Tick-Tock the Tortoise and the Hourglass Garden

Tock the tortoise has a list of things he means to do, from painting to pie, but each one waits for tomorrow while he watches clouds and reads the board.

Time Is Important

In a quiet valley called Thymewood, there lived a young tortoise named Tock. Tock was kind and curious, and he loved to dream about all the wonderful things he wanted to do: learn to paint, read the big book of stars, build a treehouse, and bake his Grandma's famous berry pie.

But somehow, he never did any of them.

"I'll start tomorrow," Tock would say, settling into his hammock. "There's plenty of time."

And so the days drifted by. He spent mornings staring at clouds. He spent afternoons wandering from friend to friend, chatting about nothing in particular. He spent evenings scrolling through gossip on the Thymewood Notice Board, reading who wore what and who said what about whom.

When bedtime came, Tock would sigh. "Where did the day go?"

One golden afternoon, his friend Skye the swallow swooped down. "Tock! Today is the Autumn Art Show. Did you finish your painting?"

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Quick answers about Tick-Tock the Tortoise and the Hourglass Garden

What is Tick-Tock the Tortoise and the Hourglass Garden about?

Tock the tortoise has a list of things he means to do, from painting to pie, but each one waits for tomorrow while he watches clouds and reads the board.

Is Tick-Tock the Tortoise and the Hourglass Garden free to read?

Yes. Every story on RapidTale is free to read in the browser, with no sign-up and nothing to install.

How long does it take to read?

This story runs 1 chapter — most readers finish in one sitting, and you can stop and return to any chapter using the contents list.

Who wrote it?

Nimra Khan — original fiction published on RapidTale.