The Tale Of Tommy And The Magic Tortoise

Before I begin my tale I would like to show you something that might be of interest.
Infront of you I place an ordinary, transparent box.
And, because it is transparent, no doubt you can see what is inside the box.
No?
Well perhaps if I bring the box a little closer. Now can you see what is in the box?
Still no?
Ahh, well maybe if I say the magic word Arabbitus, arabbitus, arabbitus.
Now can you see what is inside the box?
Yes. Thats right, a rabbit is inside the box
And like that rabbit, my tale concerns an appearing animal but not a rabbit, a tortoise.
Once upon a time, you see, a poor man died of a terrible fever leaving his son Tommy nothing but a piece of advice.
"If you ever get in trouble", he said, "Call for the magic tortoise and he will help".
Ofcourse Tommy was doubtful about Magic Tortoises. Infact, he thought that perhaps his father might be delirious.
But then Tommy, because he was an orphan, was forced to live with his Aunt Bathilda who was so incredibly mean that she locked the poor boy in a dark cellar and fed him on mouldy bread and dirty dish water.
So then, because he was desperate, the boy did what his father had advised, he called out,
"Magic Tortoise please help".
But sadly, nothing happened.
And the boy, thinking that his father must have been crazy to tell him such useless advice curled up on the floor of the dark cellar and started to cry.
But then his Aunt Bathilda, because she was cruel and horrible and because the boy had no inheritance to steal, thought she would sell him to the highest bidder.
And so she organized an auction and paraded him about infront of a room of wealthy people, saying,
"Who will buy this boy? He's very healthy and strong. A good worker, I assure you".
And much to his Aunt Bathildas wicked glee, the boy was bought by an Arab Sheik, for one thousand pounds and the Sheik locked him in a cage with parrots and monkeys and had him transported to Arabia on the back of a giant camel.
And, as Tommy was in the cage, because he was desperate, he thought he would give his fathers advice one more try.
"Oh, please, Magic Tortoise", he said, "Please help".
But sadly, again, nothing happened.
And Tommy chided himself for having faith in his fathers mad ramblings, curling up in a corner of the cage and crying .
But then, when he reached Arabia, the boy was made a servant to the Arab Sheiks beautiful daughter, Princess Sultana and, over time, the boy and the princess fell in love.
But when the Sheik found out he had the boy locked in a dungeon and sentenced him to execution by beheading.
And while he was in the dungeon, because he was desperate and had nothing to lose, the boy decided to give his fathers crazy advice just one last try.
"Oh please, please, Magic Tortoise", he said, "I beg of you. Please help".
But sadly, yet again, nothing happened.
And laughing, the boy thought,
"Well what did I expect. Only a fool believes in magic tortoises".
And the next day, when he was being led out into the execution yard and forced to kneel and lay his head upon the chopping block, he thought,
"Well at least things can't get any worse".
But then, suddenly, just at that moment, to Tommy's absolute amazement, right infront of him there appeared a tortoise with a glowing, golden shell and then the tortoise made the guards release him and made the Sheik give him the title of prince and the Sheiks daughter agree to marry him.
But Tommy was confused.
"I don't understand", he said to the Magic Tortoise, "I called out to you three times and you never appeared. Why?".
"Well. I'm a tortoise", explained the Tortoise, "And tortoises are slow but they get there in the end".
And it just goes to show that you should never give up hope. Even if your wishes don't come true the first, the second or even the third time you make them, if you keep on wishing, hoping and trying, though they take their time, they may still come true in the end.