an illustrated story
by Marlo Marmalade
(story 1 of Awesome Tales)

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Tuck Turtle would win the game with his next throw. Or lose it. He didn't want to be BAD or GOOD. He wanted to be the BEST!

He let go of the ball. He saw the batter swing. He heard the terrible CRACK, as the hard wood hit his ball.

The crowd cheered, but this time they weren't cheering for Tuck.

The ball went high over his head.

Tuck's face started to turn red.
A snake in the crowd H-I-S-S-E-D.
Tuck decided to go inside his shell. Pretty soon he heard a tap, tap, tap on his shell. Then voices.

"Losing," said Wise Guy, "makes winning more fun."

Wise Guy said things like that. Maybe because of his name.

Tuck didn't answer.

"Why didn't you tap that ball on your shell!" Carrot Head said. "For good luck!"

Tuck didn't answer. What good was Carrot Head's advice now?

"Never mind, " Carrot Head said. "Come out and I'll give you two bugs."

But Tuck felt he should stay out of the crowd's eye. And that's easiest to do inside your shell.

Just as soon as everyone left, Tuck went straight to...