by: Sara Bitting
When Tau the Turtle reached Mr. Owl’s tree, Mr. Owl was sound asleep. So Tau the Turtle called up to him, “Mr. Owl! Mr. Owl!” Mr. Owl suddenly woke up and nearly fell from his tree! Mr. Owl was at first very angry for being woken up. When he looked down to see Tau the Turtle, though, Mr. Owl hooted, for he had missed the kind and friendly turtle. Mr. Owl asked how he could help the turtle.
Mr. Owl thought to himself for a second and called back to Tau, “I used to know this a long time ago. All I can remember now is you need two pieces of bread. Why don’t you ask Mrs. Rabbit? Surely she will know.”
Tau shouted back thank you, so excited that she was beginning to learn how to make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich.
Once again, Tau the Turtle took off on her quest, this time to find Mrs. Rabbit in the field. When Tau finally saw Mrs. Rabbit far off in the distance, she hollered out to her, for she could go much faster than she could.
Mrs. Rabbit turned around and speedily hopped right toward Tau. She was thrilled to see her longtime friend! Mrs. Rabbit asked Tau what she was doing in the field.
Mrs. Rabbit said, “Oh that’s a hard question Tau. I know you have to put peanut butter on one piece of bread, but I don’t know how to finish it.”
Tau, devastated, cried, “Oh no, Mrs. Rabbit! What am I going to do? I’m never going to be able to eat a peanut butter and jelly sandwich.”
Mrs. Rabbit told to Tau, “It is going to be ok because Mr. Frog positively will know how to make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich.”
Tau the Turtle hoped so dearly Mr. Frog would know how to make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich because poor Tau could not stop thinking about how wonderfully delicious this peanut butter and jelly sandwich could be. So Tau set off on her journey to find Mr. Frog in the pond.
When Tau the Turtle arrived at the pond she saw Mr. Frog swimming in the water and called out, “Mr. Frog! I have a very important question for you!”
Mr. Frog hurried over to Tau the Turtle for he had not seen the delightful turtle in days! Mr. Frog asked Tau what was wrong.
Mr. Frog smiled a very frog-ly smile and said, “Tau, you are in luck! For I know your last step. The last thing you need to do is put jelly on the other piece of bread!”
Mr. Frog shouted, “Well what are you still doing here? Go make your peanut butter and jelly sandwich!”
Tau knew Mr. Frog was right and raced home slow and steady (for that is the turtle way). When Tau got home to the stream she got all of her ingredients together to make her peanut butter and jelly sandwich. Tau thought back on her adventure of the day and wished her friends could see her now. They helped her through so much she wish she could repay them.
Right when Tau finished making her peanut butter and jelly sandwich she heard cheering. Tau turned around and saw all of her friends! Mr. Owl, Mrs. Rabbit, and even Mr. Frog came to see her. That’s when it hit Tau – she could share his wonderfully delicious peanut butter and jelly sandwich with all of her friends! That’s how she could thank all of them. So Tau went around to all of her friends and broke off a piece of her sandwich for each and every one.