Moonlit Hatchlings On Turtle Island 🐢 🏝️ Bedtime Stories For Kids | Rewind

[00:00:10] Hello and welcome back to Koala Moon, a podcast of original bedtime stories and sleep meditations for kids designed to make bedtime a dream. We're going to Thailand tonight for our story. That's back to the tropical heat, the dazzling sunlight and spectacular scenery. We're once again in the company of young sisters Kit and So. Do you remember them?

[00:00:36] Oh, they are utterly obsessed with sea turtles. It's been so long since we've heard about them and indeed since we last visited Turtle Island with them. They're desperate to go back and little do they know that opportunity is just around the corner. Their big turtle buddy Ivan is, as I speak, on his way down the Chao Phraya River to give them a very important assignment. Before we catch up with them, let's get ready for rest.

[00:01:06] Close your eyes and lie back in bed and get nice and comfy. Wriggle a bit if you need to settle down and as you breathe slowly in and out, just think all about the colour turquoise. Go on, fill your vision up with that beautiful shade that's neither green nor blue, but somewhere lovely in between.

[00:01:29] And in the turquoise, you can see some small bubbles floating upwards in a thin line. It's so quiet and peaceful. As you look around, you see more bubbles. I wonder who's blowing them. This is Moonlit Hatchlings on Turtle Island by Luke Prendergast. Before we begin, here's a quick ad break.

[00:01:59] Then we'll start tonight's bedtime story. If you'd like to support our podcast, enjoy ad-free listening and unlock all our premium stories, you can join the Cocoa Club. To join, follow the link in the show notes.

[00:02:19] Sometimes, looking out of the window of their top floor apartment in Bangkok, Kit and her little sister Soh tried hard to remember their trip to Turtle Island. It was difficult. The hustle and bustle of the city didn't seem like it could possibly exist in the same universe as a peaceful island. Bangkok was like a vibrant, ever-changing, never-sleeping creature.

[00:02:47] From their window, they gazed down upon the people rushing hither and thither from dawn until dusk. The growling car engines. The beeps of horns. The smell of street food wafting upwards. The bright lights of restaurants in the evening, twinkling like a starry constellation on the streets below.

[00:03:10] Turtle Island, on the other hand, was quiet and gentle, like a sandy-coloured cat curled up and purring. Gentle breezes raked the white sands and swung the heavy fronds of the palm trees. The only sounds were the lapping of the waves on the shore and the sounds of crickets making their violin sounds in the jungle grasses.

[00:03:36] Time on Turtle Island seemed to yawn and stretch out. Minutes became hours. Days so peaceful, they felt like months. Maybe it was all a dream, sighed Soh. Maybe we spent so long wishing so hard that we could go to Turtle Island that we just tricked our brains into thinking we did. Like magic. Like magic. Kit let out a little chuckle.

[00:04:06] But if it were a dream, she said, how would you explain a thing like Ivan? Ah, Ivan. Where to even begin in explaining who Ivan was. The reason that Kit and Soh had begged their parents at every opportunity to take them to Turtle Island was because they'd seen on the television that there was nowhere better in the world for snorkelling.

[00:04:33] They would play pretend in their living room, fantasizing that the sofa was a big coral reef surrounded by flickering rainbow-coloured fish. That the low glass table was a ray floating underneath them. But they yearned for the real thing. And more than anything, they'd wanted to see a turtle. Their parents had surprised them with a trip, a long weekend to Turtle Island.

[00:05:03] And for three days, they'd spent hour upon hour snorkelling in the clear blue waters, seeing all kinds of amazing sea creatures. But never, alas, a turtle. Until that was. Until the final day, when they climbed onto a little rock in the middle of the sea, which turned out to be the hump of a huge sea turtle. Ivan.

[00:05:30] They rode around on Ivan's back for a whole afternoon and knew that even in that short time, they'd made a friend for life. And when they returned to the urban sprawl of Bangkok, they were delighted one afternoon to see their old friend Ivan floating in the Chao Phraya River that wound its way through the capital. Yep, they were very lucky indeed. For Ivan came to visit them regularly.

[00:06:00] And when he did, Kit and So's parents would take them down to the river's edge to meet him. Like today, in fact. Their mum called out to ask, were they ready? And they peeled themselves away from the window and pulled on their trainers. Down they went in the big elevator, until they stepped out into the concrete warmth of the street.

[00:06:25] They held one of their mum's hands each and each road they got to, she'd pause and look both ways. And only when the coast was clear and it was safe to cross, would she stride across the road, guiding her children along with her. When they got to the river's edge, they leaned against the railings and peered over the edge, down at the choppy waters of the Chow Praia, with its taxi boats and steamers drifting up and down.

[00:06:56] Where is he? Kit called out. Can you see him? Not yet, replied So. I hope he didn't forget. And then their mum said, look, girls, look. They followed where she pointed her finger. And there, in the distance, they saw the dark green familiar hump of Ivan's shell poking out of the water.

[00:07:25] It appeared just so Ivan could take a deep breath. And then he disappeared beneath the water, reappearing a whole minute or two later, right in front of them. He waved his flipper. Hi, Kit. Hi, So, he said. Wow, Ivan, Kit gasped. You sure can hold your breath a long time. Oh, yes, he said.

[00:07:55] For several hours, if I want to. Kit's mouth hung open. Several hours, she repeated. I can only hold mine for several seconds. Ivan laughed and said, Well, how's about this? I can teach you to hold your breath underwater for longer, but I'll need you to help me out with something first.

[00:08:22] In fact, it's something that I came here to talk to you about. What's that then, Ivan? Kit asked. Ivan explained that a very special time of year was approaching on Turtle Island. The night of the baby turtle hatchings. You see, each year, mummy turtles buried their eggs in the sand at the top of one of the beaches on the island.

[00:08:50] Down in their sandy nests, the eggs can grow safely for a couple of months until the babies are ready to hatch. And when they do hatch, they follow the light of the moon dancing out over the ocean and crawl down across the sand until they reach the water's edge, where, with a splish and a splash, they can be reunited with their mothers and begin their lives in the ocean.

[00:09:18] Turtle hatching was the most magical night of the year. And it was happening tonight. Except this year, Ivan said, we've got a bit of a problem. A new beach cafe was just built on the beach where the turtle eggs will be hatching, which means the baby turtles might struggle to find their way down to the water and into the sea.

[00:09:46] That's why I'm here to see you. Kit and so, I don't think there are two people in the whole world who I'd trust more to come to Turtle Island and help make sure the baby turtles make their way down to the sea safely. Would you come back to the island with me and help an old turtle out? Oh, yes, of course, Ivan, Kit replied, just as soon as he'd finished speaking.

[00:10:15] She felt terribly honoured that Ivan had thought of them for this very important task. Her heart went out to those baby turtles, who might well be disorientated when they poked their newborn heads up through the sand. And, though she wouldn't say this out loud, she was just excited about the opportunity to go and visit Turtle Island once again. There was only one problem.

[00:10:45] Kit and so turned as one to their mother, and their voices chiming together like two clear bells, they said, Please, Mum, can we go back to Turtle Island? Well, let's see, their mum said, folding her hands in front of her stomach. How long are you going to be taking them for, Ivan?

[00:11:14] Just for the night, Ivan said. I can bring them back tomorrow morning, and you know that they'll be extra safe with me. Then mum nodded. I do know that, Ivan. Well, girls, you can go. Not only that, you should go. Those baby turtles need looking after, and I'll be back here in the morning to pick you up again.

[00:11:42] Now I'm just going to have to work out what I'm going to tell your father. He'll be rather confused when I come home without the two of you. Kit and so both wrapped their arms around their mother's legs and gave her a hug. They received kisses on each of their foreheads and waved her off. Then they climbed down the special steps to the water's edge and clambered atop of Ivan's back.

[00:12:11] All aboard, he checked, peering over the rim of his shell, where Kit and so were happily perched. All right then. Turtle Island, here we come. Have you ever heard the saying, it's like riding a bicycle? Maybe you've heard one of your parents say it. It means that once you've learnt how to ride a bike, it doesn't matter how long you spend not riding it,

[00:12:40] when you get back on, somehow you still know how to do it. It's as though your body remembers. Kit had learned to ride a bike just a couple of years ago, and now her little sister So was learning on the same little yellow bike with its stabilisers that Kit had once used to learn. And that's what her parents always said. It's like riding a bike.

[00:13:08] Once you know how, you know how. These words came to Kit now because, even though it had been almost a year since she'd last travelled around on Ivan's back, somehow she remembered just how to do it. He swam in long graceful arcs, his shell almost rolling over the waves, and you just had to let your body move with it. You swayed this way and that,

[00:13:38] but somehow you never came anywhere near to falling off. In fact, very quickly, it became very calming, sailing through the vast blue ocean on Ivan's back, as the waves rose and fell all around them, and the late afternoon sun shone down softly on their heads. Perhaps they even napped a little,

[00:14:05] because no time seemed to pass before Ivan said, look up ahead. And there they could see the tree-covered island rising out of the water, just like a turtle's green back. Turtle Island, Kit sighed. We've made it! Kit and So disembarked from Ivan's back

[00:14:34] and splashed a few feet through the shallow blue waters until their feet sunk into the soft, wet sand. The island was just as beautiful as they remembered, with its shivering palm trees and its twittering birds. It was already sunset, which meant that the few people on the beach were sitting on the sand,

[00:15:01] staring out to watch the red disk of the sun drop beneath the horizon and the sky turned purple. Ivan took Kit and So to a little shack, where the owner gave them some rice to eat and a coconut full of milk to drink. And once they were refreshed, they followed Ivan down to the other end of the beach, where the new beach cafe had been built.

[00:15:29] And standing outside it was another ancient-looking sea turtle. Ivan introduced her as Mama Grace. At 150 years old, she was the oldest sea turtle to be swimming in these waters. It's a pretty enough cafe, Mama Grace croaked, looking over at the wooden building with its leafy canopy

[00:15:57] and its chairs and beanbags laid out on the sand. But even the loveliest of human inventions can prove a problem for animal life. That's why it's always important to think of how what you're doing is going to affect not only other people, but other species too.

[00:16:23] You have to take in the whole of nature. Kit and So couldn't agree more. The sun had set and night had fallen by now. The sky was an inky indigo swathe dotted here and there by twinkling stars. The moon, a perfect crescent, hung like a smile in the sky,

[00:16:51] spilling its milky light on the dappling water. Okay, Mama Grace croaked. It's time. Together, they walked to the top of the beach and Ivan and Grace pointed out where the eggs were buried. They sat in the sand and waited. They had to wait rather a long time, but somehow Kit never got bored.

[00:17:21] There was so much to take in. The whispering of the breeze and the trees above them. The chirping of the cicadas. The smell of the salt air. Then, at last, Ivan touched her with the tip of his flipper and whispered. Look. She looked. And there she saw it.

[00:17:46] The tiniest green head poking up out of the sand, nudging the little mounds of white dust, which to them must have been like small hillocks, and clambering out onto the sand. First one, then another, and then a third appeared. They stepped out into the air, blinking in the moonlight. Glanced around.

[00:18:16] Their eyes became accustomed to the real world with all of its pleasures and wonders. Then they set off, waddling down the beach. Ivan and Mama Grace had already directed Kit and So what to do. They followed the baby turtles, keeping their distance, trying not to trouble them. If the turtles looked as though they were coming up to an obstacle,

[00:18:46] like a piece of wood lying on the sand, Kit and So would lift up the hurdle that was impeding their course, or encourage them to find another way. Go left, So whispered to one baby turtle, who was stuck behind a beanbag. Yes, that's it. That's the way. See? Now you're free. The baby turtle blinked at her gratefully

[00:19:14] and waddled its way down to the water, where it splashed its tiny flippers in the wave and disappeared beneath the surface of the sea. That's one safely home, so whispered to her sister as she passed her. And just a few seconds later, after Kit had successfully seen her baby turtle to the water's edge, said, Mine too.

[00:19:43] And so back and forth they went, ushering the baby turtles down to the sea. At first, there were only a handful, but soon there were dozens of bleary-eyed baby turtles travelling down to the water, their smooth shells gleaming in the moonlight. Sometimes a turtle would go wrong.

[00:20:10] One would try climbing up the cafe's wooden steps, while another would get distracted by the light of a house further down the beach, and, mistaking it for the moonlight, start following that instead. In these situations, Kit and So would have to very carefully gather the little turtle up and set it back on the correct path. Not that way, they'd whisper.

[00:20:39] You want to be going down to the sea. That's right, this is the way. And whenever the baby turtles would reach the water's edge, they'd always turn and give Kit and So a big smile of gratitude before slipping into the waves. Kit didn't know how long they were busy ferrying the baby turtles, but sometime later, it might have been an hour, it might have been four,

[00:21:09] she reached the top of the beach once more to find that there was no baby turtle waiting for her to be ferried. That's it, Mama Grace said with a smile. That's the last turtle taken home. Kit sighed. She'd been concentrating so hard on helping the turtles her legs, but she'd barely noticed how she was feeling herself.

[00:21:38] Her legs had a gentle ache in them from going up and down the beach so often. And there was sand everywhere, on her feet and hands and in her hair. But more than anything, she felt a kind of inner peace. The sort that comes when you've done something for someone else and you've pulled it off. Not pride, but peace.

[00:22:09] A feeling that you'd done good. And glancing over at her little sister, crouching down with her back against the trunk of a palm tree, Kit knew So was feeling exactly the same way. Well done, both of you, Ivan said. We couldn't have done it without your help. You're more than welcome, Ivan, Kit said.

[00:22:38] Yes, Ivan, said So. In fact, we should be thanking you. Thank you for letting us come back to Turtle Island and help with this magical evening. The pleasure, Ivan said, with a little bow of his turtle head, is all mine. Now, why don't you follow me? I think we've all earned

[00:23:07] a peaceful moonlit dip. And so, together, the four of them traipsed down to the water. Ivan and Grace seemed to skim lightly over the sand, while Kit and So's feet plunged down deep. The sea looked like it had been transformed into liquid silver, as though it had not only reflected the moonlight, but swallowed it up, become it.

[00:23:37] It shone and shimmered around their ankles as they strode in. Kit slipped her hand in and lifted a handful up, so that it dripped back down through the gaps in her fingers and back into the ocean. The water was warm, but refreshing. It had held the heat of the sun from the day. Ready? Kit called out gently to sew.

[00:24:08] They were both up to their waists in the water now. So nodded. They counted to three, and then they slipped down all the way underneath, their eyes closed, feeling their bodies become light as the water held them up. Kit took a few strokes underwater, then opened her eyes. All around her were dozens

[00:24:37] and dozens of baby turtles. They swam here and there, doing underwater somersaults and drifting on invisible currents. Kit took another couple of forward strokes through the water, and the baby turtles came towards her, swimming around her body, urging her on through the silver ocean. Kit glanced to her left and saw

[00:25:07] that more baby turtles were swimming along with So. For a moment, Kit thought that her baby sister looked just like a mythical sea creature, a yei thuma or a mermaid, her legs like a tail swishing her through the water while her entourage of baby turtles accompanied her. When they broke for air, there was Ivan.

[00:25:37] Ivan, they said, the baby turtles are all still here. Oh, yes, Ivan said, they were waiting for you. They wanted to thank you for your help this evening. Now, just as the two of you guided them across the sand to the water, now they want to guide you through the sea. Kit nodded, feeling the magic

[00:26:06] of Turtle Island all around her. She took a breath and slipped back beneath the water to where the baby turtles were waiting. She flowed like seaweed through the shallows, twisting and arcing herself in a dance with the turtles, and then, when she grew tired, she swam to the surface and she and so clambered on top

[00:26:36] of Ivan's back where they lay panting in the moonlight. So yawned and then, because yawns are catching things, Kit yawned too. She stretched out her arms and rested her head on Ivan's shell. It was surprisingly comfy. You too must be tired, Ivan said.

[00:27:06] I think it is time to take you home. But don't worry, I will swim very slowly so that you can sleep while we travel, and when you wake up in the morning we will be back on the Chow Pryor River where your mother will be waiting. And then, sensing a little vein of sadness moving

[00:27:36] through Kit and so, he added, but don't you worry, this won't be your last visit to Turtle Island. you'll be back soon. I have much wisdom, and I know that to be true. And so, feeling reassured, Kit and so waved goodbye to Mama Grace and the

[00:28:05] baby turtles, and curled up in comfy balls on Ivan's back. Ivan took up a gentle paddle, and Kit and so watched as Turtle Island, with its moon-wet forests and its white shining beaches, drew away and finally disappeared. They yawned, they rubbed

[00:28:35] their eyes, they stretched. They were tired and sleep was reaching out to take them. Already, Kit could hear the heavy sounds of her little sister's sleepy breathing, a sound which only made her feel ever more sleepy too. Good night, Ivan, she whispered. Thank you for a magical night. You're

[00:29:05] most welcome, little one, Ivan said. Now rest, and do not worry, I have you safe and sound with me. And so Kit closed her eyes. But, before she fell asleep, the strangest, most comforting thought occurred to her.

[00:29:35] Or, not a thought, it was more like a memory. memory. She remembered that afternoon, when this magical adventure had just started. How her mum had paused at each road, looking this way and that for passing cars, before guiding her and so across the street. Wasn't that just like what they did for the baby turtles, she wondered?

[00:30:05] Hadn't they just like their mother this afternoon, spent an evening keeping the vulnerable safe? She imagined the whole world like an endless ring, each person linked to another, each animal and each species, each plant and each rock, each tree and each

[00:30:35] grain of sand connected to another. Everyone and everything protecting each other, watching over each other, guiding each other to safety. It was a beautiful image, that ring of life. It set such a sense of calm into the deep fathoms of Kit's heart,

[00:31:04] that before she'd even finished picturing it, she was asleep, snoring softly, and Ivan sailed onwards through the moonlight, guiding the little girls safely home.