So he went to Wise Guy. "Tell me," he said, "how can I slip out of my shell?"
"Forget it!" Wise Guy said. "What is a turtle without a shell!"
"The greatest pitcher of all time!" said Tuck.
"Only the Great Great Wizard of all Owls can help you out of your shell!" said Wise Guy.
"Where do I find Ms. Great Great?"
"At 421 Maple," said Wise Guy. "But she's scary. Wise but stern. She even scares me, and I'm family."
Tuck hitched a ride with Mr. Airways.
Mr. Airways would fly just about anywhere. But even he was scared of Ms. Great Great. Tuck had to pay him two long worms and three rolly polly bugs.
"Why do you want to leave your shell?" said Ms. Great Great.
"I want to be loose like a frog," said Tuck.
"I will help you on one condition." Ms. Great Great stared down at him. "You let me keep your shell. And promise never to ask for it back."
Tuck nodded.
"It's perfect for soup bowls," she said. "Well here we go." She raised her wings and said seven magic words. Then she made a sound so loud that the whole woods trembled. WHOOOOOOoooooo.
Tuck felt his body s-s-S-H-A-K-E.
And then his shell . . .
