Bartleby's Belief

Bartleby was a 400-year-old sea turtle. It made no difference that he was so old; he still seemed young to himself. Every morning, Bartleby collected the driftwood that gathered on the beach overnight and stacked it behind some bushes.

Bartleby lived on the beach with another animal; a hippopotamus named Daisy. She was the sweetest thing in the world to Bartleby and he was so glad she was always there. Daisy was exciting and energetic, and ate lots and lots of food. Bartleby told her stories about his long life and of what he liked and didn't like. She liked his stories, but always doubted they were true. Bartleby knew this, but carried on anyway.

One morning while Bartleby slowly carried his driftwood back to his bush, Daisy asked him what he planned to do with all that wood.

“Some day I'm going to build a sailboat,” he said.
“When?” she asked.
“I don't know, someday.”
“I don't believe you.”
“Why not?”
“Because you always say that but I don't see anything that looks like a sailboat.”
“You will someday.”
“I don't believe you.”
“Fine.”
“Why don't you do something more important?”
“Like what?”
“I don't know, collect food instead of driftwood.”
“Because someday the driftwood will bring me all the food we need.”
“I don't believe you.”
“Fine.”

One morning after Bartleby unloaded his driftwood behind the bush, Daisy told him that she was leaving. Bartleby was confused.

“Where are you going?” he asked.
“Away. There's no more food here.” she said.
“There's soon to be lots of food here; my sailboat is nearly finished.”
“No it isn't; it's still just a bunch of sticks.”
“Not for long.”
The turtle scurried over to his bush and went to work. He worked all night and finished the next morning. It was a pretty boat and Bartleby was proud of it. He named it Daisy and went to show his favorite hippo, but she was gone.

Bartleby set sail alone and soon found another beach with lots and lots of food. He loaded his boat up with as much food as he could and went back to look for Daisy, but the food weighed too much and sunk Bartleby's boat. He watched the driftwood break apart and wash back toward the beach. If only she had believed him.