Tank wasn’t your usual kind of pet. While most kids had dogs that played fetch or cats that chased feathers, Leo had Tank, a slow, thoughtful tortoise with a shell as big as a basketball.

Every afternoon, Leo took Tank for a walk, well, more like a crawl, around the neighbourhood.

“Come on, buddy,” Leo would say, “a few more steps and we’ll hit the mailbox by sundown!”

Tank blinked slowly, munched a leaf, and kept on moving. He didn’t get anywhere fast, but he always noticed everything around him.

The Tortoise Takes a Stand

The tank had just stepped off the curb when the stroller came flying toward the street. Clunk!

The front wheels smacked into Tank’s sturdy shell and stopped cold. The stroller tipped slightly but didn’t flip. It rocked gently, stuck behind Tank like a bike behind a boulder.

Leo’s eyes widened. “Tank… you stopped it!”

A breathless mom rushed over, scooping up the runaway stroller. “Thank goodness it was empty! I just set it down for a second, then it took off!”

Everyone gathered, gasping and clapping. Tank blinked slowly, completely calm. A police officer at the corner grinned. “That’s the bravest tortoise I’ve ever seen.”