I am Rex, an old Sulcata tortoise. My shell is hard and brown. My legs are thick and strong. It was They were the pillar that supports my huge body. And Now I’m escaping my “home.” I don’t have any freedom in that house, so I took my last look at the scratches I made in the backyard and then walked away. Now, the only sound in my head is stomp, stomp, stomp. My wish was to see the world instead of staying in a small house crashing into the furniture.

The sidewalk was cold and wet after the rain, but I kept walking, slowly and steadily. It was a new kind of smell, the mix of fresh air with the moist soil. I liked it.

Suddenly, a huge shadow covered me entirely. Two people appeared in my line of sight.

A little girl wearing a red t-shirt said, “Dad, is that a tortoise?”

“Is it real?” the man wearing a transparent raincoat asked.

I was scared by these huge things I had never met before. I buried my head in my shell, wondering why they were staring at me. Am I in trouble? I just wanted to keep walking and see the world.

The kid asked, “Dad, can we please bring the tortoise back home with us?”

“Fine, but this will be your only pet in your life.”

The man gave me a cookie. It was crispy and sweet. They put me in a wheelbarrow gently. Although it was a bumpy ride, it was safe. I liked this family. It was friendly, it was cozy, and was fun. I closed my eyes. I guess this would be my new home.