Adapted from Born Rich Learn Poor
BarKockalotte had heard many things about the Sanctuary.
Some said no one there was afraid. Others said everyone lived happily and had everything they needed. There were no mean dogs, no loneliness, and no need to worry about tomorrow.
The more BarKockalotte heard, the more certain he became that he belonged there.
One afternoon, he found LeDrun sitting beneath the old maple tree in the backyard.
The ancient tortoise crossed his legs and closed his eyes. Sunlight slipped through the leaves and rested in moving patches across his shell.
“Woof. Woof,” BarKockalotte greeted.
LeDrun sat still, his eyes closed.
“You know about the Sanctuary, don’t you? Tell me all about it.”
“Why?”
“So you can take me there. You are a magical tortoise.”
“You have never been there.”
“That is why I need directions.”
“Tell me what you know about it.”
“It is the safest, happiest, richest place in the universe.”
LeDrun studied the dog for a moment.
“And if the road is difficult?”
“I’ll work harder.”
BarKockalotte leapt to his feet.
“You don’t understand how determined I am. When I want something, I never quit. They say I am very dogged.”
To demonstrate, he began running around the maple tree.
Once.
Twice.
Five times.
He ran faster.
“See?”
“Please stop,” said LeDrun.
“I’m not tired!”
“I am.”
But BarKockalotte kept running.
Dog.
Tree.
Dog.
Tree.
Dog.
Tree.
Finally, LeDrun swayed sideways and fell onto his shell.
His four legs waved helplessly in the air.
BarKockalotte stopped.
“LeDrun! Help!”
A small bear cub playing nearby crawled over and peered down at him.
“Dead tortoise,” the cub announced.
“I am not dead,” LeDrun grumbled.
BarKockalotte nudged him upright with his nose.
“I was proving that I’m ready for the Sanctuary.”
LeDrun sighed.
“Sit down.”
BarKockalotte sat immediately.
“Now what?”
“I am taking you to the Sanctuary.”
BarKockalotte raised his head and howled with excitement.
“Quiet. Close your eyes.”
This was much harder than running.
But he stayed.
At first, all he noticed was his impatience. His tongue hung from his mouth, drying in the wind. He felt ants crawling through the grass beneath his paws. His butt was a little itchy.
Slowly, his breathing settled.
The backyard, which had seemed like nothing more than the place he wanted to leave, began returning to his attention.
Above him, the maple leaves rustled in the breeze.
The bear cub rolled through the grass, giggling at something no one else could see.
A bird chirped on the fence, then flew away.
Nothing remarkable happened.
After a while, BarKockalotte looked at LeDrun.
“Are we going soon? I need packing.”
“Going where?”
“The Sanctuary.”
“Ah.”
BarKockalotte looked around the backyard.
“We are here.”
“I know.”
“The Sanctuary is in here.” LeDrun placed a claw on his chest.
“No, it is not. This is a deteriorating country.”
“What did you notice earlier, when you were quiet for a while and closed your eyes?”
“Chirps, laughter, wind, ants, itch. Nothing special. Why?”
“Did you think about the Sanctuary?”
“No. Should I?”
BarKockalotte’s eyes widened.
LeDrun looked up into the maple leaves.
BarKockalotte lowered his head and checked his paws.
“Nothing has changed that I can see.”
“You stopped running.”
