A
couple we met in Maz, B and K, have been dating for some time now and decided it was time to get a pet, together, after visiting a local pet store. Both being
very social and active they didn’t want a pet that would require alot of maintenance,
so they settled on a turtle.
Hub
chimes in from the deck...‘Not just a turtle...a big ass water turtle, the size of your head!’
"Yes, he was on the large size, but they both agreed a turtle would be a good fit."
Well,
as it happens in Maz, many people from north of the border head back this time of
year and our friends were no different. That’s when we got a knock on the
door.
Hub
wasn’t home so naturally I answered it...
Sitting
next to me Hub chimes in...‘I’ve told you NOT to answer the damn door! But do
you listennnnn ... nooooo!’
Well,
as I opened the gate there was ‘B’, standing there with 'Jorge' in his hands, a bottle of food under his arm and with a huge grin...B not Jorge. As it turns out
he can’t look after their pet any longer and thought it would be a perfect fit
for us since we have no kids here...and we're here all year round and could use some responsibility so as not
to get completely bored.
Of course I said yes and welcomed Jorge into our concrete jungle in the backyard.
B
proceeded to tell me how Jorge wouldn’t be a bother and would just fit in
anywhere and proceeded to drop him into my dipping pond...to which Jorge immediately got the feel of the place.
B
left our casa very happy.
Then
Hub came home...‘WTF
is THAT????’
“He's a water turtle, his name is Jorge and he’s going to live with us.”
Hub immediately went inside and got a cold cerveza.
After
a half hour I carefully extracted Jorge from my pond and set him in the shade
under the table in the middle of the courtyard, surrounded with his food pellets
and some cut up veggies. With
his big flipper feet and his emerald green eyes he just stared ahead.
I
heard Hub from the deck...‘If you’re gonna name him...’
“Well I’m
not. He’s already got a name...Jorge!”
‘Well
I’ve given this careful thought and decided his name will be Sammy.’
“I’m
sure you have a reason...”
Laughing and very proud of himself he went on to explain...‘Yeah....you
know...salmonella. And btw did you tell B what happened to our last turtle in
Canada?’
“There
was no need to bring up that unfortunate accident.”
‘Sure
there is...don’t you think he’d like to know that you killed a tortoise, that
should have lived for 50 years, in just 5 fleeting years?’
“I
didn’t kill Adolph. He had an unfortunate accident, but yes, in my care.”
‘Accident???? You frigg’n fried him!’
“I did not! The tank just dried out and the heat lamp was still on.”
‘Case
closed...you cooked him!’
Day
2
As
the birds start singing about 4.30am here, I get up and turn on the back lights
and go about watering the plants. It’s then I remember we have a new member of
the family. Ok, I think we have a new member...it couldn’t have been a dream...but
where was the little angel?
Looking under all the plants...under the bbq...I finally spot Jorge-Sammy under the palm tree.
I grab some gloves, knowing that when I drag him out he'll be kicking and
screaming...with his legs pulling and his sharp nails
digging into my gloves. I gently put him into the water and he goes about doing
what turtles do...swims for a bit and then walks around the bottom of my
dipping pond.
After a couple of hours I take him out, put him under the shade
with food and water and he proceeds to sit there, looking straight ahead with
his beautiful emerald green eyes.
2
hours later he’s sitting in the sun.
‘Not
the brightest of the bunch huh?’ Hub calls from the back deck.
“Hey,
he’s just getting oriented to his surroundings.”
Hub
goes back to his book...‘Oh yeahhhhh...and I got the winning lottery ticket
right here baby!’
Day
3
Hub
turns his head from the computer and looks outside... ‘Linda, the genius is
still getting oriented.’
I
rush out to turn him over, (Jorge not Hub,) and place him in the shade. I
notice Hub eyeing Jorge a couple of times throughout the day.
“What
are you doing???”
‘Nothing
special...Just trying to tell the Big T there, telepathically to save himself
and get the hell away from you..what with your track record with turtles.’
“Telepathically...yeah, right Spock!” as I grab my gloves, then Jorge and head to the pond for some
exercise...after which Jorge sits under the table all afternoon...staring at us
with those emerald green eyes.
A
couple of hours later we hear the crash again from the back deck.
‘Hey
Linda. The Big T is sunbathing on his back again.’
Day 4
Finishing his outdoor shower, Hub asks...‘So when exactly are YOU planning on
using the dipping pond yourself?’
“Hey
I sit on the edge and put my feet in while Jorge is swimming. Cools me off
great actually!”
‘We
didn’t have that damn pond built for a turtle!’
“Speaking of Jorge..”
‘You
mean Sammy.’
Frantically
I look around...“Whateverrrr...where is he now?”
Finding
him tangled up in the pond pump again, I carefully move him to the shade and
proceed to barricade the pump with large potted plants. “Just try to get in
there now Houdini!”
Day 5
Seeing
the heavy potted plants have been moved and Jorge nestled around the pond
pump again I know what I have to do.
I make the call.
I make the call.
“B! It’s me. You have to come and get Jorge...”
Day 6
Hub waved just a little too enthusiastically....
Just a couple of thoughts from 2 Canadians living and loving it in Mazatlan!
Linda and Hub
