Tilly Turtle loves helping everyone, and her favourite word is always “yes.” But when too many yeses make her miss something special with Grandpa, Tilly begins to learn that a small, gentle “no” can be kind too.
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Tilly Turtle lived beside a quiet pond.
She loved helping her friends.
Whenever someone asked her for something, Tilly almost always had the same answer.
"Yes!"
One morning, Grandpa Turtle came to visit.
"The water lilies are open today," he said. "Would you like to come to the pond with me this afternoon?"
Tilly loved seeing the water lilies.
"Yes! I'll meet you after lunch."
Grandpa smiled.
"I'll wait for you by our favourite rock."
Tilly couldn't wait.
But on her way home, she met Ruby Rabbit carrying a heavy basket of berries.
"Tilly, can you help me carry this home?"
Tilly looked at the basket.
"Yes!"
She helped Ruby carry it all the way to her burrow.
"Thank you, Tilly!" said Ruby.
Tilly smiled and started home.
Then she met Benny Beaver.
"Tilly, can you help me collect sticks for my dam?"
Tilly thought about Grandpa.
She still had some time.
"Yes!"
She helped Benny gather sticks.
But it took longer than she expected.
When they finished, Tilly hurried home for lunch.
After lunch, she picked up her little pond bag.
It was time to meet Grandpa.
Just then, Birdie flew down.
"Tilly, can you help me find soft grass for my nest?"
Tilly hesitated.
She wanted to say no.
Grandpa was waiting.
But then she thought, what if Birdie gets upset with me?
So, Tilly said,
"Yes."
She helped Birdie search beneath the trees.
They found grass, feathers and soft moss.
When they finally finished, Tilly looked at the sky.
"Oh no! Grandpa!"
She hurried to the pond.
Grandpa was waiting beside their favourite rock.
"I'm sorry I'm late," said Tilly.
The bright water lilies were already beginning to close.
Tilly's heart sank.
"I missed them."
Grandpa sat beside her.
"What happened?"
"Everyone needed my help," said Tilly. "I kept saying yes."
"Did you want to say yes every time?" Grandpa asked.
Tilly shook her head.
"I wanted to come here. But I thought my friends would be upset if I said no."
Grandpa smiled gently.
"You can be a good friend and still say no sometimes."
Tilly thought about that.
"Can we come back tomorrow?" she asked.
"Of course," said Grandpa. "I'll meet you here after lunch."
Tilly smiled.
"This time, I won't be late."
The next morning, Birdie came to see her.
"Tilly, can you help me decorate my nest?"
Tilly almost said yes.
Then she remembered her plan with Grandpa.
"I can't today," she said. "I'm going to the pond with Grandpa."
Tilly waited nervously.
Birdie wasn't angry.
"Okay," she said. "Can you help me tomorrow?"
Tilly smiled.
"Yes. Tomorrow I can."
That afternoon, Tilly and Grandpa went to the pond.
They watched dragonflies fly over the water.
They spotted tiny fish between the reeds.
And this time, Tilly saw the beautiful water lilies wide open in the sunshine.
On the way home, they passed Benny.
"Can you help me find sticks?" he called.
"Not today, I'm spending time with my grandpa," said Tilly. "Maybe tomorrow!"
"Okay!" said Benny.
Tilly smiled.
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