A FRIENDSHIP BOND OVER SUMMER

On the sun-drenched shores of Apo Island, where coral gardens bloom beneath turquoise waves even at thigh-deep waters, a young turtle named Shaun began her summer in her favorite patch of seagrass.

- By Zaida Marie A. Tambis

Shaun was no longer a hatchling, but she still loved the quiet shallows. Where sunlight danced on the reef like scattered stars, she would nudge on the rocks and nibble her meals.

One bright morning, as the tide lapped lazily on the sand, Shaun noticed something unusual — a pair of small feet standing near the edge of the tide pool. Carefully, she paddled closer and peeked above the water. There stood a girl with wide brown eyes and hair tangled from salt and wind. She wore a necklace made of tiny white shells and carried a bucket filled with seaweed, seashells, starfish and plastic bits. Her name was Ara.

Ara swam and spoke softly, “Hello, pretty turtle. Are you from here too? My name is Ara. Shaun blinked slowly. “How could I understand what she just said?” She thought to herself.