Rain began to patter on the sunlit garden. Milo shrank inside his shell until only his scuffed brown feet peeked out.
A soft click-click sound approached. A small painted turtle with a yellow rainshell hopped into the flower patch beside him.
The stranger turtle smiled and tapped one bright blue foot against the wet earth. Tap. Tap. Tap. Milo's ears wiggle, and he pulls his toes a tiny inch closer.
The stranger turtle hops a little closer and taps again — right next to Milo's shell. Tap-tap! Milo's shell creaks open a crack. A warm smell of rain-soaked daisy petals drifts toward him.
Milo slowly, slowly stretches his neck out. The stranger turtle opens her mouth and whispers one tiny word right into his ear.
Milo's eyes go wide as saucers, and his whole front leg trembles.
Milo takes a deep breath and tries to say the word back. Nothing comes out. He tries again — a tiny squeak escapes like a mouse.
The stranger turtle just waits, smiling, and taps her blue foot once more. Tap.
