The Girl and the Sea Turtle

The Girl and the Sea Turtle Çınar BİBER

Maya skipped along the sandy path, her green backpack bouncing with every step. The beach stretched out wide and golden, and the sea sparkled like a million tiny mirrors. She couldn't wait to build sandcastles and hunt for shells. Aunt Rosa followed behind, carrying a basket with snacks and a big straw hat. 1

Maya ran to the water's edge and let the cool waves wash over her red sneakers. She loved the salty smell and the cry of the seagulls. Suddenly, she saw something big and round near the dunes. It looked like a rock, but it was moving very slowly. Maya's big dark brown eyes grew wide with wonder. 2

It was a sea turtle! The turtle had a patterned green and brown shell and gentle dark eyes. Maya noticed a small barnacle patch on the shell edge and a tiny scar near one flipper. The turtle blinked calmly and looked at Maya. Maya stood very still, her heart beating fast. She didn't want to frighten the beautiful creature. 3

Just then, a tall man in a khaki ranger shirt with a turtle badge walked over. He wore a wide-brimmed hat and a friendly smile. 'Hello there,' he said softly. 'I'm Mr Daniel. I look after this beach.' He knelt down and showed Maya how to keep a safe distance. 'Turtles need our help,' he explained. 4

Mr Daniel told Maya that sea turtles come to this beach to lay their eggs. 'They need clean sand and quiet places,' he said. 'But sometimes visitors leave litter or get too close.' Maya frowned. She didn't want anything to hurt the turtles. 'What can I do?' she asked. Mr Daniel smiled. 'You can help spread the word,' he said. 5

Maya nodded, her curly buns bouncing. She wanted to help the sea turtle she had met. 'Can I make something to teach people?' she asked. Mr Daniel's warm brown eyes lit up. 'That's a wonderful idea,' he said. 'Let's ask your aunt Rosa. She's very creative.' They walked back to where Aunt Rosa was setting up a beach blanket. 6

Aunt Rosa listened carefully as Maya explained everything. 'We can make colourful signs and flyers,' she said, her green eyes twinkling. 'I have paints and paper at home.' Maya clapped her hands. She couldn't wait to start. 'We'll teach everyone how to keep the beach safe for turtles,' Maya said. Aunt Rosa smiled and hugged her. 7

Back at Aunt Rosa's house, Maya sat at the big kitchen table. Aunt Rosa spread out paper, paints, and markers. 'Let's start with a picture of a turtle,' she said. Maya painted a green shell with brown patterns, just like Shelly's. She added gentle dark eyes and flippers. 'This is Shelly,' Maya said proudly. 'She's the reason we're doing this.' 8

Next, Maya wrote simple tips in big letters. 'Keep the beach clean,' she wrote. 'Stay a safe distance from turtles.' She drew a picture of people watching a turtle from far away. Aunt Rosa helped her cut out colourful stars and hearts to decorate the flyers. They worked all afternoon, and the table was soon covered in bright, cheerful posters. 9

Maya made a special sign for the beach entrance. It showed a happy turtle and the words 'Welcome to Turtle Beach!' She added a picture of a trash can and a big smiley face. 'This will help visitors remember to take their litter home,' she said. Aunt Rosa nodded. 'You're a real conservation helper,' she said. Maya beamed with pride. 10

The next morning, Maya and Aunt Rosa brought the signs to the beach. Mr Daniel was waiting for them. 'These are fantastic!' he said, looking at the colourful flyers. 'Let's put them up where everyone can see.' They placed the signs near the path, by the trash cans, and along the dunes. Maya felt excited and a little nervous. 11

Soon, visitors started to notice the signs. A family stopped to read the tips. 'Look, we should stay back from the turtles,' said a little boy. His mother nodded and picked up a piece of litter. Maya watched as people smiled and pointed at her drawings. One woman said, 'What a great idea!' Maya's heart swelled with happiness. 12

Mr Daniel gathered a small group of visitors around Maya. 'This young lady made these posters to help our sea turtles,' he said. Maya's cheeks turned pink, but she stood tall. 'Turtles need clean beaches and quiet places to lay eggs,' she said. 'We can all help by keeping our distance and taking our trash home.' The visitors clapped, and Maya felt proud. 13

A few days later, Maya returned to the beach at sunset. The sky was painted pink and orange. She saw Mr Daniel near the dunes, smiling. 'Come and see,' he whispered. Maya tiptoed over and peeked. There was Shelly, slowly making her way back to the sea. 'She laid her eggs,' Mr Daniel said. 'And thanks to you, the beach was quiet and clean.' 14

Maya watched Shelly disappear into the waves. 'Will the baby turtles be safe?' she asked. Mr Daniel nodded. 'The eggs are protected now,' he said. 'And when they hatch, they'll follow the moonlight to the sea.' Maya felt a warm glow inside. She had helped make a difference. 'I'll keep helping,' she promised. Mr Daniel gave her a high five.