you'd climb over her and out of the box!
Then one fateful day Lizzie wandered off too far and went missing... we found her underneath dad's golf set, lifeless. You moped for days, but you got back up on your feet and back to climbing out of the sandbox all by yourself. You grew too big for that sandbox too, so when we got a new house to stay in we got you a new home too - a huge flowerpot with smooth sides that you couldn't climb out of.
We placed plants in this pot for a little while, hoping that you wouldn't eat them too fast. They were gone the next day. You were the guardian of the utility room at the back of the house - it opened out into the garden and you used to spend hours just watching whoever was at the back and defending your flowerpot from intruders.
We got a cat who started to share your room too. He followed me home one day, and since there was no other place for his litterbox you graciously let him share that small room we called yours. Snowball comes and goes as he pleases, but he never did try to overstep the boundary of your flowerpot. You defended it very well and set the ground rules the first time he *did* land in there, after all. It's funny- with your own room and everything it was like you were a real member of the family, even if you did have a shell (which you resolutely refused to let me scrub even when there was a layer of algae on it) and four legs. It totally confused everyone when we called your room by it's rightful name - 'Steven's room'.
Then, on Sunday morning, we found you floating in the water. You have gone to join Lizzie, I guess, wherever she is, and I don't even know how or why. I doubt that it was your old age - you're a turtle, after all, and the longevity is meant to be a racial (or species) bonus. It's been a long time since you've seen her, hasn't it? I'm sorry I couldn't perform this last service for you, I'm sorry I couldn't be the one to bury you next to JD around the corner. Just like Lizzie, you'll always have a room in my heart. I'll even call it Steven's room, if you like.
Just to let you know, Ian's already re-christened the road next to where you and JD keep watch. It's JDSteven's corner now. You were our backdoor guardian against rats, cats and unsuspecting intruders. I hope that wherever you are, you have your own little garden of kangkong, and that Lizzie's there with you.
Thank your for the protection you gave us. I miss you.
-ionie
Now playing - Blue Dream, KEY
6:37 AM
posted by Shiawase
